Laxmikanth Test: Federal System - UPSC MCQ

A federal government is a type of government in which power is divided between the central government and the regional governments. 

Pakistan, Russia and Brazil practice federalism.

• There are some units of the Indian Union which enjoy very little power. These are areas which are too small to become an independent State but which could not be merged with any of the existing States. 
• These areas, like Chandigarh, or Lakshadweep or the capital city of Delhi, are called Union Territories. These territories do not have the powers of a State.
• The Central Government has special powers in running these areas. Therefore, option 3 has no connection with the Principle of federalism. Rest two options ensure that the Union government does not subordinate the state government.

In a "Holding Together Federation," powers are generally tilted towards the central authority. This type of federation aims to accommodate diversity by sharing powers among the constituent parts while maintaining a degree of central control. Examples of countries following this model include India, Spain, and Belgium.

Statement-I is correct because India is often described as having a quasi-federal system due to its combination of federal and unitary features. Statement-II is also correct as the Government of India Act of 1919 did indeed introduce federal elements by dividing powers between the central and provincial legislatures. However, Statement-II does not directly explain Statement-I, as the mere introduction of federalism does not inherently make a system quasi-federal. The Act's introduction of federal elements is a separate point from India's quasi-federal nature.

• Correct Answer- Option C 

• Balanced regional development: This justifies a strong central government as it can ensure equitable distribution of resources and development across various states.

• Territorial integrity of India: This also justifies a strong central government because maintaining unity and security is a core responsibility of the central authority.

• Growing financial needs of states: This could imply that states require more autonomy to manage their financial resources. While the central government may support states financially, this factor doesn’t necessarily argue for a stronger central authority. Instead, it might indicate a need for states to manage their own finances more effectively.

• Decentralization of administrative powers: This explicitly argues against a strong central government, favoring a distribution of power to states.

•  Therefore both 3 (Growing financial needs of states) and 4 (Decentralization of administrative powers) do not justify the need for a strong central government in the Indian federal structure.

• US model is based on powerful states.
• USSR was based on an authoritarian centre.
• Canada is a federal country with a Union bias, the same as India.

Statement 1 is incorrect. While the Indian Constitution is a blend of flexibility and rigidity, not all provisions can be easily amended. Particularly, provisions related to federalism require a more complex amendment process.

Statement 2 is correct. The Centre has emergency powers that allow it to increase its control over states during certain emergencies, such as a national emergency or a state emergency (President's Rule).

Statement 3 is incorrect. The Election Commission of India is responsible for conducting elections at both the central and state levels, ensuring free and fair elections throughout the country.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 2 Only.

• The division of powers established by the Constitution as well as the supremacy of the Constitution can be maintained only if the method of its amendment is rigid. Hence, the Constitution is rigid to the extent that those provisions which are concerned with the federal structure. 

• State governments derive their authority from the constitution, not the Centre. 

• The states are given representation in the Rajya Sabha based on population. Hence, the membership varies from 1 to 31.

A coming together federation is a type of federation in which all the independent states come together to form a large unit of the federation. In this federation, there is equal distribution of power. All the states are under the central government and follow the regulations of the central government.

Statement 1 is correct. The Constitution of India provides for single citizenship, meaning that all citizens are recognized as citizens of India only and not of any individual state.

Statement 2 is correct. The judiciary in India is integrated, with the Supreme Court at the top, followed by High Courts at the state level, and lower courts at the district and subordinate levels.

Statement 3 is incorrect. The Lok Sabha (House of the People) is more powerful than the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) in certain legislative matters, such as financial bills and the passing of budgets.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

• To prevent conflicts between the centre and the State, there is an independent judiciary to settle disputes. The more independent the judiciary is, the more effective it will be able to settle the disputes and enforce the rule of law rather than the domination of the Centre. The judiciary has the powers to resolve disputes between the central government and the States on legal matters about the division of power.

• Certain subjects, which concern the nation as a whole, for example, defence or currency, are the responsibility of the union or central government. Regional or local matters are the responsibility of the regional or State government.

• Appropriate division of responsibility at the appropriate level (for example, local sanitation at the PRls level and national defence at the Central level) is called the principle of subsidiarity.

The Constitution of India establishes a federal system of government as it contains all the usual features of a federation, viz., dual administration, division of powers, written Constitution, supremacy of Constitution, rigidity of Constitution, independent judiciary and bicameralism.

Statement-I is correct as there has been an increase in demands for more states in India, especially after the formation of Telangana in 2014. However, Statement-II is incorrect because the creation of Telangana did not reduce demands for new states; rather, it may have encouraged further demands by other regions seeking separate statehood.

• Although the Constitution of India has created a strong central government, it has not made the state governments weak and has not reduced them to the level of administrative agencies for the execution of policies of the Central government.

• Indian federation has been described as 'a new kind of federation to meet India's peculiar needs'.

• The state governments are autonomous units working under the Constitutional framework in tandem with the Centre to achieve common goals.

1. President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh - Imposed in January 2016: Correct. President's Rule was imposed in Arunachal Pradesh in January 2016.

2. Finance Commission - Institutional mechanism for fiscal federalism: Correct. The Finance Commission is responsible for recommending the distribution of central tax revenues to states.

3. Separate Statehood for Gorkhaland - Demand within West Bengal: Correct. The demand for Gorkhaland is for a separate state within West Bengal.

4. Harit Pradesh - Demand for a separate state in Maharashtra: Incorrect. The demand for Harit Pradesh is for a separate state within Uttar Pradesh, not Maharashtra.

1. Article 368 - Centralized amendment power: Correct. Article 368 provides the central government with the power to amend the Constitution.

2. Single Citizenship - All citizens are Indian citizens regardless of state: Correct. India follows the principle of single citizenship, meaning that all citizens are citizens of India, irrespective of the state they belong to.

3. Supreme Court - Apex court in the integrated judiciary system: Correct. The Supreme Court is the apex court in India's integrated judiciary system.

4. Governor's Office - Created by the Union Government: Incorrect. The Governor's office is a constitutional office created by the Constitution of India, not directly by the Union Government.

Statement 1 is correct. The representation of states in the Rajya Sabha is based on the population of each state, which results in unequal representation. For example, Uttar Pradesh has 31 seats while Goa has only 1 seat.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The governor of a state is appointed by the President of India, not by the state's government.

Statement 3 is correct. The Parliament of India has the constitutional power to alter the boundaries and names of states.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 3 Only.

• Over the last three decades, the number and strength of these parties have expanded. This made the Parliament of India politically more and more diverse. 

• No one national party can secure on its own a majority in Lok Sabha (except the last general elections 2014). As a result, the national parties are compelled to form alliances with State parties. 

• Since 1996, nearly every one of the Stale parties has got an opportunity to be a part of one or the other national-level coalition government; This has contributed to the strengthening of federalism and democracy in our country.

While each state in India enjoys autonomy in exercising powers on certain issues, subjects of national concern require that all of these states follow the laws of the central government. 

• The Constitution contains lists that detail the issues that each tier of government can make laws on.

• Besides, the Constitution also specifies where each tier of government can get the money from for the work that it does. So, 1 is wrong. 

• Under federalism, the states are not merely agents of the federal government but draw their authority from the Constitution as well. All persons in India are governed by laws and policies made by each of these levels of government.

Statement-I is accurate as representation in the Rajya Sabha (upper house) of India is indeed based on states' populations. However, Statement-II is incorrect because in an ideal federal system, equal representation for all states is not a universal principle. Federal systems can have various methods of representation in their upper houses, and equal representation is not a necessary condition for a federal structure.