Chapter 7 Federalism

Chapter 7 Federalism

Question 1.
From the list of following events which ones would you identify with the functioning of federalism? Why?
1. The Centre on Tuesday announced Sixth Schedule status to GNLF-led Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, which would ensure greater autonomy to the governing body in the Hill district of West Bengal. A tripartite Memorandum of Settlement was signed in New Delhi between, the Centre, West Bengal government and the Subhas Ghising-led Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) after two days of hectic deliberations.
2. Government for action plan for rain-hit states: Centre has asked the rain-ravaged States to submit detailed plans for reconstruction to enable it to respond to their demands for extra relief expeditiously.
3. New Commissioner for Delhi: The Capital is getting a new municipal commissioner. Confirming this, present MCD Commissioner Rakesh Mehta said he has received his transfer orders and that he is likely to be replaced by IAS officer Ashok Kumar, who is serving as the Chief Secretary in Arunachal Pradesh: Mehta, a 1975 batch IAS officer, has been heading the MCD for about three-and-a-half years.
4. CU Status for Manipur University: Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a Bill to convert the Manipur University into a Central University with the Human Resource Development Minister promising such institutions in the North Eastern States of Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Sikkim as well.
5. Funds released: The Centre has released ? 553 lakh to Arunachal Pradesh under its rural water supply scheme. The first instalment was of? 466.81 lakh.
6. We’ll teach the Biharis how to live in Mumbai: Around 100 Shiv Sainiks stormed J. J. Hospital, disrupted daily operations, raised slogans and threatened to take matters into their own hands if no action was taken against non-Maharashtrian students.
7. Demand for dismissal of Government: The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in a representation submitted to State Governor recently, has demanded dismissal of the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government for its alleged financial mismanagement and embezzlement of public money.
8. NDA government asks Naxalites to surrender arms: Amid a walkout by opposition RJD and its allies Congress and CPI (M), the Bihar government today appealed to the Naxalites to shun the path of violence and reaffirmed its pledge to root out unemployment to usher in a new era of development in Bihar.
Answer:
1. The very much fact that the State concerned, i.e. West Bengal was appointed as a party to the settlement marks the event as a manifestation of working of federalism.
2. It throws light on the sensitivity of the centre which wants to provide help to the rain- ravaged states to sort out their problems. Hence, it can be identified as federalism.
3. It shows the transfer of an officer from one place to another, showing federalism.
4. In the constitution of India, education-subject comes under the concurrent list to strengthen federation by establishing central institutes to be identified as a functioning of federalism.
5. This is also federalism because centre releases funds for States under its rural water supply scheme. (Arunachal Pradesh).
6. This cannot be identified as federalism because the act of Shiv Sainiks does not promote fraternity, cooperation or mutual trust and respect.
7. This identifies the federalism.
8. This is a function of state government.

Question 2.
Think which of the following statements would be correct. State why.
1. Federalism enhances the possibility of people from different regions to interact without the fear of one’s culture being imposed upon them by others.
2. Federal system will hinder easier economic transaction between two different regions that have distinct types of resources.
3. A federal system will ensure that the powers of those at the centre will remain limited.
Answer:
1. This is correct because the federal government distributes the power between the
central government and the state government and local self-government.
2. This statement is not correct because the resources are of distinct type and federalism gives impetus to the economic transaction among different regions.
3. This is correct because federalism refers more powers to the constituent units of federation.

Question 3.
Based on the first few articles of Belgian constitution given below, explain how federalism is visualized in that country. Try and write a similar Article for the Constitution of India.
Title I: On Federal Belgium, its components and its territory.
1. Article 1 : Belgium is a Federal State made up of communities and regions.
2. Article 2 : Belgium is made up of three communities: The French Community, the Flemish Community and the German Community.
3. Article 3 : Belgium is made up of three regions: The Walloon region, the Flemish region and the Brussels region.
4. Article 4 : Belgium has four linguistic regions: The French-speaking region, the Dutch-speaking region, the bilingual region of Brussels Capital and the German-speaking region. Each commune (county borough) of the Kingdom is a part of one of these linguistic regions
5. Article 5: The Walloon region is made up of the following provinces: The Walloon Brabant, Hainault, Liege, Luxemburg and Namur. The Flemish region is made up of the following provinces: Antwerp, the Flemish Brabant, West Flanders, East Flanders and Limburg.
Answer:
1. Article (1): It says that India shall be a union of States.
2. Article (2): India aspires to be a society free from caste discrimination but seats in each province have been distributed among the communities of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and General.
3. Article (3): India is a union of 29 states and seven union territories. As per Article (1) of constitution of India:

4. Article (4): The eighth schedule of the constitution of India describes 18 different languages:

5. Article (5): As per Article (1) (2) states that states and the union territories shall be specified in the first schedule.

