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Federalism 10th Class Social Political Science 2nd Lesson

Question 1.
Locate the following states on a blank outline political map of India: Manipur, Sikkin, Chhattisgarh and Goa?

Answer:

Question 2.
Identify and shade three federal countries (other than India) on a blank outline political map of the world?

Answer:

Question 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?

Answer:

  1. Similarity : The similarity between India and Belgium. The union government and state government share authority in India as well as in Belgium
  2. Difference : Belgium has a community government, but India does not have community government
Question 4.
What is the main difference between a federal form of government and a unitary one? Explain with an example?

Answer:

Federal form of Govt Unitary form of Govt
There are two (or) more levels of government Only one level of government
Central government cannot order the state government to do something The central govt can pass on orders to the provincial or the local govt
Example : India Example : Sri Lanka
Question 5.
State any two differences between the local government before and after the constitutional amendment in 1992?

Answer:

Local Government before 1992 Local Government after 1992
It was not constitutionally mandatory to hold regular to the local government bodies Now, it is constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to the local government bodies
There was no provision for reservation of seats for women in local bodies Atleast 1/3rd of all positions are reserved for women in local government bodies
There are no separate state election commission to conduct elections to local bodies An independent state election commission has been created to conduct elections to local bodies
Question 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-h-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 powen?

Answer:

  1. coming together
  2. stronger
  3. holding together
  4. central
Question 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?

Answer:

  1. 1 agree with Sangeetas reaction
  2. If the policy of accommodation was not followed, and states were not created on linguistic basis, there would have been further partition of India
  3. For example: Imposition of Hindi as the national language would have led the South to break away from the North and Tamilnadu would have become an independent nation
Question 8.
The distinguishing feature of a federal government is?
  1. National government gives some powers to the provincial governments
  2. Power is distributed among the legislature, executive and judiciary
  3. Elected officials exercise supreme power in the government
  4. Governmental power is divided between different levels of government

Answer: Governmental power is divided between different levels of government

Question 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?
List Subjects
Union List  
State List  
Concurrent List  

Answer:

List Subjects
Union List Defence,Banking,Communications
State List Police,Agriculture,Trade
Concurrent List Education, Forest, Marriages
Question 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?
  1. State government State List
  2. Central government Union List
  3. Central and State government Concurrent List
  4. Local government Residuary powers

Answer: Local governments - Residuary powers is not correctly matched

Question 11.
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists?
List I List II
Union of India Prime Minister
State Sarpanch
Municipal Corporation Governor
Gram Panchayat Mayr
  1 2 3 4
(a) D A B C
(b) B C D A
© A C D B
(d) C D A B

Answer:

  • ©
Question 12.
Consider the following two statements?
  1. In a federation, the powers of the federal and provincial governments are dearly demarcated
  2. 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
  3. Sri Lanka is a federation because the country is divided into provinces
  4. 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
  5. A, B and C
  6. A, C and D
  7. A and B only
  8. B and C only

Answer: A and B are only correct

AP 10th Class Social Political Science 2nd Lesson InText Questions and Answers Federalism

Question 1.
I am confused. What do we call the Indian government? Is it Union, Federal or Central?

Answer: Since, India is made up of states byholding together, so, without any confusion we should call it a federal state and the government at the centre is called the central government

Question 2.
Though only 25 of the worlds 193 countries have federal political systems, their citizens make up 40 percent of the worlds population. Most of the large countries of the world are federations. Can you notice and exception to this rule in this map?

Answer: Yes, China which is the most populous country of the world, does not practise the federal system of sharing of power. Instead, it enjoys unitary political system

Question 3.
If federalism works only in big countries, why did Belgium adopt it?

Answer:

  1. Because even though it is a small country, it has diverse population made up of multi lingual groups
  2. These linguistic groups have their own interests which might lead to social conflict
  3. So, to avoid any possible social conflict and political instability, Belgium adopted federal system of power sharing
Question 4.
Some Nepalese citizens were discussing the proposals on the adoption of federalism in their new constitution. This is what some of them said: Khag Raj : I dont like federalism. It would lead to reservation of seats for different caste groups as in India. Sarita : Ours in not a very big country. We dont need federalism. Babu Lai: I am hopeful that the Terai areas will get more autonomy if they get their own state government. Ram Ganesh : I like federalism because it will mean that powers that were earlier enjoyed by the king will now be exercised by our elected representatives. If you were participating in this conversation, What would be your response to each of these? Which of these reflect a wrong understanding of what federalism is? What makes India a federal country?

