Previous Year Questions: Federalism - Social Studies (SST) Class 10

Very Short Answer Questions

Q1: Rewrite the correct statement:  (2020 C)
India, Spain and Belgium are examples of ‘Coming Together Federation'.
Ans: India, Spain and Belgium are examples of 'holding together federation’.

Q2: Rewrite the correct statement: (2020 C)
The Union Government as well as the State Governments can make laws on State subjects like forest, trade unions, marriage, etc. 
Ans: Union Government as well as the state Government can make laws on concurrent subjects-like forest, trade unions, education etc.

Q3: Which institution has been created in each State of India to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections? (2020)
Ans: State Election Commission

Q4: List under which both the Union and State Governments can make laws under the federal system in India. (2017)
Ans: Concurrent List

Q5: What is the system of Panchayati Raj? (2017)
Ans: In India, the Panchayati Raj functions as a system of governance in which gram panchayats are the basic units of local administration. The system has three levels: Gram Panchayat (village level), Block Samiti or Panchayat Samiti (block level), and Zila Parishad (district level).

Q6: Mention the dual objectives of federal system of government. (2016)
Ans: Federal system has dual objectives to safeguard and promote unity of the country, while at the same time accommodate regional diversity.

Q7: In which list of the Indian Constitution Does Education come? Why? (2015)
Ans: Education comes under the concurrent list; so both the states and the centre can legislate on any aspect of education.

Short Answer Questions

Q1: Read the given source and answer the questions that follow:   (2023)
Language Diversity of India
How many languages do we have in India? The answer depends on how one counts it. The latest information that we have is from the Census of India held in 2011. This census recorded more than 1300 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 and many others were grouped together under 'Hindi'. Even after this grouping, the Census found 121 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.
(I) Explain the importance of language diversity in India.
(II) Differentiate between Scheduled and Non-Scheduled Languages.
(III) The fusion of languages has united the country into one cultural entity.' Explain the statement with an example.
Ans: (i) India has vast number of languages, this makes India a diverse country. Thus, it preserve the unique identities of different communities.
(ii) The Indian constitution includes 22 languages therefore these are called scheduled languages. Others are called ‘non-scheduled languages’.
(iii) This means that the diverse languages and cultures of India have blended together to create a shared sense of national identity. For example unlike Sri Lanka, the leaders of our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.

Q2: Describe any three features of 'federal government’. (2020)
Ans: The three features of federal government are:
(i) The central government gives some powers to the state government.
(ii) Power is distributed among legislature, executive, and judiciary.
(iii) Elected officials exercise supreme power in the government.

Q3: Describe any three features of 'unitary government’. (2020)
Ans: Three features of unitary government are:
(i) It creates a centralized government.
(ii) The central government is supreme.
(iii) The administrative divisions such as states or districts exercise less power than the center.

Q4: Describe any three characteristics of distribution of power between the center and states in India. (2020)
Ans: The three characteristics of distribution of power between the center and states in India are:
(i) Union List: Includes subjects of national importance like defense, foreign affairs, banking, communications, and currency. Only the Union Government can make laws on these subjects.
(ii) Concurrent List: Includes subjects of common interest such as education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption, and succession. Both the Union and State Governments can make laws on these subjects, but if their laws conflict, the Union Government's law prevails.
(iii) State List: Contains subjects of state and local importance like police, trade, commerce, agriculture, and irrigation. Only the State Governments can make laws on these subjects.

Q5: Enumerate the features of federalism. (2020)
Ans: The features of federalism are:
(i) Two or more levels of government exist.
(ii) Each level of government has its own jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation, and administration.
(iii) The jurisdictions of the respective levels of government are specified in the constitution.
(iv) The fundamental provisions of the constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by one level of government.
(v) The High Court and the Supreme Court act as an umpire in case of disputes between different levels of government.
(vi) Sources of revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure financial autonomy.
(vii) Federalism aims to safeguard and promote unity while accommodating regional diversity.

Q6: Name any two subjects that are included in the Concurrent List. How are laws made on these subjects? Explain. (2019)
Ans: Two subjects included in the Concurrent List are education and forest. Both the Union and State Governments can make laws on these subjects. If their laws conflict with each other, the law made by the Union Government prevails. This ensures a uniform policy on these subjects throughout the country.