Question 4.
Imagine that you were to rewrite the provisions regarding federalism. Write an essay of not more than 300 words making your suggestions about:
(a) division of powers among the center and the States,
(b) distribution of financial resources,
(c) methods of resolving inter-State disputes and
(d) appointment of Governors
Answer:
Federalism is an institutional mechanism to accommodate two sets of politics one-at the national level and the other at the regional level:
(a) Division of powers:

(b) Distribution of financial resources:

(c) Methods of resolving inter-state dispute:

Example:

(d) Appointment of Governors:

Question 5.
Which of the following should be the basis for formation of a State? Why?
(a) Common language
(b) Common economic interests
(c) Common religion
(d) Administrative convenience
Answer:
In a federation different states are formed on the basis of common language they speak. Hence, federation is the unity in diversity. But, the administrative convenience should be the based for formation of states to develop a culture of mutual trust, tolerance and cooperation.

Question 6.
Majority of people from the States of north India—Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar—speak Hindi. If all these States are combined to form one State, would it be in tune with the idea of federalism? Give arguments.
Answer:
Federalism is an institutional mechanism to accommodate two seats of politics-one at the national level and the other at the regional level. If all the Hindi speaking regions of India, i.e. Rajasthan, U.P., M.P., Bihar, Gujarat are combined then there would be only a unitary or single unit, this cannot be called a federation.

Question 7.
List four features of the Indian Constitution that give greater power to the central government than the State government.
Answer:
Strong centre:

The emergency powers:

3. Financial dependance of the states on centre:

4. Appointment of Governors:

Question 8.
Why are many States unhappy about the role of the Governor?
Answer:

Examples

Question 9.
President’s rule can be imposed in a State if the government is not being run according to the provisions of the Constitution. State whether any of the following conditions are a fit case for imposition of President’s rule in the State. Give reasons.
1. Two members of the State legislative assembly belonging to the main opposition party have been killed by criminals and the opposition is demanding dismissal of the State government.
2. Kidnapping of young children for ransom is on rise. The number of crimes against women are increasing.
3. No political party has secured majority in the recent elections of the State Legislative Assembly. It is feared that some MLAs from the other parties may be lured to support a political party in return for money.
4. Different political parties are ruling in the State and at the center and they are bitter opponents of each other.
5. More than 2000 people have been killed in the communal riots.
6. In the water dispute between the two States, one State government refused to follow the decision of the Supreme Court.
Answer:
1. This circumstance does not show the failure of constitutional machinery, hence the President’s rule cannot be declared under Article 356.
2. This circumstance does not imply failure of constitutional machinery, hence, President’s rule cannot be imposed.
3. It does not imply to impose the President’s rule.
4. Two parties are ruling in the State and at the Center is the federalism, though they may be bitter opponents to each other but it is not the situation to impose President’s rule.
5. It is a fit circumstance for the imposition of President’s rule because it has created a grave law and order problem in the state, hence, it shows the failure of constitutional machinery.
6. It is a fit position to declare President’s rule because no state can go beyond the decision of the Supreme Court and if any state is doing this it means the administration is not being carried out as per the provisions of the constitution.

Question 10.
What are the demands raised by the States in their quest for greater autonomy?
Answer:
Different states and political parties have adopted different methods to demand more
autonomy:

Question 11.
Should some States be governed by special provisions? Does this create resentment among other States? Does this help in forging greater unity among the regions of the country?
Answer:
Some States feel resentment among other States if some States are granted the special provision by the constitution:

Extra Questions Solved

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
What is federalism?
Answer:
Federalism is an institutional mechanism to accommodate two sets of politics one at the national level and the other at the regional level.

Question 2.
When and how did federation come into existence?
Answer:
The federation in India has come into existence by the integration of independent princely states into British provinces.

Question 3.
Which two countries have faced the disintegration after 1970?
Answer:

Question 4.
Mention any three federal features of the Indian Constitution.
Answer:

Question 5.
How many languages are there in India?
Answer:
20 major languages and several hundred dialects.