Answer:

  1. Response to Khag Raj : I disagree with your opinion because federalism works a when there is mutual trust among different sections of the society. This is the spirit of democracy
  2. Response to Sarita : No Sarita, country is big or small does not matter in making a country federal. Nepal is also a diverse country consisting of group of people like Belgium. Belgium could only be resolved by making federation. So, we also need a federal system empowers its people equally
  3. Response to Babulal: Yes 1 agree with Babulal. Along with the Terai area, there are other areas as well which need more autonomy. So, the only way is to form a federal system so that each region gets its own share and can live together with mutual trust and contribute to the development of the nation equally
  4. Response to Ram Ganesh : Yes, I agree, power should not get concentrated in one hand, it harms the will of the common people. In a democracy, people govern thefrnselves through self-governance. The decentralisation of power will ensure due respect to diverse groups and views that exist in the society, and everyone will have a voice in the shaping of public policy
  5. B : Of these, Khag Raj and Sarita have a wrong understanding of what federalism is
  6. C : In India there are three levels of government. The central, state and local governments
  7. They have their own jurisdictions
  8. The constitution declares their powers and duties
  9. There is an independent judiciary to resolve the conflicts
  10. All the state governments have their own sources of income All these features make India a federal country
Question 5.
Isnt that strange? Did our constitution makers not know about federalism? Or did they wish to avoid talking about it?

Answer: No, it is not strange. Our constitution makers were aware of the concept of federalism. But intentionally they did not take about it. Because our democracy was passing through a nascent stage where they had to take steps to consolidate different free princely states. If they had given more autonomy,*we might have faced many divisions of our country. They supposed that with maturity of democracy, proper changes will be brought in the constitution to make the nation more federal. . So; they left this issue to the people and future leaders to decide about

Question 6.
If agriculture and commerce are state subjects, why do we have ministers of agriculture and commerce in the Union cabinet?

Answer: Even though agriculture and commerce are state subjects, there is a need to have ministers of agriculture and commerce in the union cabinet. This is because the states have to deal with each other in commercial and agricultural commodities. State may act arbitrarily which may lead to problems regarding price control, tax etc. Also the country has to deal with other nations in these subjects

Question 7.
Pokharan, the place where India conducted its nuclear tests, lies in Rajasthan. Suppose the Government of Rajasthan was opposed to the Central Governments nuclear policy, could it prevent the Government of India from conducting the nuclear tests?

Answer: No, the Government of Rajasthan cannot prevent the Government of India from conducting the nuclear tests. Since, it is a matter related to the National Security. So, it comes under the jurisdiction of the Central Government

Question 8.
Suppose the Government of Sikkim plans to introduce new textbooks in its schools. But the Union Government does not like the style and content of the new textbooks. In that case, does the state government need to take permission from the Union Government before these textbooks can be launched?

Answer: Yes, in the case of the Government of Sikkim will have to take permission from the Union Government, because education is a subject of concurrent list on which both the state and union governments can make laws. And, in case of any conflict of law, only the union law prevails

Question 9.
Suppose the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa have different policies on how their state police should respond to the naxalites. Can the Prime Minister of India intervene and pass an order that all the Chief Ministers will have to obey?

Answer: No, police is a state subject on which only the states can make laws

Question 10.
Has your village/town/city remained under the same state since independence? If not, what was teh name of the earlier state?

Answer: The above answer is different from state to state. For example, we are in Andhra Pradesh. No changes are there

Question 11.
Can you identify names of three states in 1947 that have changed later?

Answer:

  1. Madhya Pradesh was called central province
  2. Punjab was a part of North-West province
  3. Rajasthan was a part of Rajputana
Question 12.
Identify any three states which have been carved out of bigger states?

Answer:

  1. Jarkhand from Bihar
  2. Chhattisgarh from Madhya Pradesh
  3. Uttaranchal from Uttar Pradesh
Question 13.
Why Hindi? Why not Bangla or Telugu?

Answer: The Government of India, in its constitution, declares Hindi and English as official languages. But, being a federal government, it cannot impose its will on the people who speak a language other than Hindi. The Union Government continues to promote Hindi as the official language because 40% of its population speaks Hindi. This is the flexibility shown by the union that states have their own official languages. We respect the language and culture of each other. So, people are free to speak in the language of their choices. Each state has its official language

Cartoon Based
Question 14.
Here are two cartoons showing the relationship between Centre and States. Should the State go to the Centre with a begging bowl? How can the leader of a coalition keep the partners of government satisfied?