Q7: How is sharing of power between the union and the state government basic of the structure of the constitution of India? Explain. (2019)
Ans: The sharing of power between the Union and State governments is the basis of the structure of the Constitution of India. The Constitution clearly provides a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union Government and the State Governments. This power-sharing arrangement is not easy to change. Any change to it requires a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament and ratification by the legislatures of at least half of the total states.

Q8: What are the three lists given in the Constitution? (2019)
Ans: The three lists given in the Constitution are:
(i) Union List: Includes subjects of national importance like defense, foreign affairs, banking, communications, and currency. Only the Union Government can make laws on these subjects.
(ii) State List: Contains subjects of state and local importance like police, trade, commerce, agriculture, and irrigation. Only the State Governments can make laws on these subjects.
(iii) Concurrent List: Includes subjects of common interest such as education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption, and succession. Both the Union and State Governments can make laws on these subjects, but if their laws conflict, the Union Government's law prevails.

Q9: Describe the rationale behind the implementation of Decentralisation in India. (2020) OR Explain the basic idea behind decentralisation of political power in India. (2019)
Ans: The basic idea behind decentralization is that there are a large number of problems and issues that are best resolved at the local level. People have better knowledge about problems in their localities and have a better idea of where to spend money and how to manage things efficiently. Decentralization allows people to directly participate in decision-making, which helps inculcate a habit of democratic participation. It also ensures local self-government, which is a principle of democracy.

Q10: Describe any three steps taken to strengthen the local self-governments by the Constitutional Amendment, 1992. (2019) OR Explain the steps taken by the Indian Government in 1992 to make the third-tier of democracy more powerful. (2019)
Ans: Three steps taken to strengthen local self-governments by the Constitutional Amendment, 1992 are:
(i) Regular Elections: It is constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies. An independent institution called the State Election Commission has been created in each state to conduct panchayat and municipal elections.
(ii) Reserved Seats: Seats are reserved in the elected bodies and the executive heads of these institutions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. At least one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
(iii) Power and Revenue Sharing: State governments are required to share some powers and revenue with local government bodies, although the nature of sharing varies from state to state.

Q11: Explain any five features of the Panchayati Raj system in India. (2016)
Ans: Five features of the Panchayati Raj system in India are:
(i) Rural-based: Panchayati Raj is primarily focused on rural areas.
(ii) Gram Panchayat: Each village has a Gram Panchayat, which is the basic unit of the Panchayati Raj system.
(iii) Elected Representatives: Panchs and a Sarpanch are elected by the adult population in the village to govern the Gram Panchayat.
(iv) Gram Sabha: The Panchayat works under the supervision and guidance of the Gram Sabha, which consists of all the voters in the village and meets at least twice or thrice a year.
(v) Panchayat Samiti or Block or Mandal: Several Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or Block or Mandal, which is responsible for coordination and supervision of the Gram Panchayats.

Q12: Explain the factors that make federal government in India so attractive. (2016)
Ans: The factors that make federal government in India attractive are:
(i) Defined Jurisdiction: The jurisdiction of different arms of the government is clearly defined, ensuring that problems are solved as per jurisdiction.
(ii) Administrative Autonomy: There is no administrative interference because each level of government has financial autonomy.
(iii) Unity and Diversity: The federal structure ensures unity among the people while accommodating regional diversity.

Q13: Highlight any three steps taken by India towards making it a federation. (2015)
Ans: Three steps taken by India towards making it a federation are:
(i) Reorganization of States: The boundaries of several old states were changed to create new states based on linguistic, cultural, ethnic, or geographical differences.
(ii) Center-State Relations: The Center-State relations have been well defined, ensuring a clear distribution of power and responsibilities between the central government and state governments.
(iii) Decentralization: India has implemented decentralization at the local level through the establishment of Panchayati Raj and municipal governments, allowing for greater participation and self-government.

Long Answer Questions

Q1: Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country. Support the statement in reference of India. (2020)
Ans: In India, federalism is enshrined in the Constitution and the power is divided between the central government and the state governments. The central government has powers to make laws on subjects of national importance, while the state governments have powers to make laws on subjects of regional and local importance. 
This division of power ensures that both the central government and the state governments have their own jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation, and administration. The existence and authority of each tier of government in India are constitutionally guaranteed, and the fundamental provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by one level of government. The courts in India have the power to interpret the Constitution and the powers of different levels of government, acting as an umpire in case of disputes. The federal system in India also ensures financial autonomy for each level of government, as the sources of revenue for each level are clearly specified. This system of federalism in India promotes unity while accommodating regional diversity. 

