Test: Class 10 Polity NCERT Based-2 - UPSC MCQ

• Two different sets of reasons can be given in favour of power sharing. Firstly, power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.

• Since social conflict often leads to violence and political instability, power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order. Imposing the will of the majority community over others may look like an attractive option in the short run, but in the long run it undermines the unity of the nation.

• Tyranny of the majority is not just oppressive for the minority; it often brings ruin to the majority as well.

1. Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. this horizontal distribution of power because it allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers. Such a separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power. Each organ checks the others. This results in a balance of power among various institutions.

2. Power can be shared among governments at different levels – a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level. Such a general government for the entire country is usually called the federal government. In India, we refer to it as the Central or Union Government. The governments at the provincial or regional level are called by different names in different countries. In India we call them State Governments.

3. Power may also be shared among different social groups, such as the religious and linguistic groups. ‘In some countries there are constitutional and legal arrangements whereby socially weaker sections and women are represented in the legislatures and administration.

• Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country.

• Usually, a federation has two levels of government. One is the government for the entire country that is usually responsible for a few subjects of common national interest.

• The others are governments at the level of provinces or states that look after much of the day-to-day administering of their state. Both these levels of governments enjoy their power independent of the other.

• The key features of federalism: There are two or more levels (or tiers) of government. Different tiers of government govern the same citizens, but each tier has its own JURISDICTION in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.

• The jurisdictions of the respective levels or tiers of government are specified in the constitution of India. So the existence and authority of each tier of government is constitutionally guaranteed.

• The fundamental provisions of the constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by one level of government. Such changes require the consent of both the levels of government Courts have the power to interpret the constitution and the powers of different levels of government.

• The highest court acts as an umpire if disputes arise between different levels of government in the exercise of their respective powers. Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to ensure its financial autonomy.

• The federal system has dual objectives: to safeguard and promote unity of the country, while at the same time accommodate regional diversity.

• Therefore, two aspects are crucial for the institutions and practice of federalism Governments at different levels should agree to some rules of power sharing. They should also trust that each would abide by its part of the agreement.

• An ideal federal system has both aspects : mutual trust and agreement to live together.

1. The exact balance of power between the central and the state government varies from one federation to another. This balance depends mainly on the historical context in which the federation was formed. There are two kinds of routes through which federations have been formed.

2. The first route involves independent States coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security. This type of ‘coming together’ federations include the USA, Switzerland and Australia. In this first category of federations, all the constituent States usually have equal power and are strong vis-à-vis the federal government.

3. The second route is where a large country decides to divide its power between the constituent States and the national government. India, Spain and Belgium are examples of this kind of ‘holding together’ federations.

4. In this second category, the central government tends to be more powerful vis-à-vis the States. Very often different constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted special power.

1. Union List includes subjects of national importance such as defence of the country, foreign affairs, banking, communications and currency. They are included in this list because we need a uniform policy on these matters throughout the country. The Union Government alone can make laws relating to the subjects mentioned in the Union List.

2. State List contains subjects of State and local importance such as police, trade, commerce, agriculture and irrigation. The State Government alone can make laws relating to the subjects mentioned in the State List.

3. The Concurrent List includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as the State Governments, such as education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption and succession.

4. Both the Union as well as the State Governments can make laws on the subjects mentioned in this list. If their laws conflict with each other, the law made by the Union Government will prevail.

5. Regarding the subjects that do not fall in any of the above three lists or subjects like computer software that came up after the constitution was made, the Union Government has the power to legislate on these ‘residuary’ subjects according to our constitution.

• Most federations that are formed by ‘holding together’ do not give equal power to its constituent units.

• Thus, all States in the Indian Union do not have identical powers. Some States enjoy a special status, erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir has its own Constitution {now abolished).

• Many provisions of the Indian Constitution are not applicable to this State without the approval of the State Assembly. Goa, does not have its own constitution.

• Indians who are not permanent residents of this State cannot buy land or house here. Similar special provisions exist for some other States of India as well.

• The creation of Linguistic States was the first and a major test for democratic politics in our country.

• Many old States have vanished and many new States have been created since independence, areas, boundaries and names of the States have been changed. In 1947, the boundaries of several old States of India were changed in order to create new States.

• This was done to ensure that people who spoke the same language lived in the same State. Some States were created not on the basis of language but to recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography. These include States like Nagaland, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand.

• Census of India which held in 1991 recorded more than 1500 distinct languages which people mentioned as their mother tongues.These languages were grouped together under some major languages.

• For example languages like Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Bundelkhandi, Chhattisgarhi, Rajasthani, Bhili and many others were grouped together under ‘Hindi’. Even after this grouping, the Census found 114 major languages.

• Of these 22 languages are now included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and are therefore called ‘Scheduled Languages’. Others are called ‘non Scheduled Languages’. In terms of languages, India is perhaps the most diverse country in the world.