Answer: No, the state should not go to the centre with the begging bowl because India is a federation of states and in a federation power is delegated between both the governments. The leader of a coalition government can keep the partners happy by making them feel that they are very important for the government, allocating them duties which will give them the feeling of power

Question 15.
Are you suggesting that regionalism is good for our democracy ? Are you serious ?

Answer: Regionalism is in no way good for our country. India is a multi-religious, multi-lingual country and this adds richness to the country, but it doesnt mean that any part of the country should be given any special privilege and others should be kept deprived

Question 16.
Read this table carefully, but you need not memorise it. Just do the following: Scheduled Languages of India?
Language Proportion of Speakers (%)
Assamese 1.26
Bengall 8.03
Bodo 0.12
Dogri 0.21
Gujarati 4.58
Hindi 43.63
Kannada 3.61
Kashmiri 0.56
Konkani 0.19
Maithili 1.12
Malayalam 2.88
Manipuri 0.15
Marathi 6.86
Nepali 0.24
Odia 3.10
Punjabi 2.74
Sanskrit N
Santali 0.61
Sindhi 0.23
Tamil 5.70
Telugu 6.70
Urdu 4.19
    Question(a).
    Make a bar or pie chart on the basis of this information?

    Answer:

    Question(b).
    Prepare a map of linguistic diversity of india by shading the region where each of these languages is spoken on the map of India?

    Answer:

    Questionc).
    Find out about three languages that are spoken in India but are not included in this table?

    Answer: Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Bundel-Khandi, Chhattisgarhi, Rajasthani, Bhilli

    Let us Revise
    Question 17.
    Read the following excerpts from an article by noted historian, Ramachandra guha, that appeared in the Times of india on November 1, 2006. Take the example of your own state or any other state that was affected by linguistic reorganisation. Write a short note for or against the argument given by the author here on the basis of that example?

    Answer: Before the re-organisation : My state people (Andhra) were affected with Madras state activities. So after the protests, my state was formed on the basis language. After the re-organisation : As we have seen in Tamilnadu, stopping the use of English has caused a militant movement. So linguistic tolerance is a must for our country. In fact, the formation of states on the basis of language has made the country more united and stronger It has also made administration easier

    Question 18.
    Prime Minister runs the country. Chief Minister runs the state. Logically, then, the Chairperson of Zilla Parishad should run the district. Why does the D.M. or Collector administer the district?

    Answer:

    1. The President of Zilla Parishad is the political head
    2. All the decisions are made under his leadership
    3. In fact, the DM is the administrative head, who executes the decisions of the Parishad
    4. This is an example of sharing of power
    5. We can compare it with sharing power between the legislative and executive
    6. So, it is right that the D.M. administers the district
    Question 19.
    What do these newspaper clippings have to say about efforts of decentralisation in India?

    Answer:

    1. Decentralization efforts in India have led to the devolution of power and decision-making processes to local governments.
    2. It has resulted in the empowerment of local communities and increased their participation in governance
    3. Various states in India have implemented decentralization models to promote grassroot democracy and address regional disparities
    4. Decentralization aims to enhance local governance, improve service delivery, and foster economic development at the grassroots level
    5. There have been mixed results in the implementation of decentralization; while some states have made significant progress, others have faced challenges in effective/decentralization
    6. Decentralization has helped in better utilization of resources and more efficient administration at the local level
    7. The involvement of local governments has improved planning and implementation of various development schemes and initiatives
    8. However, there are still concerns about the capacity and capabilities of local governments in effectively utilizing their devolved powers

Important Question

Federalism AP 10th Class Social History 2nd Lesson Important

Questions

AP 10th Class Social History 2nd Lesson Important Questions: 8 Marks

Question 1.
Distinguish between "Coming together and holding together" types of federations. India comes under which type of federation ?

Answer: There are two routes that have been adopted for formation of federations in the world. The differences between the two are as mentioned below

Coming together federations Holding together federations
1) These forms of federations are formed by independent states which come together on their own to form federation 1) Under these federations large country decides to divide its power between the constituent states and the national govt
2) The object is to form a bigger unit so that by pooling sovereignty and retaining identity, they can increase their security 2) The central govt, tends to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states
3) All the constituent states and federal govt, have equal powers and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government 3) Very often different constituent units of the federation have unequal powers
4) Ex : USA, Switzerland and Australia 4) Ex : India, Spain and Belgium
India comes under holding together federation.
Question 2.
What makes India federal country ?

