When power is taken away from Central and state governments and given to local government,it is called decentralisation.The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a large no. of problems and issues which are better settled at local level.

Decentralisation:
Decentralisation is a process of transferring power and decision-making from a central authority to local or regional authorities. It aims to give people more control over their lives and reduce the influence of central governments.

Ideas behind decentralisation:
The basic idea behind decentralisation is to create a more democratic and participatory system of governance. Decentralisation aims to empower local communities and give them a greater say in decisions that affect their lives. By reducing the power of central governments, decentralisation can promote greater efficiency, accountability, and transparency in public services.

Federalism:
Federalism is a form of decentralisation where power is divided between a central government and regional governments. In a federal system, the regional governments have their own elected officials and are responsible for certain areas of policy, such as education, healthcare, and transportation. The central government retains control over issues that affect the entire country, such as national defense, foreign policy, and economic regulation.

Advantages of federalism:
- Promotes local control and diversity: Federalism allows for greater local control over policy decisions, which can lead to more customized and responsive policies that reflect the needs of different regions and communities.
- Encourages experimentation and innovation: Regional governments can experiment with different policies and approaches to address local problems. Successful policies can then be replicated in other regions, leading to greater innovation and progress.
- Protects minority rights: Federalism can help protect the rights and interests of minority groups by allowing them to have a greater say in decisions that affect their lives.
- Promotes checks and balances: By dividing power between different levels of government, federalism promotes a system of checks and balances that can prevent any one group from gaining too much power.

Disadvantages of federalism:
- Inefficiency and duplication: Regional governments may duplicate services and create inefficiencies in the provision of public services.
- Inequality: Federalism can lead to inequalities between regions, particularly if certain regions have greater resources or more favorable economic conditions.
- Coordination problems: Coordination between regional and central governments can be difficult, particularly if there are conflicting policy priorities or disagreements over funding.
- Political gridlock: Federalism can lead to political gridlock if different levels of government are unable to agree on policy decisions or if regional governments are resistant to central government policies.