Federalism 2024 2025
Federalism 2024 2025
Federalism 2024 2025
Federal government:
1. Power is divided between central authority and its various constituent
units.
2. The central government cannot order the state government to do
something.
Unitary government:
1. Under this there is only a single government controlling all the
powers.
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2. Central government can pass orders to the provincial government.
3. Local governments don’t enjoy any freedom or powers.
4. Example. England, Japan, France, Italy etc.
2. Different tiers of government govern the same citizens, but each tier has
its own jurisdiction in specific matters of,( LAT) Legislation
Administrative and Taxation matters.
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3. The fundamental provisions of the government cannot be unilaterally
changed by one level of government. Consent of both levels of
government are required.
5. Courts have the power to interpret the constitution and the power
of different levels of government. It acts as an umpire if a dispute
arises.
Coming-together federations:
Holding-together federation:
1. Division of power:
The constitution demarcates the power of the central and the state
government into different lists of subjects.
There are three lists
Union list - Includes subjects of national importance. Example -
communication and currency foreign affairs banking defense etc.
They are included in this list so that we have a uniform policy on these
matters throughout the country.
The union govt. makes laws relating to the subjects mentioned in the union
list.
Residuary Powers: The Union government has the power to make laws
for the subjects that are not included in any of the three lists. These are
termed residuary subjects. The central government can make laws on these
subjects. Eg Computer software
- All states in the Indian Union do not have identical powers: Jammu
Kashmir enjoys a Special status according to Article 370 of the
constitution.
-Many provisions of the Indian constitution are not applicable to this state
without the approval of the state assembly.
-Indians who aren’t permanent residents of this state cannot buy land or
house here.
Q6. There are some units of the Indian Union which enjoy very little
power Explain.
1. Linguistic states:
After independence several old states were changed in order to create
new states.
This was done to ensure that the people who spoke the same language,
share common culture, ethnicity or geography could live in the same
state.
Initially the Central government resisted linguistic states for the fear of
disintegration but experience has shown that it made the country more united
and made administration easier.
2. Language policy:
Indian constitution didn’t give the status of national language to any
one of the languages.
Besides Hindi, there are twenty one other languages recognized
as schedule languages by the Indian constitution.
The Central government has shown caution in the spread of Hindi due
to opposition from many non-Hindi speaking states.
States too have their own official language much of their work is done
in their official language.
1. Before 1990, when the same party ruled both at the centre and
in most of the states
2. The central government in India has the power to dissolve the
state government on grounds of inefficiency and impose President
Rule in the state.
3. Spirit of Federalism undermined by the Central government as
they often dismissed State governments controlled by rival parties.
4. After 1990, led the emergence of many regional parties in the
states of the country.
5. It was the beginning of era of coalition government at the
centre, this led to a new culture of power sharing and respect
for the independence of state government.
6. This trend was supported by the Supreme Court making it
difficult for the Centre government to dismiss the state in an
arbitrary manner.
7. Though Indian constitution has demarcated the power of the
union and the state government but still the union government
can have influence over the state in many ways.
Q8. What is decentralization?
When power is taken away from Central and state governments, and given
to local government it is called decentralization.
People have better knowledge of problems in their locality and have ideas
how to spend money and manage things more efficiently.
3. Foundation of democracy:
Local governments are most important in a democratic system.
These are a training school for local citizen and local leadership.
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Composition Block Samitis are grouped together into a ZP with the
chairmen of the block Samitis, members of the parliament + state legislatures
from the districts, SC, ST representation and women members elected head
– chairman and vice chairman
Appointed head – district collector and district magistrate
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ii) Constitutional states for local government has also increased women’s
representation and voice in our country.
Difficulty
i) While elections are held regularly and enthusiastically. Gram Sabha are
not held regularly.
ii) Most states governments have not transferred significant powers to the
local governments. They do not give adequate resources also to them.
Q17.How is Zila Parishad formed?
3. Members of the Lok Sabha and MLA’s of that district and some of the
officials of other district level bodies are also its members.
MR GERARD GOMES