Answer:

  • India is a nation with many languages, religions and regions
  • It emerged as an independent nation after a long and painful partition
  • Several princely states became a part of the country soon after independence
  • India was declared as a union of states by the constitution
  • The Indian union is based on the principles of federalism
  • The constitution earlier provided a two-tier system of government, the union government, representing the Union of India and the state governments
  • Later, Panchayats and Municipalities were added as a third tier of federalism. All these different forms of government enjoy separate jurisdiction
Question 3.
Explain the key features of federalism?

Answer:

  1. There are two or more levels of government.
  2. Different tiers of government govern the same citizens, but each tier has its own jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration
  3. The jurisdiction of the respective levels (or) tiers of government are specified in the constitution
  4. The fundamental provisions of the constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by one level of govt
  5. The highest court acts as an umpire if disputes arise between different levels of government in the exercise of their respective powers
  6. Sources of revenue for each level of govt, are clearly specified to ensure its financial autonomy
  7. The federal system has dual objectives. Safeguard and promote unity of the country
Question 4.
Describe the centre-state relations in Indian Federalism?

Answer:

  1. For a long time, the same party ruled both at the centre and in most of the states.
  2. During that time state governments did not exercise their rights as autonomous federal units.
  3. As and when the ruling party at the state level was different, the parties that ruled at the centre tried to undermine the power of the states.
  4. The centred government would often misuse the constitution to dismiss the state governments that were controlled by rival parties.
After 1990
  1. This was also the beginning of the era of coalition governments at the centre.
  2. Since no single party got a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, the major national parties had to enter into an alliance with many parties including several regional parties to form a govt, at the centre.
  3. A number of regional parties have become powerful and play a crucial role at the centre and states.
Question 5.
Describe the rationale behind the implementation of Decentralisation in India?

Answer: The rationales behind the implementation of decentralisation in India are

  1. Since India is a vast country; central government is unable to hear the needs of people from different areas.
  2. The local government can easily understand the needs and demands of their people.
  3. To help women to participate, in decision making process. 33% seats are reserved for women in local government.
  4. To take off burden from central and state government.
  5. To strengthen democracy.
  6. To make possible for the people to directly participate in decision making at local level.
  7. Local government have better ideas on where to spend money and how to manage things more efficiently.
Question 6.
How many elected representatives are there in panchayats and municipalities in India?

Answer:

  1. There are approximately 36 lakh (3.6 million) elected representatives in panchayats and municipalities in India.
  2. This number is larger than the population of many countries in the world.
  3. The panchayati raj system, which includes gram panchayats at the village level, is the largest experiment in democracy in the world.
  4. The system of local government in India has helped to deepen democracy and increase womens representation and voice in democracy.
  5. However, there are still difficulties in terms of transferring powers and resources to local governments.
  6. Constitutional amendments in 1992 have made elections to local government bodies compulsory.
Question 7.
What is the significance of holding regular gram sabhas?

Answer: The significance of holding regular gram sabhas includes

  1. Deepening democracy: Regular gram sabhas allow for the active participation of all members of the village community, giving them the opportunity to contribute to decision-making processes and participate in local governance
  2. Reviewing performance: Gram sabhas provide a platform for reviewing the performance of the gram panchayat, allowing villagers to assess the progress of development initiatives and hold their elected representatives accountable
  3. Budget approval: Gram sabhas play a crucial role in approving the annual budget of the gram panchayat, ensuring transparency in financial matters and providing villagers with a say in how resources are allocated and spent
  4. Encouraging democratic participation: Regular gram sabhas help inculcate a habit of democratic participation among villagers, empowering them to actively engage in decision-making processes and contribute to the overall development of their locality
  5. Addressing local issues: Gram sabhas provide a forum for discussing and addressing local issues, allowing villagers to voice their concerns, propose solutions, and work collectively towards resolving problems and improving the quality of life in their community
Question 8.
What powers have state governments transferred to local governments in India?

Answer: The powers that state governments have transferred to local governments in India include

  1. Constitutional status: The local governments, including panchayats and municipalities, have been given constitutional status, ensuring their recognition as a separate tier of government.
  2. Regular elections: It is constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies, ensuring a democratic process at the local level
  3. Some administrative powers: While many state governments have not transferred significant powers to the local governments, some administrative powers have been devolved to them
  4. Limited resources: State governments have provided some resources to local governments, though often inadequate, to carry out their responsibilities
  5. Local decision making: Local governments have the power to directly participate in decision making, allowing people to have a say in matters that affect their localities
  6. Increased representation and voice: Constitutional status for local governments has led to increased representation and voice for women in the democratic process
Question 9.
Why was there resistance to the formation of linguistic States in India initially?

