Class 11 Political Science (Indian Constitution At Work) Chapter 7 Federalism

Key Concept: State Representation

d) Rajya Sabha

[Solution Description] The Rajya Sabha, or Upper House of the Indian Parliament, provides asymmetrical representation because it allocates seats to states based on their size and population, unlike the Lok Sabha where each state has a proportional representation.

Key Concept: Basic Concept

d) Unity in diversity

[Solution Description] Unity in diversity describes how India accommodates multiple cultures and languages within a single nation.

Key Concept: Basic Definition

b) To recognize regional and linguistic diversity

[Solution Description] One of the primary reasons for adopting federalism in India was to recognize and accommodate regional and linguistic diversity, ensuring that different cultural groups could coexist within a single nation.

Key Concept: Controversial Cases

c) Andhra Pradesh

[Solution Description] The correct answer is Andhra Pradesh. In 1977, President’s Rule was imposed in Andhra Pradesh, leading to significant political debate and scrutiny over the misuse of Article 356.

Key Concept: State Reorganization

b) Karnataka

[Solution Description] The state formerly known as Mysore is now called Karnataka. It was renamed in 1973 to reflect the linguistic and cultural identity of the region.

Key Concept: Governor’s Powers

b) Can reserve them for President’s assent

[Solution Description]

One of the powers of the Governor is to reserve certain bills passed by the state legislature for the President’s assent. This can occur if the Governor believes the bill conflicts with national interests or requires further consideration from the central government.

Key Concept: Separate Constitution

d) Separate constitution

[Solution Description] Under Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir had a separate constitution, which was not the case for other states in India. This allowed the state significant autonomy including having its laws on residency and property ownership.

Key Concept: Autonomy Definition

b) Self-governance

[Solution Description] In the context of federalism, autonomy refers to the power or right of a state or region to govern itself independently, making its own decisions without interference from a central authority.

Key Concept: Commission Recommendation

c) Creation of linguistic states for major linguistic groups

[Solution Description] The States Reorganisation Commission, established in 1953, recommended the reorganization of states based on linguistic lines to ensure that speakers of a particular language could be unified within a single administrative boundary.

Key Concept: Power Division

c) Centralized at the national level

[Solution Description] Economic and financial powers in dual federalism are usually centralized at the national level, allowing for uniformity and consistency across the country.

Key Concept: Basic Definition

d) Central control over major revenue sources limits states’ financial resources.

[Solution Description] States rely heavily on the central government for financial assistance because the central government controls major revenue sources, which restricts states’ capability to generate sufficient funds independently.

Key Concept: Central Government Role

b) To provide defense against external aggression.

[Solution Description] The central government plays a crucial role in maintaining national unity by ensuring consistent policies across states and effectively managing inter-state relations.

Key Concept: Interstate Conflicts

b) Water

[Solution Description] The Cauvery water dispute is primarily an interstate conflict over water sharing between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Key Concept: Historical Context

d) West Bengal Left Front Government document

[Solution Description] The West Bengal Left Front Government document of 1977 is known for demanding a restructuring of center-state financial relations to provide greater financial autonomy to states.

Key Concept: Financial Powers

c) Control over key revenue-generating items

[Solution Description] A major financial power of the central government in India is its control over revenue-generating items such as taxes on income other than agricultural income, excise duties, and customs duties, providing it with substantial financial authority.

Key Concept: State List Focus

c) Public Health

[Solution Description] The State List includes subjects under the exclusive legislative power of the State Legislature, such as Public Health.

Key Concept: Emergency Provisions

c) It becomes highly centralized

[Solution Description] During a national emergency, the Indian federal structure becomes more centralized, with many powers that are normally exercised by state governments being assumed by the central government.

Key Concept: Single Citizenship

d) Single citizenship

[Solution Description] India follows a single citizenship model, meaning all Indians are citizens of the country as a whole, not separately of any state.

Key Concept: Basic Definition

d) A Union of States

[Solution Description] Article 1 of the Indian Constitution describes India as a “Union of States”. This establishes the federal nature of the nation’s political structure.

Key Concept: Judiciary Role

b) To resolve disputes between the centre and states

[Solution Description] The judiciary plays a crucial role in resolving disputes between the central and state governments. This helps maintain the balance of power and prevents conflicts that could disrupt the federal structure.

Key Concept: Linguistic Diversity

c) 22

[Solution Description]

There are 22 languages that have been officially recognized in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, reflecting India’s linguistic diversity.

Key Concept: Simple Fact

b) Supreme Court

[Solution Description] In the Indian Constitution, the Supreme Court is given the authority to adjudicate disputes between the Centre and the States, serving as the apex judicial body for such matters.

