Here you will find all the questions, solutions, answers, and notes of chapter 12 Power Sharing Mechanisms in Democracy of Social Science for class 10 students studying under Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE). However, the study materials should be used only for references and nothing more. The notes can be modified/changed according to needs.
Summary
Federalism is a system of government in which power is constitutionally divided between the national or central government and various regional units. Each government is autonomous. Federalism allows two sets of identities; people belong to the region as well as the country. For example, one can be an Assamese as well as an Indian. The national government in a federation holds powers related to common national interests like Defence, Foreign policy, Finance, etc. The provincial or state governments hold powers related to regional interests like law and order. The central and state governments have independent, distinct and exclusive powers. Thus, we conclude that vertical division of power sharing is most commonly referred to as federalism.
Under the unitary system, real and effective powers are in the hands of the national or union government. The centre can transfer some of its powers to regional levels on its own. The central government can pass orders to the provincial or regional governments which are subordinate to it. But in a federal system, the regional governments are not subordinate to the centre; hence, it cannot pass orders to them. State or regional governments are not answerable to the central government. Both the set of governments are separately answerable to their respective legislatures or to the people.
Textual questions and answers
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which form of power sharing is most commonly referred to as federalism?
(a) Horizontal division of power (b) Vertical division of power (c) Division of power among various communities (d) Sharing of power among political parties
Answer: b. Vertical division of power
2. The Gram Sabha supervises the functioning of
(a) Nyaya Panchayat (b) Gram Panchayat (c) Zila Parishad (d) Block Samiti
Answer: b. Gram Panchayat
3. The Concurrent List has
(a) 47 subjects (b) 51 subjects (c) 56 subjects (d) 50 subjects
Answer: a. 47 subjects
4. Read the statements given below related to the concept of federalism:
i. There are two or more tiers or levels of the government. ii. Judiciary settles disputes between centre and the regional units iii. Constitution guarantees existence and authority of each tier of government. iv. Amendment of the basic structure of the constitution can be done unilaterally.
Which of the above-mentioned statements is/are not the feature of federalism?
(a) i and iii (b) Only iv (c) ii and iv (d) I,ii,iii and iv
Answer: b. Only iv
5. Directions: In the following question, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice as:
(a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A). (b) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A). (c) Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false. (d) Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.
Assertion: Currency is a part of Union List.
Reason: It is a subject of national importance.
Answer: a. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
Very Short Answer questions
1. What was the main objective of Sarkaria Commission?
Answer: The main objective of the Sarkaria Commission was to examine the relationships between the state and the central government and the state governments and the powers they share.
2. Name the apex court of India.
Answer: The apex court in India is the Supreme Court of India.
3. What is the popular name of rural local government?
Answer: The popular name of rural local government is Panchayati Raj.
Short Answer Questions
1. Which countries follow the ‘coming together’, style of federalism?
Answer: A few countries which follow the ‘coming together’ style of the federation are the USA, Switzerland, and Australia.
2. Name the two amendments which gave legal status to local self-government in India.
Answer: The 73rd and 74th amendments gave legal status to local self-government in India.
3. Mention two major objectives of a federal government.
Answer: The two main objectives of a federal government are:
(i) to safeguard and promote the unity and integrity of a country
(ii) to accommodate regional diversity
Long Answer Questions
1. Differentiate between a federal and a unitary form of the government? Give an example.
Answer: Federal form of government is a system of government in which power is constitutionally divided
between the national or central government and various regional units. Each government is autonomous. Federalism allows two sets of identities; people belong to the region as well as the country. For example, one can be an Assamese as well as an Indian.
Under the unitarY sYstem, real and effective powers are in the hands of the national or union government. The centre can transfer some of its powers to regional levels on its own. The central government can pass orders to the provincial or regional governments which are subordinate to it. Example China, France, etc.
2. Mention any four factors behind the decentralisation of power in India.
Answer: Four factors behind the decentralisation of power in India are:
i. Several states of India are bigger than independent countries of Europe For the sake of efficiency in administration, a state had to give some of the powers to local self-governments.
ii. A large number of issues and problems are best settled at the local level because these may be different in different localities of the same state.
iii. People at the local level have a better knowledge of problems and solutions at the local level.
iv. If local people directly participate in the processes of governance, democracy is strengthened at the grassroots level.
3. Explain the threefold distribution of legislative power between the Union Government and the State Governments.
Answer: The Constitution of India provides for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers. lt contains three lists : (i) Union List (ii) State List (iii) Concurrent List.
Union List: The Union government alone can make laws on the subjects in the list. For example, defence, foreign policy, atomic energy, banking, post and telegraph.
State List: The State governments alone can make laws on the subjects contained in the list. For example, police, local government, trade and commerce within the state.
Concurrent List: On the subjects in this list both the Union and State governments can make laws. For example criminal and civil procedure, marriage and divorce, education, economic planning, trade union, etc.
4, Describe any four features of federalism.
Answer: Four features of federalism are:
i. There are two or more tiers or levels of government.
ii. Various levels of government rule or administer the same citizens but each level has its own jurisdiction in specific matters of administration, taxation, and legislation.
iii. The Constitution guarantees the existence and authority of each tier of government. The powers and functions of various levels of government are clearly stated in the Constitution.
iv. Amendment or modification of basic features of the Constitution cannot be done by any level unilaterally. It requires legal consent of both levels of government.
5. Describe any four measures taken to decentralise power in India.
Answer: Four measures taken to decentralise power in India are:
i. The first step taken to decentralize power in India was the adoption of a federal system of government right after independence which defines the power sharing between the central government and the state governments.
ii. A Community Development Programme was initiated at first in 1952. Then a three-tier Panchayati Raj system of local government was started in the rural areas.
iii. In the beginning, these local bodies did not have enough powers and functions to look after the local development. Subsequently, the 73rd and 74th amendments were passed by the Parliament in 1992 to give more powers to the local governments.
iv. The 73rd Amendment referred to rural local governments (referred to as Panchayati Raj institutions or PRls) while the 74th amendment made provisions for urban local governments (Nagarpalikas). They came into force in 1993.
Extra/additional MCQs
1. How is power divided in federalism?
A. Vertical division of power B. Horizontal division of power C. Division of power among various communities D. Sharing of power among political parties
Answer: A. Vertical division of power
55. What is the main purpose of the State Finance Commission in the Panchayati Raj system?
A. To conduct Panchayat and municipal elections B. To examine the financial position of local governments C. To share powers between the Centre and the States D. To protect the rights of the Adivasis
Answer: B. To examine the financial position of local governments
Extra/additional questions and answers/solutions
Q. What is federalism?
Answer: Federalism is a system of government in which power is constitutionally divided between the national or central government and various regional units.
46. What are the two routes of formation of federations?
Answer: Formation of federations has either been from ‘below’ or from ‘above’. The first route involves coming together of independent states or constituents on their own to form a bigger unit. They sought to increase their security and quicker development by pooling together their sovereignty but retaining identity. For example, the thirteen states of America initially came together to form a federation called the United States of America. This type of ‘coming together’ federations include the USA, Switzerland and Australia. In this category, the constituent states have equal powers and the balance of power is slightly tilted towards them. They are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
The second route of formation of a federation is where a big country decides to distribute power between the centre and states or constituent units. This is called ‘holding together’ federations. India, Spain and Belgium are good examples of this category. In this category, the balance of power is slightly tilted towards the centre. The central government is generally more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Some units are granted more powers than others. In case of India, the states have been given more powers than the union territories.
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