Answer:

  1. Initially, there was resistance to the formation of linguistic States in India because - some national leaders feared that it would lead to the disintegration of the country
  2. The Central Government resisted linguistic States for some time, as they were concerned about the potential impact on national unity
  3. There was a concern that giving each linguistic group its own state could lead to, divisions along linguistic lines and undermine the cohesion of the nation
  4. However, over time it became clear that the formation of linguistic States actually made the country more united and administration easier
  5. The success of linguistic States in preserving regional diversity while maintaining national unity helped overcome initial resistance to their formation
  6. The cautious language policy adopted by Indian leaders, such as not giving the status of national language to any one language, also helped address the concerns surrounding linguistic-diversity
Question 10.
Can candidates in Central Government examinations opt to take the examination in any language recognized by the Constitution?

Answer: Yes, candidates in Centred Government examinations can opt to take the examination in any language recognized by the Constitution

Here are the key points:
  1. The Indian Constitution recognizes-22 languages as Scheduled Languages, including Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Gujarati, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, and others
  2. A candidate appearing for a Central Government examination can choose to take the examination in any of these languages
  3. The official language of the concerned State is also used for government work, and candidates can take the examination in the official language of that State
  4. The use of English along with Hindi for official purposes is allowed, and candidates can choose to take the examination in English as well
  5. The Central Government cannot impose Hindi on States where people speak a different language. Flexibility is provided to accommodate linguistic diversity
  6. The language policy aims to protect and promote languages other than Hindi, with safeguards in place to ensure their recognition and respect
Question 11.
What are some of the major subjects listed under the Union, State, and Concurrent Lists of the Indian Constitution?

Answer:

  1. The Union List includes subjects of national importance such as defence, foreign affairs, banking, communications, and currency
  2. The State List contains subjects of State and local importance such as police, trade, commerce/agriculture, and irrigation
  3. The Concurrent List includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government and the State Governments, such as education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption, and succession
  4. Subjects that do not fall under any of the three lists are under the power of the Union Government
  5. Some States enjoy special powers under certain provisions of the Constitution of India, such as protection of land rights, culture, and preferential employment
  6. Union Territories are areas that do not have the powers of a State and are run by the Central Government
Question 12.
What is the structure and composition of the local government in your village/town?

Answer: The structure and composition of the local government in my village/town can be summarised as follows

  1. Gram Panchayat: The village/town has a gram panchayat, which is a council consisting of several ward members (panch) and a president or sarpanch. They are directly elected by all the adult population living in that ward or village. The gram panchayat is the decision-making body for the entire village, working under the overall supervision of the gram sabha
  2. Ward Members: There are severed ward members (panch) in the gram panchayat, who represent different areas within the village/town. They are responsible for addressing the local issues and concerns of the residents in their respective wards
  3. President/Sarpanch: The gram panchayat is led by a president or sarpanch, who is elected by the members of the gram panchayat. The president/sarparich acts as the political head of the gram panchayat and plays a key role in decision-making and policy implementation at the local level
  4. Gram Sabha: The gram sabha consists of all the adult voters in the village/town and serves as the general body meeting. It has the responsibility of approving the annual budget of the gram panchayat and reviewing its performance. The gram sabha meets at least twice or thrice a year
  5. Decentralisation: The local government in my village/town has been decentralised to ensure active participation and decision-making by the local residents. This helps in addressing local issues effectively and efficiently
Question 13.
Can the Government of Rajasthan prevent the Government of India from conducting nuclear tests in Pokhran?

Answer:

  1. The Government of Rajasthan cannot prevent the Government of India from conducting nuclear tests in Pokhran
  2. The consent of both levels of government is required for any changes in federalism
  3. The courts can act as an umpire in case of disputes by interpreting the constitution and the powers of different levels of government
  4. The federal system aims to promote unity while accommodating regional diversity
  5. Financial autonomy is ensured through specified sources of revenue for each level of government
  6. The success of federalism in India is attributed to the creation of linguistic states, a cautious language policy, and restructuring of Centre-State relations
  7. The federal system is contrasted with the unitary system, where the central government has all powers
Question 14.
Does the state government need permission from the Union Government to introduce new textbooks in its schools?