Key Concept: Linguistic and Border Issues

b) Historical and linguistic factors complicate negotiations.

[Solution Description] The Belgaum border dispute is complex because it involves historical claims, linguistic differences with Marathi-speaking populations in a region administered by Karnataka, and differing political interests that prevent easy resolution.

Key Concept: Language Diversity

c) 22

[Solution Description]

India is home to more than 20 major languages and several hundred minor ones, as per the syllabus.

Key Concept: Basic Concepts

d) To resolve disputes between the central and state governments

[Solution Description] The primary role of the judiciary, as per the syllabus, is to resolve disputes between different levels of government within a federal structure. This means they act as an arbiter in conflicts that arise between state and central governments.

Key Concept: Basic Definition

b) To accommodate regional diversity

[Solution Description] The primary purpose of federalism in India is to accommodate regional diversity by distributing power between the central and state governments, ensuring that local needs and preferences are met while maintaining national unity.

Key Concept: Revenue Sources

d) Central Government

[Solution Description] The central government controls the major revenue sources, which often leaves the state governments dependent on financial assistance and grants.

Key Concept: Impact of Autonomy, Legal vs Political

c) They foster pride in regional identities but may provoke resistance from other states or the center.

[Solution Description] Demands for linguistic and cultural autonomy often lead to enhanced preservation and promotion of regional languages and cultures. While this strengthens local identity, it may also create tensions if perceived as threatening national unity or Hindi dominance, leading to debates about the division of political power.

Key Concept: Definition Recall

a) Break down of law and order leading to inability to govern

[Solution Description] The President’s Rule can be imposed under Article 356 if there is a failure of constitutional machinery in a state. A significant breakdown in law and order, causing an inability to govern per constitutional provisions, is considered a socio-economic condition for such imposition.

Key Concept: Recent State Formation

a) Telangana

[Solution Description] Telangana was formed in 2014 by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh, primarily due to demands for a separate statehood by the region’s people.

Key Concept: Union vs State

c) Concurrent List

[Solution Description] The Concurrent List in the Indian Constitution contains subjects on which both the Union and State legislatures can make laws. This allows for shared jurisdiction over certain matters, ensuring cooperation between different levels of government.

Key Concept: Basic Definition

d) All of the above

[Solution Description] The residuary powers are specifically meant for legislating on subjects that are not listed in any of the three lists provided by the Indian Constitution: Union List, State List, or Concurrent List.

Key Concept: State Reorganisation

b) Andhra Pradesh

[Solution Description] Andhra Pradesh is an example of a state formed as a result of the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, which reorganised boundaries based on linguistic lines. This act played a significant role in restructuring Indian states to better represent linguistic communities.

Key Concept: Basic Concepts

b) To resolve disputes between various levels of government

[Solution Description] The judiciary’s primary role in a federal system is to interpret laws and resolve disputes between different levels of government, such as conflicts between central and state authorities.

Key Concept: Unity Emphasis

b) Unity

[Solution Description] The Indian Constitution emphasizes unity in its federal structure, even while recognizing regional and linguistic diversity. This unity is a fundamental aspect of maintaining harmony and coherence in a diverse nation like India.

Key Concept: Central Power

d) Parliament

[Solution Description]

In India, the power to alter the boundaries of a state lies with the central legislative body, which is Parliament. This is part of the centralized powers given to the national government.

Key Concept: Controversial Articles

b) Article 356

[Solution Description] Article 356 of the Indian Constitution provides for the imposition of President’s rule in a State. This can occur when the governance of a State cannot be carried on according to the provisions of the Constitution.

Key Concept: Special Status

c) Special autonomy

[Solution Description] Article 370 provided special autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, allowing it to have its own constitution and decision-making powers over all matters except foreign affairs, defense, finance, and communications. This provision was abrogated in August 2019.

Key Concept: Special Provisions

c) Article 370

[Solution Description] Article 370 of the Indian Constitution granted special autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, allowing it to have its own constitution and decision-making rights over all matters except defense, communications, finance, and foreign affairs until it was abrogated in 2019.

Key Concept: Cultural Autonomy

d) Tamil Nadu

[Solution Description] Tamil Nadu has been one of the states that opposed the imposition of Hindi as the sole national language. It has demanded cultural autonomy, allowing it to preserve and promote its own linguistic identity and culture.

Key Concept: Federalism Challenges

c) Political competition among units

[Solution Description] In a federal system, balancing the distribution of power and resources between central and regional governments can lead to conflicts. This challenge may arise due to differences in local governance priorities or resource allocations.

