Class 10 Civics Chapter 1 Case Based Questions - Democratic Politics - II

Q1: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units. In a federal system, there are two or more levels of government, each having its own powers and responsibilities. The Constitution of a federal country clearly defines the jurisdiction of each level of government, ensuring that neither level interferes in the affairs of the other. Courts play a crucial role in resolving disputes between different levels of government.

i. What is federalism? (1 mark)
ii. How does the Constitution ensure proper power distribution in a federal system? (1 mark)
iii. Why is the judiciary important in a federal system? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. Federalism is a system of government where power is divided between a central authority and various state or regional governments.
ii. The Constitution ensures proper power distribution by clearly defining the powers and responsibilities of each level of government and protecting their existence.
iii. The judiciary is important in a federal system because it interprets the Constitution, resolves disputes between different levels of government, and ensures that power-sharing rules are followed, thereby maintaining balance and preventing misuse of authority.

Q2: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

India is a federal country, but the word "federation" is not mentioned in its Constitution. Instead, India is described as a "Union of States". The Indian Constitution provides for three levels of government:

• The Union Government (Central Government).
• The State Governments.
• The Local Governments (Panchayati Raj and Municipalities).
  The power is distributed among these levels through three lists: the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List.

i. How does the Indian Constitution describe the country’s federal structure? (1 mark)
ii. Name the three levels of government in India. (1 mark)
iii. What are the three lists mentioned in the Constitution for power distribution? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. The Indian Constitution describes India as a "Union of States" instead of using the term "federation".
ii. The three levels of government in India are the Union Government, State Governments, and Local Governments.
iii. The three lists in the Constitution for power distribution are:

• Union List (Subjects under central government like defense and foreign affairs).
• State List (Subjects under state government like police and agriculture).
• Concurrent List (Subjects shared by both central and state governments like education and forests).

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Q3: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

After independence, India was reorganized into states on the basis of language to maintain unity and efficient governance. Many leaders feared that this could divide the country, but in reality, it helped strengthen national integration. Today, states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu were created based on linguistic and cultural identities. Some states, like Nagaland and Jharkhand, were created due to their distinct ethnic and geographical identities.

i. Why were Indian states reorganized on a linguistic basis? (1 mark)
ii. Name two states created based on language. (1 mark)
iii. How did linguistic reorganization of states help in national integration? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. Indian states were reorganized on a linguistic basis to accommodate cultural diversity and ensure smooth administration.
ii. Two states created based on language are Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
iii. Linguistic reorganization helped national integration by giving people governance in their own language, reducing regional conflicts, and making administration more efficient. It also addressed the aspirations of different linguistic groups, fostering unity in diversity.

Q4: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

India is a vast country, and a two-tier system of government was not sufficient. To improve governance, a third tier of government was introduced, known as Local Government. This process of transferring power from central and state governments to local governments is called decentralization. The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments (1992) strengthened local governance by making Panchayati Raj and Municipalities more autonomous.

i. What is decentralization? (1 mark)
ii. Name the two types of local governments in India. (1 mark)
iii. How did the 1992 constitutional amendments strengthen local governance? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. Decentralization is the process of transferring power from central and state governments to local governments for better administration.
ii. The two types of local governments in India are Panchayati Raj (rural) and Municipalities (urban).
iii. The 1992 constitutional amendments strengthened local governance by making local elections mandatory, reserving seats for SCs, STs, OBCs, and women, and ensuring financial independence for local bodies. These measures empowered local governments to function more effectively and inclusively.

Case Based Questions Test: Federalism

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Q5: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

The relationship between the Central and State governments is an important aspect of federalism. In the past, the central government often misused its power to dismiss state governments. However, after 1990, with the rise of regional political parties, state governments gained more autonomy. Today, the Supreme Court ensures that the central government does not interfere unnecessarily in state matters, strengthening India's federal structure.

i. What role does the Supreme Court play in Centre-State relations? (1 mark)
ii. How did the rise of regional political parties impact Indian federalism? (1 mark)
iii. How has the relationship between the Centre and States changed after 1990? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. The Supreme Court ensures that the central government does not interfere in state matters and protects the federal structure.
ii. The rise of regional political parties led to more power for states, coalition governments, and better representation of regional interests.
iii. After 1990, Centre-State relations improved as state governments became more autonomous, and the central government could no longer dismiss state governments arbitrarily. This shift strengthened federalism by ensuring greater respect for state powers and reducing central dominance.