Answer: Based on the document snippets, it can be determined that

  1. The state government does not need permission from the Union Government to introduce new textbooks in its schools
  2. The Union Governments approval is not required for the launch of state governments textbooks
  3. The Prime Minister of India cannot intervene and pass an order that all the Chief Ministers will have to obey regarding their different policies on how their state police should respond to the naxalites. The Chief Ministers have their own jurisdiction and power over state police.
  4. Decentralisation in India has led to the creation of a third-tier of government, called local government. The local government is responsible for decision making at the local level and promotes local self-government
  5. The powers of the Union and State Governments are specified in the Constitution, and they have exclusive jurisdiction over their respective subjects. This confirms that the state government has independent authority over certain matters, including education.
  6. The central government has special powers in running Union Territories, such as Chandigarh, Lakshadweep, and the capital city of Delhi
  7. These territories do not have the powers of a state. Changes to the power-sharing arrangement between the Union and State governments require approved from both the Houses of Parliament with at least two-thirds majority and ratification by the legislatures of at least half of the total states. This indicates that changes to the power-sharing arrangement are not easy and require significant consensus
Question 15.
How is financial autonomy ensured for each level of government in India?

Answer: To ensure financial autonomy for each level of government in India, the following measures are taken

  1. Financial powers and revenue sources are clearly specified in the Constitution
  2. Each level of government has the power to raise resources through levying taxes
  3. The central government and state governments have their own sources of revenue
  4. The distribution of financial resources is based on the principles of federalism
  5. The central government does not have complete control over the financial matters of the state governments
  6. Decisions regarding financial matters require the consent and agreement of both levels of government
  7. The judiciary acts as an umpire in case of disputes related to financial matters
  8. Please note that the information provided is derived from multiple document snippets and is intended to be a concise summary
  9. Therefore, it is advisable to refer to the original document for complete and accurate information
Question 16.
How can changes be made to the power-sharing arrangement between the Union and State Governments?

Answer:

  1. Changes to the power-sharing arrangement between the Union and State Governments require a constitutional amendment
  2. The Parliament cannot unilaterally change this arrangement; it needs to be passed by both houses of Parliament with a two-thirds majority
  3. Additionally, the amendment needs to be ratified by the legislatures of at least half of the total states
  4. The judiciary plays a crucial role in interpreting the constitution and resolving disputes about the division of powers
  5. The Centre and State governments have the power to raise resources by levying taxes for the functioning of their respective governments
  6. The constitution guarantees the existence and authority of each tier of government, providing financial autonomy by specifying sources of revenue for each level
  7. Restructuring the Centre-State relations also contributes to strengthening federalism . in practice. Changes in how power is shared depend on how ruling parties and leaders follow the constitutional arrangements.
  8. The rise of regional political parties and the era of coalition governments at the Centre have also played a significant role in strengthening federalism in India
Question 17.
What is the role of the judiciary in overseeing the implementation of constitutional provisions in India?

Answer: The role of the judiciary in overseeing the implementation of constitutional provisions in India includes:

  1. Decision-making on powers: The High Courts and the Supreme Court have the authority to make decisions in case of disputes about the division of powers between the Union Government and the State Governments.
  2. Constitutional interpretation: The judiciary has the power to interpret the constitution, including the provisions related to the powers and authorities of different levels of government.
  3. Umpire in disputes: In case of conflicts or disagreements between the Union Government and the State Governments, the judiciary acts as an umpire to resolve the disputes and ensure adherence to constitutional provisions
  4. Financial autonomy : The judiciary ensures financial autonomy by overseeing the proper implementation of the specified sources of revenue for each level of government. This helps in maintaining a balance of power between the Union Government and the State Governments
  5. Consent for changes: Any changes to the power-sharing arrangement between the Union Government and the State Governments require the consent of both the Houses of Parliament with a two-thirds majority and ratification by the legislatures of at least half of the total states. The judiciary plays a role in ensuring that the proper constitutional procedures are followed for such changes.
  6. Dispute resolution: The judiciary acts as a mediator and resolves conflicts between the Union Government and the State Governments, ensuring the proper functioning of the federal system
  7. Safeguarding constitutional provisions : The judiciary safeguards the implementation of constitutional provisions and procedures related to the distribution of powers between different levels of government
Question 18.
How many major languages were found in the Census of India?

