NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Civics Chapter 2 – Federalism by Swastik Classes delves into the concept of federalism, which is a system of governance where power is divided between a central authority and constituent units. The chapter explores how federalism operates in India, examining the distribution of power between the central government and state governments. It also examines the advantages and challenges of federalism and how it contributes to democracy. Through its detailed analysis and explanations, the solutions provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of federalism in India’s political system.
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Civics Chapter 2 Federalism – Exercises
1. Locate the following States on a blank outline political map of India: Manipur, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh and Goa.
Solution :
2. Identify and shade three federal countries (other than India) on a blank outline political map of the world.
Solution :
Explanation:25 countries of the192 countries in the world have federal political systems.
3. Point out one feature in the practice of federalism in India that is similar to and one feature that is different from that of Belgium.
Solution :
In India, just like in Belgium, the central government has to share its powers with the State governments. However, unlike Belgium, India does not have a communist government in addition to the central and the state government. India has rural local government popularly known as Panchayati Raj.
4. What is the main difference between a federal form of government and a unitary one? Explain with an example.
Solution :
In a federal form of government, the central government shares its powers with the various constituent units of the country. Both types of governments are separately answerable to the people. For example, in India, power is divided between the Central Government and the various State governments.
In a unitary form of government, all the power is exercised by only one government. In this, the Central government can pass orders to the provincial or the regional government. Under the unitary system, either there is only one level of government or sub-units are subordinate to the central government. For example, in Sri Lanka, the national government has all the powers.
5. State any two differences between the local government before and after the Constitutional amendment in 1992.
Solution :
A major step towards decentralization was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the third-tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
| Local governments Before 1992 | Local governments After 1992 |
| Elections were controlled by the state and not held regularly. Seats were not reserved in the elected bodies for women. | An independent State Election Commission is responsible to conduct panchayat and municipal elections. At least one-third of all the positions are reserved for women. |
| Local governments did not have any powers or resources of their own. These were directly under the control of state governments. | The State governments are required to share some powers and revenue with local government bodies. The nature of sharing varies from state to state. |
6. Fill in the blanks:
Since the United States is a ___________________ type of federation, all the constituent States have equal powers and States are ______________vis-à-vis the federal government. But India is a _____________________ type of federation and some States have more power than others. In India, the ____________ government has more powers.
Solution :
The United States is a coming together type of federation, all the constituent States hav e equal powers and States are strong vis-à-vis the federal government. India, on the other hand, is a holding together type of federation and some of the states have more power than others. The Central government in India has more powers.
7. Here are three reactions to the language policy followed in India.
Give an argument and an example to support any of these positions.
Sangeeta: The policy of accommodation has strengthened national unity.
Arman: Language-based States have divided us by making everyone conscious of their language.
Harish: This policy has only helped to consolidate the dominance of English over all other languages.
Solution :
I fully agree with Sangeeta’s reaction to this. If the policy of accommodation was not followed and states were not created on linguistic basis, then there would have been a further partition of India. The formation of linguistic states has actually made the country more united and has also made the administration much easier for example imposition of Hindi as the national language would have led the South to break away from North and south in Tamil Nadu would have become an independent nation. So parliament enacted the Official Language Act of 1963 which provided for the continued use of English for official purposes along with Hindi, even after 1965.
8. The distinguishing feature of a federal government is:
(a) National government gives some powers to the provincial governments.
(b) Power is distributed among the legislature, executive and judiciary.
(c) Elected officials exercise supreme power in the government.
(d) Governmental power is divided between different levels of government.
Solution :
(d)Governmental power is divided between the different levels of government.
Explanation:The levels are the Central Government, the State Government and the Panchayati Raj.
9. A few subjects in various Lists of the Indian Constitution are given here. Group them under the Union, State and Concurrent Lists as provided in the table below.
A.Defence; B. Police; C. Agriculture; D. Education; E. Banking; F. Forests; G. Communications; H.Trade; I.Marriages
| Union List | |
| State List | |
| Concurrent List |
Solution :
| Union List | Defence, Banking, Communications |
| State List | Police, Agriculture, Trade |
| Concurrent List | Education, Forests, Marriages |
Explanation:Union list includes the subjects of national importance.
State list contains the subjects of state and local importance.