Q6: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Federalism has two important objectives:

• To protect and promote the unity of the country.
• To accommodate regional diversity while ensuring national integrity.
  The Indian Constitution balances these two objectives by granting certain autonomous powers to the states, while keeping the Union Government strong enough to maintain national unity.

i. What are the two main objectives of federalism? (1 mark)
ii. How does the Indian Constitution balance power between the Centre and the States? (1 mark)
iii. Why is it important to accommodate regional diversity in a federal country? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. The two main objectives of federalism are maintaining national unity and accommodating regional diversity.
ii. The Indian Constitution grants autonomy to states for local governance while keeping the Centre strong enough to handle national issues.
iii. Accommodating regional diversity is important because it prevents conflicts, ensures fair representation, and allows local governance to address region-specific needs. This promotes harmony and strengthens national integration by respecting cultural, linguistic, and ethnic differences.

Q7: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Certain Indian states have been given special provisions under the Constitution due to their unique cultural, historical, or geographical conditions.
For example, Article 370 granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir (which was revoked in 2019). Other states like Nagaland, Mizoram, and Himachal Pradesh have special provisions to protect their distinct identity. These provisions limit the central government's intervention in these states while allowing them to preserve their traditions.

i. Why were some Indian states given special provisions? (1 mark)
ii. Name one state that had special status under Article 370. (1 mark)
iii. How do special provisions help in maintaining cultural and regional identity? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. Some states were given special provisions due to their unique cultural, historical, and geographical characteristics.
ii. Jammu and Kashmir had special status under Article 370 (revoked in 2019).
iii. Special provisions help by protecting the rights of local communities, preserving their traditions, and limiting outside influence on their governance. This ensures that distinct identities are respected and maintained, fostering harmony and regional stability.

Q8: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

In a federal system, laws are divided into three lists:

• Union List (controlled by the Central Government).
• State List (controlled by State Governments).
• Concurrent List (shared by both).
  However, some subjects do not fall into these categories, such as cybersecurity, space research, and artificial intelligence. These are called Residuary Subjects, and the power to make laws on them is given to the Union Government.

i. What are Residuary Subjects in federalism? (1 mark)
ii. Who has the power to make laws on Residuary Subjects in India? (1 mark)
iii. Why is it necessary for the Union Government to control Residuary Subjects? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. Residuary Subjects are subjects not mentioned in the Union, State, or Concurrent Lists, such as cybersecurity and space research.
ii. The Union Government has the power to make laws on Residuary Subjects.
iii. The Union Government controls Residuary Subjects because they require uniform laws at the national level and deal with modern, evolving issues beyond state boundaries. Centralized control ensures consistency, addresses challenges that transcend states, and enables effective governance of emerging areas like technology and security.

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Q9: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

In a federal country like India, both the Central and State Governments need financial resources to carry out their responsibilities. The Finance Commission is a constitutional body that determines the distribution of tax revenue between the Centre and the States. It ensures that states receive adequate funds for their development while maintaining financial stability at the national level.

i. What is the main function of the Finance Commission? (1 mark)
ii. Why do state governments depend on financial resources from the Centre? (1 mark)
iii. How does the Finance Commission ensure fair distribution of financial resources? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. The Finance Commission determines how tax revenue is shared between the Central and State Governments.
ii. State governments depend on financial resources from the Centre because many states do not generate enough revenue on their own to fund development and welfare programs.
iii. The Finance Commission ensures fair distribution by assessing the needs of different states, economic conditions, and revenue generation capacity before allocating funds. This helps address disparities among states and ensures equitable development across the country.

Q10: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

While India follows a federal system, some challenges exist in maintaining a balance of power between the Centre and the States. Issues such as disputes over sharing of river water, political conflicts between different governments, and excessive central control over state matters sometimes lead to tension. The Supreme Court and Election Commission play an important role in ensuring that federal principles are followed.

i. What is one major challenge faced by federalism in India? (1 mark)
ii. Name two institutions that help maintain the balance of power in federalism. (1 mark)
iii. How can disputes between the Centre and States be resolved in a federal system? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. One major challenge faced by federalism in India is disputes over sharing of river water between states.
ii. The Supreme Court and Election Commission help maintain the balance of power in federalism.
iii. Disputes between the Centre and States can be resolved through:

• Judicial intervention by the Supreme Court, which provides rulings on disputes.
• Dialogue between the governments to foster communication and understanding.
• Establishing committees for negotiations to address specific issues.