Test: Federalism - 1 - Class 10 MCQ

The relationship between the central government and state governments differs significantly between federations and unitary systems:

- **Federations (Option 2):** State governments in federations are generally **subordinate to the central government** in specific matters defined by the constitution or federal laws. While states have considerable autonomy in certain areas, the central government typically retains authority over matters such as defense, foreign affairs, and inter-state commerce.

- **Unitary Systems (Option 3):** In unitary systems, the central government **can order state or regional governments** because power is concentrated at the national level. State or regional governments derive their authority from the central government and operate under its directives.

Therefore, the correct answer is:

2. State governments in federations are subordinate to the central government

A key feature of federalism, as explained, is that the jurisdictions of the respective levels or tiers of government are specified in the Constitution. This ensures that each level of government has its specific area of legislation, taxation, and administration outlined in the constitutional framework, helping to delineate their powers and responsibilities.

The Indian Constitution did not designate any language as the national language but identified Hindi as the official language. The use of English for official purposes was initially intended to cease in 1965; however, due to various factors, its use continued alongside Hindi. This approach aimed to balance linguistic diversity and promote the use of Hindi without imposing it on states where other languages were predominant.