Concurrent list includes the subjects of common interests to both the Union Government as well as the State Governments.
10. Examine the following pairs that give the level of government in India and the powers of the government at that level to make laws on the subjects mentioned against each. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
| (a) | State government | State List |
| (b) | Central government | Union List |
| (c) | Central and State government | Concurrent List |
| (d) | Local Governments | Residuary powers |
Solution :
| (d) | Local Governments | Residuary powers |
Explanation:Matters which are not included in any of the three lists are known as residuary subjects and the right to make laws on these subjects is called residuary power. The central government (the Parliament) has been given rights to legislate on these subjects.
11. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
| List I | List II | |||
| 1. Union of India | A.Prime Minister | |||
| 2.State | Β. Sarpanch | |||
| 3.Municipal | C.Governor | |||
| 4.Gram Panchayat | D.Mayor | |||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| (a) | D | A | B | C |
| (b) | B | C | D | A |
| (c) | A | C | D | B |
| (d) | C | D | A | B |
Solution :
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| (c) | A | C | D | B |
12. Consider the following two statements.
a. In a federation, the powers of the federal and provincial governments are clearly demarcated.
b. India is a federation because the powers of the Union and State Governments are specified in the Constitution and they have exclusive jurisdiction on their respective subjects.
c. Sri Lanka is a federation because the country is divided into provinces.
d. India is no longer a federation because some powers of the States have been devolved to the local government bodies.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a)A, B and C
(b)A, C and D
(c)A and B only
(d)B and C only
Solution :
(c) A and B only
Explanation:All levels of governance will govern the same citizens, but their jurisdiction will be different. This means that each level of government will have a specific power to form laws, legislate and execute these laws. Both of the governments will have clearly marked jurisdiction.
Conclusions for NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Civics Chapter 2 Federalism
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Civics Chapter 2 – Federalism by Swastik Classes provides a detailed and comprehensive understanding of the concept of federalism and its application in India. The solutions explore the distribution of power between the central government and state governments, the advantages and challenges of federalism, and how it contributes to democracy. Through its clear explanations and examples, the solutions help students understand the importance of federalism in India’s political system and its impact on governance and democracy. Overall, the solutions serve as a valuable resource for students seeking to deepen their understanding of the role of federalism in India’s political landscape.
What is federalism?
Answer: Federalism is a system of governance where power is divided between a central authority and constituent units. In a federal system, the central government and state governments share power and authority, with each level of government having its own specific responsibilities.
What are the advantages of federalism?
Answer: Federalism has several advantages, including:
- It allows for more local decision-making, which can lead to better governance at the state and local levels.
- It encourages greater participation and engagement from citizens, as they have more opportunities to participate in the political process at the state and local levels.
- It promotes diversity and cultural preservation, as each state has its own distinct identity and can make decisions that reflect its unique needs and values.
- It provides a system of checks and balances, as the central government and state governments can act as a check on each other’s power.
What are the challenges of federalism in India?
Answer: Some of the challenges of federalism in India include:
- The imbalance of power between the central government and state governments, with the central government having greater authority and resources.
- The tension between the principles of federalism and unity, with some political actors using federalism as a way to advance their own interests rather than promote the greater good.
- The potential for conflicts between states over issues such as resource allocation and territorial disputes.
- The challenge of ensuring that all citizens have equal access to resources and services, regardless of which state they live in.
How does federalism contribute to democracy?
Answer: Federalism contributes to democracy by:
- Providing citizens with multiple levels of government to engage with and participate in, which can lead to greater political engagement and representation.
- Encouraging the decentralization of power, which can lead to more effective and efficient governance at the state and local levels.
- Promoting diversity and allowing for the expression of different viewpoints and interests, which can help to ensure that all citizens have a voice in the political process.
- Providing a system of checks and balances, which can help to prevent any one level of government from becoming too powerful.
What is the role of the Supreme Court in ensuring federalism in India?
Answer: The Supreme Court plays a critical role in ensuring federalism in India by interpreting the Constitution and resolving disputes between the central government and state governments. The Court has the power to declare laws unconstitutional if they violate the principles of federalism, and it can also intervene in disputes between states to ensure that the interests of all parties are protected. Through its decisions, the Supreme Court helps to maintain the balance of power between the central government and state governments and ensure that federalism is upheld in India.
