Federalism 10 Social Science — Revision Notes
Federalism is a system of government that divides power between a central authority and constituent state or regional governments. It allows for unity in d
TL;DR: Federalism is a system of government that divides power between a central authority and constituent state or regional governments. It allows for unity…
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Federalism is a system of government that divides power between a central authority and constituent state or regional governments. It allows for unity in d
Key Features of Federalism
- Two or more levels of government exist with independent powers and authority
- Constitution clearly defines powers of each level and cannot be unilaterally changed
- Citizens are governed by laws of both central and state governments
- Independent judiciary resolves disputes between different levels of government
Federalism in India
- Union government handles defense, foreign policy, taxation, and currency
- State governments manage education, agriculture, police, and local governance
- Concurrent list includes subjects like trade, taxation, and criminal law shared between Union and states
- Three-tier system includes Union, states, and local bodies like municipalities and gram panchayats
Advantages of Federalism
- Accommodates cultural and linguistic diversity by allowing regional autonomy
- Brings government closer to people through decentralized decision-making
- Prevents concentration of power and protects against authoritarian rule
- Allows states to experiment with policies suited to local conditions
Challenges in Federal Systems
- Disputes between central and state governments over resource sharing and jurisdiction
- Poor coordination and cooperation between different levels of governance
- Financial imbalance where states lack resources for assigned responsibilities
- Regional interests sometimes override national unity and development
Key Terms
- Federalism: System dividing power between central government and constituent state governments
- Union list: Subjects under exclusive control of the central government like defense and foreign policy
- State list: Subjects under exclusive control of state governments like education and police
- Concurrent list: Subjects where both central and state governments can make laws
Frequently Asked Questions
How does federalism help maintain unity in a diverse country like India?
Federalism allows states to have autonomy over cultural and linguistic matters while maintaining national unity through central control over defense, foreign policy, and currency.
What is the difference between Union list and State list?
Union list contains subjects exclusively controlled by the central government like defense and taxation, while State list contains subjects exclusively controlled by state governments like education and police.
More 10 Social Science Revision Notes
- Nationalism in Europe
- Nationalism in India
- Resources and Development
- Agriculture
- Power Sharing
- Sectors of Indian Economy
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