Chapter 2 - Federalism

In Chapter 1 we learned that the division of power between different levels of government is one of the main forms of division of power in modern democracies. In this chapter, you will understand the theory and practice of Indian Federalism. At the end of this chapter, you will learn about the new third level of Indian federalism: local government.

Vidyakul CBSE Notes Class 10 Political Science Chapter 2 - Federalism provides a clear understanding of this chapter and all important concepts. You can also download the Grade 10 Civil Society Foundation Chapter 2 notes in PDF format from the link below or refer to them offline.

What is Federalism?

Federalism is a system of government in which powers are divided between a central government and various subjects in the country.

The Commonwealth has two levels of government. These two levels of government exercise their powers independently of each other. One of these is the government of the entire country which is usually in charge of some matter of national interest. The government at the local or state level handles most of the country's day-to-day administration.

Difference Between Unitary System and Federal System

Key Features of Federalism 

There are more than two levels (or hierarchies) of government.

Various levels of government govern the same citizens, but each level has its own jurisdiction over certain matters of law, taxation, and administration.

The existence and powers of government at all levels are guaranteed by the Constitution. Major provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by one level of authority. These changes require agreement at both levels of government. Courts have the power to interpret the constitution and powers of various levels of government.

Clearly define revenue sources to ensure the financial independence of government at all levels

The Federal Scheme has two purposes:

i) Protect and strengthen national unity.

ii) consider regional diversity; The Diverse Ways of Federalism 

It is an agreement to live with mutual trust between different levels of government. There are two types of ways in which federations can be formed.

The first path is to unite the independent countries into a single entity. These "gathering" federations are formed in the United States, Switzerland, and Australia.

The second way is for the Great Powers to decide to split power between their constituent countries and the central government. Federation "unification" of this kind is practiced in the countries of India, Spain, and Belgium.

How is federalism enforced?

The real success of federalism in India is due to its democratic character. Take a look at some of the major ways federalism is practiced in India.

Language of the Nation 

The establishment of the Language Nation was the first and most important test of India's democratic politics. From 1947 to 2017, many old states disappeared and many new states were created. Regions, boundaries, and state names have been changed. Some states are made up of people who speak the same language. These conditions are called linguistic conditions.

Language Policy

The second test of the Commonwealth of India is Language Policy. Hindi has been designated as the official language. Besides Hindi, there are 21 other languages ​​recognized by the Constitution as included in the Language List. Each state has its own official language and government affairs are conducted in each state's official language.

Relation between the Center and the State

Restructuring the relationship between the Center and the State is another way to strengthen federalism in practice. If no party wins a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, the main national party can merge with many parties, including several regional parties, to form a central government. This led to a new culture of power-sharing and respect for state autonomy.

Decentralization in India

Taking power from the central and state governments and transferring it to local governments is called decentralization. The main idea of ​​decentralization is that there are many problems and problems that are best solved at the local level. Local residents can also be directly involved in decision-making.

In 1992 an important step towards decentralization was taken. The Constitution has been amended to make the Third Democracy stronger and more efficient. Here are the key features of a three-level democracy:

Regular local elections are compulsory under the Constitution. The 4,444 seats in elected bodies and the executive heads of these bodies are reserved for designated castes, designated tribes, and other backward classes. At least one-third of all positions are for women.

State Election Commissions have been established in each state to conduct panchayat and municipal elections. State governments are required to share certain rights and revenues with local governments. The nature of sharing varies from state to state

Panchayati Raj System

Rural District Government is commonly known as Panchayati Raj. Every town or town group in some states has a Gram Panchayat. This is a council made up of several members of the ward, often called the Bianchi, and the president or sapanchi. They are directly elected by the entire adult population living in the town or district. Gram Panchayat is the decision-making body of the entire village. Panchayat is run under the general direction of the Gram Sabha. All voters in a town are its members. They must meet at least 2-3 times a year to approve Gram Panchayat's annual budget and review Gram Panchayat's activities.

Gram Panchayats when grouped together form a Panchayat Samiti or Block or Mandal. The Panchayat Samiti representative is elected by all Panchayat members in the district. All the Panchayat Samitis or Mandalas of the district together make up the Zilla (district) Parishad. Lok Sabha, members of district MLA, and some officials from other district-level bodies are members of Zilla Parishad.

Municipality

Gram Panchayat is for rural areas, so similarly there are municipalities for urban areas. Big cities are made up of municipalities. Municipalities and local businesses are both controlled by elected bodies made up of people's representatives. The chairman of a municipality is the political head of the municipality. In local governments, such officials are called mayors.

This new system of local government is the world's largest experiment in democracy. The constitutional status of local governments has contributed to the deepening of democracy in Korea. It also raised the representation of women and their voices in our democracy.

Frequently Asked Questions on CBSE Class 10 

What is ‘Federalism’?

Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country.

What are the sects under ‘Panchayati Raj’?

The Panchayati Raj system consists of Gram Panchayat at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at the block level, and Zila Parishad at the district level.

What are the functions of ‘Municipality’?

1. Urban planning including town planning.

2. Regulation of land use and construction of buildings.

3. Planning for economic and social development.

4. Roads and bridges.

5. Water supply for domestic, industrial, and commercial purposes.