Federalism Chapter Notes - Social Studies (SST) Class 10

The concept of federalism has been around for centuries, and it has been implemented in a variety of ways in different countries. In the United States, for example, the federal system was established in the late 18th century as a way to balance the power of the central government with the rights of the individual states.

The concept of federalism in India involves the division of power between the central government and state governments. This division of power is enshrined in the Indian Constitution, which outlines the responsibilities and powers of both levels of government.

What is Federalism?

(ii) This division of power is enshrined in a country's constitution, and it typically involves the central government retaining certain powers, while other powers are reserved for the regional governments.
(iii) Federations are contrasted with unitary governments.
(iv) Under the unitary system, either there is only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the central.
(v) In a federal system, the central government cannot order the state government to do something.

Federalism has two levels of government:

(b) The others are governments at the level of provinces or states that look after much of the day-to-day administering of their state.

Seven 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 a specific matter of legislation, taxation and administration.

• The jurisdictions of the respective levels or tiers of government are specified in the Constitution.
• The fundamental provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by one level of government.
• Courts have the power to interpret the Constitution and the powers of different levels of government.
• Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to ensure its financial autonomy.
• The federal system thus has dual objectives: to safeguard and promote the unity of the country, while at the same time accommodating regional diversities.

There are two kinds of routes through which federations have been formed.
(a) 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 is ‘coming together’ federations.

(b) The second route is where a large country decides to divide its power between the constituent States and the national government. This is ‘holding together’ federations.

What makes India a Federal Country?

(ii)This division of power is enshrined in the Indian Constitution, which outlines the responsibilities and powers of both levels of government.

(iii)The constitution declared India as the Union of States.

(iv)The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or what we call the Central Government, representing the Union of India and the State Government.

(v)Later the third tier of federalism was added in the form of Panchayats and municipalities.

The Constitution has a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union Government and the State Governments.

The Constitution contains three Lists:
(i) Union Lists: 
In India, the Union List is a list of subjects that are exclusively within the jurisdiction of the central government. This means that only the Union Government, which is another term for the central government, has the authority to make laws relating to these subjects.

It includes subjects of national importance such as the defence of the country, foreign affairs, banking, communications and currency.

(ii) State Lists: 
In India, the State List is a list of subjects that are exclusively within the jurisdiction of the state governments. This means that only the state governments have the authority to make laws relating to these subjects.
It contains subjects of States and local importance such as police, trade, commerce, agriculture and irrigation.
(iii) Concurrent List: 
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.
It includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Governments, such as education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption and succession.

How is Federalism Practiced?

Federalism is practiced in India through a system of shared governance, in which power is divided between the central government, state governments, and local governments.
Each level of government has its own set of responsibilities and powers, which are outlined in the Indian Constitution.

• At the national level, the central government is responsible for issues of national importance, such as defence, foreign affairs, and currency.
• At the state level, state governments are responsible for issues that are more local, such as education, healthcare, and law and order.    
• At the local level, India has established a third tier of government through the creation of Panchayati Raj institutions. These local governing bodies have been granted significant powers and responsibilities by the Constitution, such as the authority to manage local public works projects, collect local taxes, and regulate local industries. 

Note: In addition, both the central government and state governments have the authority to make laws related to subjects listed in the Concurrent List, which includes areas such as health, education, and social welfare.

Linguistic States

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.

Languages of India

• In 1947, the boundaries of several old states of India were changed to create new States.
• This was done to ensure that people who spoke the same language lived in the same States.
• When the demand for the formation of States based on language was raised, some national leaders feared that it would lead to the disintegration of the country.

Language Policy

• The second test for Indian Federation is the language policy.
• Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any one language.
• Hindi was identified as the official language.
• According to the Constitution, the use of English for official purposes was to stop in 1965.
• The central government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English along with Hindi for official purposes.
• Promotion does not mean that the Central Government can impose Hindi on states where people speak a different language.

Centre-state Relation

• Restructuring the centre-state relations is one more way in which federalism has been strengthened in practice.
• In 1990 there was the rise of regional political parties in many states of the country.
• This was also the beginning of the era of COALITION GOVERNMENT at the Centre.
• Since no single party got a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, the major national parties had led to ally with many parties.
• This led to a new culture of power-sharing and respect for the autonomy of the State Government.
• Thus, federal power-sharing is more effective today than it was in the early years after the Constitution came into force.

Decentralization in India

• We noted above that the federal government has two or more tiers of government.
• But a vast country like India cannot be run only through these two tiers.
• Federal power-sharing in India needs another tier of government
• This resulted in a third tier of the government called local government.
• When power is taken away from the Central and State government, it is called Decentralisation.
• At the local level, it is possible for people to directly participate in decision-making.
• A major step towards Decentralisation was taken in 1992.
• The rural local government is popularly known by the name Panchayati Raj.
• This is a council consisting of several ward members, often called Panch, and a president or sarpanch.
• They are directly elected by all the adult population living in that ward or village.
• It is the decision-making body for the entire village.
• All the Panchayat Samiti or Mandals in a district together constitute the Zila Parishad.
• Local government bodies exist for urban areas as well.
• Big cities are constituted into municipal corporations.
• This new system of local government is the largest experiment in democracy conducted anywhere in the world.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is Federalism?

Ans. Federalism is a form of government where power is divided between a central government and various constituent units of the country. The constituent units can be states, provinces, or regions, each with their own government, while the central government retains overall control. This division of power is enshrined in the country's constitution and is designed to ensure that each level of government has its own defined responsibilities and powers.

Q2. What is the importance of Federalism?
Ans. Federalism is important as it provides a balance of power between the central government and the constituent units. It allows for greater autonomy and flexibility, as the constituent units can make decisions that are specific to their needs and circumstances. At the same time, the central government can provide support and resources to the constituent units when needed. Federalism also promotes diversity and pluralism by allowing for regional differences to be recognized and respected. It can also help to ensure that the rights and interests of minorities are protected.

Q3. How is federalism different from a unitary system of government?
Ans. In a unitary system of government, power is concentrated in a single central government, and local governments have little or no autonomy. In contrast, federalism distributes power between a central government and constituent political units, providing a degree of autonomy to local governments.

Q4. How does federalism impact policymaking?
Ans. Federalism can make policymaking more complex, as different levels of government may have different priorities and agendas. It can also result in a patchwork of policies across different regions, which can make it difficult to implement consistent national policies. However, federalism can also provide opportunities for experimentation and innovation in policymaking, as different regions can try out different approaches and policies.

Q5. What are the challenges of Federalism?
Ans. Federalism can also have its challenges. It can lead to a lack of consistency in laws and regulations across the country, which can cause confusion and disparities. It can also lead to a lack of coordination and cooperation between the central government and the constituent units, which can result in inefficiencies and duplication of efforts. Federalism can also create tensions between the central government and the constituent units, particularly if there are disagreements over the division of powers or the allocation of resources. Finally, Federalism can lead to a lack of accountability, as it can be difficult to determine who is responsible for certain decisions or outcomes.