Answer:

  1. According to the Census of India held in 2011, more than 1300 distinct languages were recorded as peoples mother tongues
  2. These languages were grouped together under some major languages, such as Hindi, which includes languages like Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Bundelkhandi, Chhattisgarhi, Rajasthani, and others
  3. Even after this grouping, the Census found a total of 121 major languages in India
  4. Out of these 121 major languages, 22 languages are included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and are known as "Scheduled Languages".
  5. The proportion of speakers for some of the major languages mentioned -in the document include: Hindi: 43.63% Telugu: 6.70% Tamil: 5.70% Odia (Oriya): 3.10% Bengali: 8.03% Marathi: 6.86% Gujarati: 4.58% Kannada: 3.61%
  6. India is known for its linguistic diversity and is considered one of the most diverse countries in terms of languages
Question 19.
Can you prepare a chart or map representing the linguistic diversity of India based on the information provided?

Answer:

  1. The Census of India conducted in 2011 recorded more than 1300 distinct languages mentioned as mother tongues by the people
  2. These languages were grouped together under some major languages, and the Census identified 121 major languages
  3. Out of these 121 languages, 22 languages are included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and are known as "Scheduled Languages."
  4. The document does not provide the names of all 22 Scheduled Languages, but it mentions a few such as Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kartnada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu
  5. Some languages spoken in India are not included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and are referred to as "non-Scheduled Languages."
  6. The document states that Hindi is the largest language in India, spoken as the mother tongue of about 44% of Indians
  7. 7) However, it is important to add that this does not account for speakers who know Hindi as a second or third language
  8. A visual representation such as a bar or pie chart can be created based on the proportion of speakers for each of the mentioned languages
  9. A map of linguistic diversity in India can be prepared by shading the regions where these languages are spoken

AP 10th Class Social Political Science 2nd Lesson Important Questions: 4 Marks

Question 1.
How is a federal government different from a unitary form of government ?
Why are federations preferred these days ?

Answer:

Unitary government Federal Government
1) It has only one level of government 1) It has two or more levels of government
2) The sub-units are subordinate to the centre 2) The central government cannot order the state government to do something
3) The sub-units are answerable to the central government 3) The sub-units are not answerable to the central government. Both are separately answerable to the people
A federation is preferred because :
  1. It helps in making administration effective and efficient
  2. It helps to accommodate all diverse groups
Question 2.
Describe any three fold distribution of legislative power between the Union Government and State Governments of India?

Answer: The three-fold distribution of legislative powers :

  1. Union list : Union lists consists of 97 subjects. It includes subjects of national importance such as defence of the country, foreign affairs, banking communication and currency
  2. State list: State list consists of 66 subjects. It contains subjects of state and local importance such as police, trade, commerce, agriculture and irrigation
  3. Concurrent list : Concurrent list consists of 47 subjects. It includes subjects of common interest to both state and central such as education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption and succession
Question 3.
Write a brief note on the language policy adopted in India?

Answer: Language Policy adopted in India

  • No language was given the status of national language by our constitution
  • Hindi was identified as the official language
  • But only about 40% of Indians have Hindi as their mother tongue
  • Besides Hindi, there are 21 other languages recognized as scheduled languages by the constitution
  • A candidate in any examination conducted for the central government position may opt to take the examination in any of these languages
  • States have their own official language and all government work takes place in the official language of the state
Question 4.
Explain the provisions that have been made towards decentralisation in India after the constitutional amendment in 1992?

Answer: A major step towards decentralisation was taken in 1992

  • Now it is/constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local govt bodies
  • Seats are reserved in the elected bodies for the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes
  • At least l/3rd of all positions are reserved for women
  • An independent state election commission has been created in each state to conduct panchayat and municipal elections
  • The state governments are required to share some powers and revenue with local government bodies
Question 5.
What is a Grama Sabha Write the functions of a Gram Sabha?

Answer: Gram Sabha : All the voters in a village constitute a Gram Sabha. Functions of a Gram Sabha

  • To approve the annual budget of the Gram Panchayat
  • To review the performance of the Gram Panchayat
  • To elect the members of the Gram Panchayat
Question 6.
What are the advantages of decentralisation in democracy ?
What is decentralisation?

Answer: Decentralisation : When power is taken away from central and state government and given to local government it is called decentralisation. Advantages of decentralisation

  • The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a large number of problems and issues which are best settled at the local level
  • People have better knowledge of problems in their localities
  • They know better where to spend money and how to manage things efficiently
  • Besides, at the local level, it is possible for people to directly participate in decision making
  • This helps to inculcate a habit of democratic participation

AP 10th Class Social Political Science 2nd Lesson Important Questions: 2 Marks

Question 1.
Highlight any three steps taken by India towards making it a federation?

