NCERT Solutions For Class 11 Political Science Chapter 12 Federalism

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, UP, MP, Bihar, Gujarat are combined then there would be only a unitary or single unit, this cannot be called a federation.

The administrative convenience should be the basis for the formation of a state because nowadays the people and the political process must develop a culture and a set of values and virtues like mutual trust, tolerance and a spirit of cooperation. Federalism celebrates both unity as well as diversity.

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 transactions among different regions.
3. This is correct because federalism refers more power to the constituent units of federation.

Different states and political parties have adopted different methods to demand more autonomy:

1. Financial autonomy- The states demanded independent sources of revenue and greater control over the resources. In 1977 the left front government in West Bengal brought out a document demanding a restructuring of center-State relation in India.

2. The states feel that in the division of powers states needs are not fully taken care of. They demands that residuary power mentioned in seventh schedule should be assigned to states.

3. States also demands inclusion of more subjects in the state list to enhance the legislative power of the states.

4. States demand autonomy on cultural and linguistic issues.

1. The role of governor is referred to as interference by the central government in the functioning of the state government, hence it becomes controversial.
2. This controversy becomes much more if the power vests in the different lands at the centre and the state.
3. As per Article, 356, the Governor exercises the power to recommend the dissolution of the state assembly.
4. Examples: (i) The central government dismissed the elected governments in Andhra Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir in the 1980s. (ii) In Bihar, also state assembly was dissolved on the recommendation of the Governor in 2005. Though, it was later pronounced unconstitutional.
5. Due to these practices of Governor, the states remain unhappy with them.

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 the 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.

Some state feels resentment towards other states if some states are granted the special provisions by the constitution.

1. Until recently, Jammu & Kashmir enjoyed more autonomous powers than any other state, under Article 370. In 2019 Central government on the demand of local population of Jammu and Kashmir decided to scrap these articles and created two centrally administered union territories of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir.
2. Most of the special provisions pertain to the north-eastern states like Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Assam, Nagaland, etc. these states have sizable indigenous tribal population with a distinct history and culture. They wish to retain them under Article 371.
3. Even some hill states like Himachal Pradesh and some other states like Maharashtra, Goa, Sikkim, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh also enjoy some special provisions.
4. Some differences in case of divisions of the part of Uttar Pradesh in Uttarakhand where the people can purchase agricultural land in Uttar Pradesh but the people from Uttar Pradesh can purchase very limited land in Uttarakhand, creates resentment among the people.
5. India has single citizenship and single judiciary in the country. To accomodate this spirit of constitution the remaining state demands the division of power in a common manner to forge unity in diversity.

1.Strong centre:

(a)Various subjects have been demarcated in the division of lists, i.e. union list-97 subjects, states list -66 and concurrent list-47 subjects

(b)All the subjects, which have national importance, included in the union list.

(c)In case of any conflict on the subjects of the concurrent list, the saying of the central government is important, rather than state government.

(d)When an emergency is imposed on the nation or partially, then the central government is empowered to frame the laws on the subjects mentioned in the state list.

2. The emergency powers:

(a) During the declaration of a national emergency, the government is changed to a unitary form, from a federation. Hence, the central government exercises the legislative and executive power of the state but state legislature or executive are not dissolved.

(b) If the emergency is declared in a particular state due to failure of constitutional machinery there, the legislative power goes into the hands of the centre and the executive power goes in the hands of the president.

(c) In case of declaration of financial emergency by the president, the centre is again authorized to issue directions concerning the economy of the state and they will obey it.

3. Financial dependence of the state on centres:

(a) The centre enjoys more resources for revenue rather than the states.

(b) The states can get a loan from the centre if required.

(c)The states apply for grants-in-aid from the centre.

(d) Hence, states are dependent on the centre financially

4. Appointment of Governors:

1. The governor is the head of the state as well as the agent of the central government.
2. He is appointed by the President of India and remains in the office till the pleasure of the president.
3. Hence, Governors act according to the wishes of the central government.

1. The circumstance does not show the failure of constitutional machinery, hence the President’s rule cannot be declared under Article 356.
2. The circumstance does not imply failure of constitutional machinery, hence the 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 centre 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 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 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.

Federalism is an institutional mechanism to accommodate two sets of politics one-at the national level and the other at the regional level.

Worldwide there is trend of Centralisation in governance. The increased capacity of state to manage diverse complex situations, because of the development in technology is making central governments omnipotent and omnipresent. China’s recent phenomenal growth is the result of Centralisation.

a. Division of powers:

1. The powers are distributed between the central and the state governments keeping in mind the requirements and capacity of state to fulfil such requirements. If rule of law is taken over by rule of righteous peoples, than this demarcation of subject can become fluid that can be adjusted according to needs of the society.
2. The constitution clearly demarcated the subjects in the lists at the time of promulgation of constitution according to the needs and resources of the time. Subjects that fulfill the basic requirement of the individual must be assigned to central list.
3. The disputes can be settled by the joint committee comprising of state legislative members and members of parliament.
4. The Social welfare, economic and the financial powers can be centralized to the central government.

b. Distribution of financial resources:

1. Some taxes are levelled by the centre but are collected by the states, i.e. stamp duty and the taxes on the production of medicines and cosmetic preparations.
2. Some taxes are levied and collected by the centre and are distributed among the states, i.e. a succession of property other than agricultural land, terminal taxes on goods and passengers carried by railways, sea and air, taxes on railways freight and fare, taxes on newspaper, etc.
3. The taxes which are levied and collected by the centre but are distributed between the centre and the states, i.e. income tax on the income other than agricultural land on the recommendation of the finance commission.
4. Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam have been given grants in lieu of export duty on jute and jute products.

c, Methods of resolving an inter-state dispute

1. An inter-state committee can be established by the parliament if it thinks it to be fit.
2. This committee enquires into the dispute and submits its report and recommendation to the Parliament.
3. Example- (a) Haryana and Punjab dispute on Chandigarh (b) Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have dispute over sharing of water of Narmada river.

d. appointment of Governors

The Governors of the state are appointed by the President of India on the advice of the council of Ministers at Centre. He enjoys the power to remove them also.

Hence, the Governors work as the representative of the Central Government in the state who informs the centre about the condition of the state if required.

Election for governors- Just like a President is elected through members of parliament and members of state legislative assembly, similarly Governor can be elected through members of state legislative assembly and chairman’s of zilla panchayat.

Article (1): It says that- India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.

Article (2):  According to Article 15 of Indian constitution there is Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.—(1) The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.

Note: - Indian constitution does not specify which communities will reside in India. Neither constitution mentions the State religion.

 Article (3): India is a union of 28 states and nine union territories. As per Article (1) of Constitution of India:

1. India shall be a union of states.
2. The states and Union territories shall be specified in the first schedule.

Article (4): The eight schedule of the constitution of India describes 22 different languages:

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