Key Concept: Special Status

d) Article 370

[Solution Description] The Indian Constitution provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370. This article allowed the state a certain degree of autonomy, including having its own constitution and decision-making powers over several areas apart from defense, communication, and foreign affairs.

Key Concept: Central Authority

c) Both a) and b)

[Solution Description] A strong central government was established to maintain unity and ensure socio-economic development across the diverse regions of India. This was important to manage the different languages, cultures, and economic conditions effectively.

Key Concept: Federalism Definition

b) Division of power between central and state governments

[Solution Description]

Indian federalism is characterized by the division of powers between the central government and state governments. This ensures that both levels of government have authority over certain areas as specified in the constitution.

Key Concept: Federalism Basics

d) A rainbow

[Solution Description] Federalism is likened to a rainbow in the syllabus, emphasizing how it balances different elements such as unity and diversity.

Key Concept: Role Identification

b) To resolve disputes

[Solution Description] The primary role of an independent judiciary in a federal system is to resolve disputes between different levels of government, such as central and state governments, ensuring fair governance.

Key Concept: Commission Knowledge

c) Sarkaria Commission

[Solution Description] The Sarkaria Commission recommended that the appointment of Governors should be non-partisan to maintain neutrality and fairness in state governance.

Key Concept: Key Features

b) Cooperation between the centre and states

[Solution Description] One of the key principles of Indian federalism is cooperation between the centre and states to ensure smooth governance and effective policy implementation across various regions, recognizing India’s diverse needs.

Key Concept: Basic Structure

c) Union and State

[Solution Description] According to the Indian Constitution, the governmental structure is federal and divided into two main levels: the Union Government and the State Governments. This division ensures distribution of powers and responsibilities between different levels.

Key Concept: Basic Powers

d) Parliament

[Solution Description] The power to alter state boundaries is vested in the Parliament according to the Indian Constitution. This means that any changes to the boundaries or formation of new states must be enacted by the Parliament.

Key Concept: Border Dispute Identification

b) Maharashtra and Karnataka

[Solution Description] The Belgaum border dispute is primarily between Maharashtra and Karnataka due to historical claims and linguistic demographics.

Key Concept: Integration of States

c) 500

[Solution Description] At the time of India’s independence, there were over 500 princely states that required integration into the Indian Union to establish a cohesive nation.

Key Concept: Article 370

d) Article 370

[Solution Description] Article 370 of the Indian Constitution granted special autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, allowing it to have its own constitution and decision-making powers in certain areas.

Key Concept: Special Status

d) Jammu and Kashmir

[Solution Description] The state with a special status under Article 370 was Jammu and Kashmir. This article granted it autonomy except in matters of defense, communication, and foreign affairs.

Key Concept: Governor’s Power

a) Reserve the bill for the President’s assent

[Solution Description] The Governor has the power to reserve a bill passed by the State Legislature for the assent of the President. This means that before the bill becomes law, it may need approval from the President.

Key Concept: Article Identification

b) Article 33 and 34

[Solution Description] Articles 33 and 34 of the Indian Constitution empower the Parliament to make laws for protecting persons serving the Union or a state, particularly under conditions like martial law.

Key Concept: Basic Structure

c) Union and State governments

[Solution Description] The Indian Constitution establishes two sets of government: the Union government and State governments. This division ensures both centralization for national purposes and decentralization for regional matters.

Key Concept: Federalism Concept

d) Two sets of polities with distinct powers and responsibilities

[Solution Description] Federalism is primarily an institutional mechanism to accommodate two sets of polities: one at the national level and the other at the regional level, both with distinct powers.

Key Concept: Federalism Characteristics

c) Governments share autonomy within their respective spheres

[Solution Description] The syllabus points out that each government in a federal system is autonomous in its own sphere, highlighting the independence of governmental levels.

Key Concept: Administrative Efficiency

c) To improve administrative efficiency

[Solution Description] The creation of new states in 2000 such as Uttarakhand was primarily driven by the need to improve administrative efficiency. By dividing larger states into smaller ones, governance and administration could be more effectively managed, allowing for focused development and better resource allocation.

Key Concept: States Reorganisation Commission

d) Reorganization of states along linguistic lines

[Solution Description] The States Reorganisation Commission established in 1953 recommended the reorganization of Indian states predominantly along linguistic lines. This recommendation led to the significant redrawing of state boundaries in 1956 to align with linguistic identities.

Key Concept: Basic Concepts

b) Division of powers between centre and states

[Solution Description] In India’s federal system, one of the primary features is the division of powers between the central government and state governments. This allows for decentralized governance and ensures that both levels of government have distinct areas of responsibility.