Class 10 Civics Chapter 1 Practice Question Answers - Democratic Politics - II

Q1: What other factors besides politics keep the federations united?
Ans: Besides politics other factors that keep federations united are:

• Power sharing arrangements between the central and state governments
• Independent role of judiciary
• Language ethnicity
• Response to conflicting claims and
• Active participation of the people.

Q2: How many seats are reserved for women in the local bodies in India?
Ans: At least one-third of the seats are reserved for women in the local bodies in India.

Q3: What is the official post for the chairperson of a municipal corporation?
Ans: Mayor is the official post for the chairperson of a municipal corporation.

Q4: Define the term federalism.
Ans: Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country. Both these levels of the government the central and the state—enjoy their powers independent of each other.

Q5: Name any two subjects which are included in the Union List.
Ans: Foreign affairs and defence are included in the Union List.

Q6: Explain the vertical division of power giving example from India.
Ans: The power shared among the different levels of the government is known as the vertical distribution of power. It involves higher and lower levels of government. These levels are the Union government, the State government and the Local government. In India, the Union government is at the highest level. The government at the provincial or regional level is the State government. The Indian Constitution has further laid down the provision of distribution of power. This division of power is further extended to the levels of the government lower than the state governments. They are also called Municipal Corporations and the Municipalities in urban areas and Panchayati Raj in rural areas. Each level of the government exercises its power. There is no specification of the system of checks and balances. Each level has its own powers and areas of jurisdiction and no level can interfere in each other’s functioning. Such an arrangement ensures deepening of democracy.

Q7: Explain democratic policies adopted by Government of India which made it a successful federation.
Ans: The following democratic policies have helped India to be a successful federation.

• The powers of the central and state governments have been clearly seperated under the Union, State and Concurrent Lists. It removes the possibility of any type of interference in the functioning of the central and state governments.
• A three-tier system of governance has been approved under the Union, State and Local governments. They govern the people at their respective levels.
• Some states like Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh have been given special status so as to maintain their autonomy.
• The fundamental structure of the Indian Constitution cannot be unilateraly changed by the Parliament. Any amendment in the Constitution needs the approval of both the houses of the Parliament and at least half of the total states.
• The sources of income of different levels of the government has been clearly stated in the Constitution to avoid any conflict.

Q8: How are the legislative powers divided between the Union government and the State Governments?
Ans: The legislative powers are divided between the Union Government and the State Governments by the Constitution of India. The constitution is supreme in the country and the legislative powers are divided into various areas of government jurisdiction into three lists—Union List, State List, Concurrent List. 

• The Union List: Union List includes subjects like defence, foreign affairs, banking, currency and communications. The Union Government alone can make laws relating to these subjects.
• The State List: State list contains subjects like police, trade, commerce, agriculture and irrigation, which come under the jurisdiction of the State Governments. Only the State Legislatures can make laws on these subjects.
• The Concurrent list: The Concurrent list contains items like education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption and succession, which are of common interest to both the Union government and the State Governments. Both can make laws on these subjects. However, in case of any conflict, the law made by the Union Government will prevail.

Q9: Which five provisions of Indian Constitution make India a full-fledged federation?
Ans: A federation is a country in which the powers are divided between the union and its constituents. India is an example of holding together federation, where the country decides to create constituent units, thereby dividing the powers and duties between the centre and the states.
The following are the five provisions that make India a full-fledged federation.

• Two or more levels of government: We have a federal system whereby the constitution has more than two tiers of the government, viz. the Union Government, State Governments and Local Government. This implies that there are more than two levels of government administration among which powers are divided and duties are given.
•  Three Lists: The powers are divided between the Centre and the States by three Lists: Union list, State List and Concurrent list. Union List deals with the issues relating to the Centre, State List deals with the issues relating to the States and Concurrent List deals with the matters of both the Centre and the States.
•  Rigid Constitution: The Government of India is governed by the Constitution of India and it is considered the Supreme Power in the Country. It is not an easy task to amend the constitution. For a constitutional provision to be amended, it requires ratification by half of the State Legislatures, failing which the Constitution cannot be amended.
• Bicameral Legislature: India has a bicameral legislature which means that the Parliament consists of two houses, viz, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. One represents the country and the other represents the interest of the constituent states.
• Financial Autonomy: The revenue sources of both the Centre and States have been clearly defined, that ensures financial autonomy to both the Centre and the States. In layman’s language, the Centre and the State have different sources of income, which means they are independent of each other when it comes to revenue.
•  Independent Judiciary: Independent judiciary is the essence of federal government. Here, courts have the power to interpret the constitution and the powers of the different levels of government. In India, the highest court—the Supreme Court—acts as an umpire if a dispute arises between the different levels of government in the exercise of their respective powers.

Q10: The creation of linguistic states was the first and the major test of democratic politics in our country. Justify the statement.
Ans: The creation of linguistic states was the first and the major test of democratic politics in our country.

• After 1947, the boundaries of several old states of India were proposed to be changed to ensure that people who spoke the same language lived in the same state. It was felt that it would case administrative constraints also.
• Some states like Nagaland were not created on the basis of language but because of their distinct culture, ethnicity and geography.
• When the demand for the formation of linguistic states rose, some leaders feared that it would again lead to disintegration.
•  This idea was thus resisted for some time fearing any further tension or conflict within the country.
•  But when the actual creation of states was done on the basis of language, it so proved that the country was more united. This process did away with all fears and tension.
• Thus, the framing of the language policy was the test for Indian federation. It inspired the confidence in different language speaking people that no language will be imposed on them. In a way Language policy has strengthened the unity and integrity of India.