Q2: Highlight three major distinctions between the federations of 'coming together' type and 'holding together' type. (2020)
Ans: The distinctions between the federations of 'coming together' type and 'holding together' type are as follows:
1. In the 'coming together' type of federation, independent states come together voluntarily to form a bigger unit. On the other hand, in the 'holding together' type of federation, a large country decides to divide its power between the central government and the states.
2. In the 'coming together' type of federation, all the states have equal power and are strong. They pool their sovereignty and retain their identity to increase their security. In contrast, in the 'holding together' type of federation, the central government tends to be more powerful, and the federating units have unequal power.
3. Examples of 'coming together' federations include the United States of America, Switzerland, and Australia. Examples of 'holding together' federations include India, Spain, and Belgium. 

Q3: Describe the nature of the Panchayati Raj System in India. (2020)
Ans: The Panchayati Raj System in India is a three-tier system of local self-government. The system consists of Gram Panchayats at the village level, Block Samitis at the block level, and Zila Parishads at the district level. The Gram Panchayat is a council consisting of several ward members, often called 'Panchs,' and a president or sarpanch. 
The members of the Gram Panchayat are directly elected by all the adult population living in that ward or village. The Gram Panchayat is the decision-making body for the entire village. The Panchayati Raj System was made more effective and powerful by the amendment of the Constitution in 1992. This system of local self-government ensures that people can participate directly in decision-making at the local level and helps in the development and governance of rural areas. 

Q4: Describe the importance of a third-tier of government in a vast country like India. (2019)
Ans: The importance of a third-tier of government in a vast country like India can be understood from the following points:
1. Local problem-solving: There are a large number of problems and issues that are best settled at the local level. People living in localities have better knowledge of the problems and can find better solutions locally.
2. Better resource allocation: People at the local level have better ideas on how to solve problems and where to spend resources. They understand the needs and priorities of their local areas, which helps in better resource allocation.
3. Direct participation: At the local level, people can directly participate in decision-making. This not only gives them a sense of empowerment but also helps in building a habit of democratic participation.
4. Inculcating democratic values: The third-tier of government provides an opportunity for people to think and plan for themselves. It helps in inculcating a habit of democratic participation and promotes a sense of ownership and responsibility among the citizens. 

Q5: How has the Panchayati Raj strengthened democracy in India? Express your views. (2016)
Ans: The Panchayati Raj system has strengthened democracy in India in the following ways:
1. Decentralization of power: The Panchayati Raj system is a prime example of decentralization of power. It provides a platform for the direct participation of people in decision-making at the local level. This ensures that people can get most of their problems solved locally and have a say in the governance of their own communities.
2. Empowerment of local communities: The Panchayati Raj system has empowered local communities by giving them the authority to make decisions on matters that directly affect their lives. People at the grassroots level have a better understanding of their problems and can find appropriate solutions, leading to effective governance.
3. Promoting social justice: The Panchayati Raj system has played a crucial role in promoting social justice. It has given marginalized sections of society, such as women, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes, an opportunity to participate in decision-making and have their voices heard. This has led to greater representation and inclusivity in the democratic process.
Overall, the Panchayati Raj system has strengthened democracy in India by promoting grassroots democracy, empowering local communities, and ensuring social justice.

Q6: Differentiate between Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat. (2015)
Ans: The differences between Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat are as follows:
1. Composition: Gram Sabha consists of all the voters in a village, while Gram Panchayat is a council consisting of several ward members and a president or sarpanch.
2. Decision-making: Gram Sabha is the primary decision-making body at the village level, where all the adult members can participate. Gram Panchayat, on the other hand, is the executive body that implements the decisions taken by the Gram Sabha.
3. Functions: Gram Sabha discusses and decides on various issues such as the approval of development plans, solving disputes, and overseeing the functioning of the Gram Panchayat. Gram Panchayat is responsible for the day-to-day administration and governance of the village, including the implementation of development projects and welfare schemes.