class 10th FEDERALISM chapter 2nd politics notes . class 10 social notes
Chapter 2: Federalism in India NOTES
2.1: Understanding Federalism
Definition: A system of government where power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country.
Two Levels of Government:
National Level: Responsible for issues of national importance.
State Level: Deals with everyday concerns of the citizens.
Key Features:
Multiple Levels: Two or more levels of government exist.
Shared Jurisdiction: Each level governs the same citizens, but with distinct authority in specific areas like legislation, taxation, and administration.
Constitutional Guarantee: The existence and authority of each level are guaranteed by the constitution.
Amending the Constitution: Requires mutual consent from both levels.
Judicial Review: Courts interpret the constitution and power distribution, resolving disputes between levels.
Financial Autonomy: Each level has specified revenue sources for smooth functioning.
Unity and Diversity: Safeguards national unity while accommodating regional variations.
2.2: Types of Federations
Coming Together Federations: Independent states unite to form a larger entity, pooling sovereignty and retaining identity (e.g., USA, Switzerland, Australia). Constituent states usually have equal powers.
Holding Together Federations: A large country distributes power between the central and state governments. Often, constituent units have unequal powers, with some receiving special rights.
2.3: Federalism in India
Holding Together Model: Power resides with state governments, functioning under the central government's supervision.
Three Tiers of Government:
Union Government: Governs the entire nation.
State Governments: Manage individual states.
Local Self-Government: Panchayats (rural) and municipalities (urban).
2.4: Distribution of Powers
The Indian Constitution divides power through three lists:
Union List: Includes subjects of national importance like defense, foreign affairs, banking, and currency. Only the union government can make laws regarding these matters.
State List: Covers subjects of state and local importance like police, trade, agriculture, and irrigation. State governments alone have legislative authority here.
Concurrent List: Encompasses subjects of common interest, such as education, forests, and labor unions. Both union and state governments can make laws, but the union law prevails in case of conflict.
Residual Powers: Subjects not included in any list fall under the union government's authority.
2.5: Special Powers of Jammu and Kashmir
J&K enjoys unique features within the Indian federation:
Possesses its own constitution.
Requires state assembly approval for applying many provisions of the Indian Constitution.
Restricts land and property ownership for non-permanent residents of the state.
2.6: Union Territories and Power Sharing
Union territories lack the powers of states and are governed directly by the central government.
2.7: Amending the Power Sharing Arrangement
Changing this arrangement is a complex process requiring:
Approval by both houses of parliament with a two-thirds majority.
Ratification by legislatures of at least half of the states.
2.8: Role of the Judiciary
The judiciary plays a crucial role in:
Overseeing the implementation of constitutional provisions and procedures.
Adjudicating disputes regarding power division between the center and states.
2.9: Financial Arrangements
Both the central and state governments raise resources through taxes to fulfill their responsibilities.
2.10: Linguistic States
Formed in 1947 to recognize the diverse linguistic and cultural identities across the country.
This move has strengthened national unity and simplified administration.
2.11: Language Policy
Hindi serves as the official language of the union government.
The constitution recognizes 21 scheduled languages.
Candidates can use any scheduled language for central government exams.
Each state has its official language.
English, initially intended to be discontinued in 1965, continues alongside Hindi for official purposes due to opposition from non-Hindi speaking states.
2.12: Centre-State Relations
The central government can dissolve state governments under specific circumstances and impose President's rule.
This power was previously misused to dismiss state governments led by opposing parties.
The rise of coalition governments at the center since 1990 has fostered a new culture of power sharing and respect for state autonomy.
2.13: Decentralization in India (Continued)
Benefits of Decentralization:
Enhances responsiveness to citizens' needs and demands.
Enables direct citizen participation in decision-making processes.
Strengthens grass-roots democracy.
Constitutional Framework:
The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992) empowered local self-governments.
Regular elections for local bodies are mandatory.
Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes in local bodies.
Minimum one-third reservation for women in these bodies.
State Election Commissions conduct panchayat and municipal elections.
State governments share power and revenue with local bodies (varies by state).
2.14: Panchayati Raj (Rural Local Government)
Structure:
Gram Panchayat (village or group of villages):
Elected council with representatives called panch and a president (sarpanch).
Decision-making body for the entire village.
Gram Sabha (village assembly):
Comprises all adult voters of the village.
Meets twice or thrice a year to approve annual budgets and review panchayat performance.
Panchayat Samiti (block or mandal):
Consists of elected representatives from all panchayats in the area.
Zilla Parishad (district council):
Comprises elected members from panchayat samitis and MLAs and MPs of the district.
2.15: Municipalities (Urban Local Government)
Structure:
Municipalities for smaller urban areas.
Municipal corporations for larger cities.
Both governed by elected bodies with representatives.
Municipal Chairperson (municipality) or Mayor (corporation) as the head.
2.16: Significance of Local Self-Government
Deepens democracy: Enhances citizen participation and strengthens democratic processes.
Challenges:
Uneven implementation across states.
Inadequate financial resources and capacity building for effective functioning.
Ensuring genuine power devolution and effective accountability.
2.17: Conclusion
Federalism in India, with its unique features and challenges, plays a vital role in maintaining national unity while accommodating regional diversity. The distribution of powers, the role of the judiciary, and ongoing efforts towards decentralization contribute to a complex yet dynamic power-sharing arrangement that continues to evolve.
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