Question 6.
How have the powers been distributed in the federation of India?
Answer:
The Constitution of India has provided the various lists of powers, i.e. The central, state and concurrent list. The central list contains 97 subjects of national importance, state list (66) of state subjects and concurrent list contain 47 subjects on which both can frame laws.

Question 7.
What are the factors which make a federalism successful?
Answer:

Question 3.
Mention some unitary features of the Constitution of India.
Answer:

Question 4.
What is the role of judiciary in federalism of India?
Answer:

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Justify that Constitution of India is a combination of federal and unitary forms of government.
Answer:
The Constitution of India is federal in form but unitary in spirit because it possesses the following provisions:

Question 2.
Mention some features of federal government.
Answer:
Federal form of government is the distribution of powers between the center and state and to let it work under their own spheres without any under interference:

Question 3.
Can Union Parliament frame laws on the subjects mentioned in the state list? Explain.
Answer:
Yes, Union Parliament or central government can frame the laws on the subjects mentioned in the state list in the following circumstances:

Question 4.
Explain the financial relations between the union and the states.
Answer:

Passage-Based Questions

Passage 1.
Read the passage (NCERT Textbook, page 169) given below carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Broadly, two types of disputes keep recurring. One is the border dispute. States have certain claims over territories belonging to neighbouring States. Though language is the basis of defining boundaries of the States, often border areas would Jiave populations speaking more than one language. So, it is not easy to resolve this dispute merely on the basis of linguistic majority. One of the long standing border disputes is the dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka over the city of Belgaum. Manipur and Nagaland too, have a long-standing border dispute. The carving out of Haryana from the erstwhile State of Punjab has led to dispute between the two States not only over border areas, but over the capital city of Chandigarh. This city today houses the capital of both these States. In 1985, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi reached an understanding with the leadership of Punjab. According to this understanding, Chandigarh was to be handed over to Punjab. But this has not happened yet.

Questions:
1. Mention any two types of disputes between states.
2. On v/hich city have Maharashtra and Karnataka a dispute?
3. Name the leader who reached an agreement/understanding with Punjab and when.
4. What was the agreement?
Answers:
1. Border dispute
Sharing of river water
2. Belgaum
3. The then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1985.
4. To hand over Chandigarh to Punjab.

Passage 2.
Read the passage (Textbook, page 171) given below carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Most of the Muslim majority States joined Pakistan but J&K was an exception. Under these circumstances, it was given much greater autonomy by the Constitution. According to Article 370, the concurrence of the State is required for making any laws in matters mentioned in the Union and Concurrent lists. This is different from the position of other States. In the case of other States, the division of powers as listed through the three lists automatically applies. In the case of Jammu and Kashmir, the central government has only limited powers and other powers listed in the Union List and Concurrent List can be used only with the consent of the State government. This gives the State of Jammu and Kashmir gTeater autonomy.

Questions:
1. Under which Article of constitution, J&K has been considered exceptional?
2. What is this exception?
3. How does J&K exercise this autonomy?
Answers:
1. Article 370

2. The state of Jammu and Kashmir enjoys some greater autonomy than other states.

3. In the case of Jammu and Kashmir, the central government has only limited powers and other listed in union list and concurrent list can be used only with the consent of state government.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Legislative powers have been distributed between the central and state government. Justify.
Answer:
Legislative relations between the central and state government have been distributed through the various lists, i.e. the union list, state list and concurrent list:
1. The union list:

2. The state list:

3. Concurrent list:

4. Residuary powers:
To make the center very strong, the residuary powers have been given to the central government only.

5. Union government can implement laws on the subjects of state list:

Question 2.
What is the administrative relationship between the central and state government in India? Explain.
Answer:

Picture-Based Questions

1. Read the cartoon (Textbook, page 165) given below and answer the questions that follow:

NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Political Science Chapter 7 Federalism Picture Based Questions Q1
Questions:
1. Identify the person making an appeal.
2. What appeal is being made by him?
3. What message does the cartoon convey?
Answers:
1. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru

2. To show greater tolerance towards other languages also.

3. Autonomy demands may be related to cultural and linguistic issues because some states feel that there is a domination of Hindi speaking areas over others.

2. Read the cartoon (NCERT Textbook, page 167) given below and answer the questions that follow:
NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Political Science Chapter 7 Federalism Picture Based Questions Q2
Questions:
1. What message does the cartoon convey?
2. How did it happen?
3. When was the states reorganization commission set up?
Answers:
1. Demand for new states.

2. During the national movement, it was decided that as far as possible states would be created on the basis of common cultural and linguistic identity.

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