Answer:

  • Re-organisation of states on liguistic basis
  • Centre-state relations
  • Decentralisation
Question 2.
How has the Panchayati Raj strengthened the democracy in India ?

Answer:

  • Panchayati Raj is the best example of decentralisation of power
  • People can get most of their problems solved at the local level
  • People can think and plan for themselves
Question 3.
What is the role of the constitution in a federal system?

Answer: The role of the constitution in a federal system can be summarised as follows

  • It specifies the jurisdiction and authority of each level of government, ensuring the existence and authority of each tier of government
  • It guarantees the balance of power between the central and state governments, and any changes to this power sharing arrangement require the consent of both levels of government
Question 4.
What is the role of the courts in interpreting the constitution in a federal system?

Answer:

  • The courts play a role in interpreting the constitution and the powers of different levels of government in a federal system
  • They act as an umpire if disputes arise between different levels of government in the exercise of their respective powers
  • The highest court has the power to interpret the constitution and resolve conflicts between different levels of government
Question 5.
How are sources of revenue for each level of government determined in a federal system?

Answer:

  • Sources of revenue for each level of government in a federal system are clearly specified to ensure financial autonomy
  • The constitution outlines the revenue sources for each tier of government
  • Question 6.
    How is power balanced between the central and state governments in a federal system?

    Answer:

    • Power is balanced between the central and state governments through the distribution of powers and authority clearly specified in the constitution
    • The judiciary acts as an umpire in case of any disputes about the division of powers between the central and state governments
    Question 7.
    What is the purpose of the linguistic states in India?

    Answer:

    • The purpose of the linguistic states in India is to promote unity and accommodate regional diversity in the country
    • The creation of linguistic states in India has made the country more united and administration easier
    Question 8.
    How does the language policy in India protect linguistic diversity?

    Answer:

    • The language policy in India protects linguistic diversity by recognizing and including multiple languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, ensuring their preservation and promotion
    • The government also groups together lauguages under major languages to reflect their linguistic similarities, while still acknowledging their distinctiveness, thus safeguarding the diversity of languages in the country
    Question 9.
    What are the official languages recognized by the Indian Constitution?

    Answer:

    • The Indian Constitution recognizes 22 languages as Scheduled Languages
    • Hindi is the largest language in India, spokenhy about 44% of the population
    • Other languages recognized as Scheduled Languages include Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Gujarati, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu
    Question 10.
    How does constitutional status for local government deepen democracy in India?

    Answer: In India, constitutional status for local government deepens democracy by

    • Increasing representation and voice for women in democracy
    • Providing opportunities for direct participation in decision making at the local level
    Question 11.
    What are the largest experiments in democracy conducted in India?

    Answer:

    • The largest experiment in democracy conducted in India is the implementation of a decentralised system of local government, with about 36 lakh elected representatives in panchayats and municipalities all over the country
    • The creation of linguistic states, recognizing differences based on language, culture, ethnicity, or geography, has been a major test for democratic politics in India and has contributed to the success of federalism and the unity of the country
    Question 12.
    What is the role of the judiciary in a federal system?

    Answer: The role of the judiciary in a federal system includes the following

    • The judiciary has the power to interpret the constitution and define the powers of different levels of government
    • The highest court acts as an umpire and makes decisions in case of disputes between different levels of government
    Question 13.
    How can changes be made to the power-sharing arrangement in a federal system?

    Answer: Changes can be made to the power-sharing arrangement in a federal system through the following means

    • Amendments to the constitution: Any change to the power-sharing arrangement requires passing amendments in both houses of parliament with a two-thirds majority and ratification by at least half of the state legislatures
    • Judicial interpretation: The judiciary plays a role in interpreting the constitution, and settling disputes about the division of powers between different levels of government
    Question 14.
    Why do ministers of agriculture and commerce exist at the Union level if these are state subjects?

    Answer:

    • The existence of ministers of agriculture and commerce at the Union level is because even though agriculture and commerce are state subjects, the Union government can also make laws on these subjects
    • in case of any conflict between the laws made by the Union and State governments on agriculture and commerce, the law made by the Union government will prevail
    Question 15.
    Can you identify three States carved out of bigger States?

    Answer: Yes, three States have been carved out of bigger States in India. The following are the examples

    1. Chhattisgarh : It was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in the year 2000
    2. Jharkhand : It was created by separating the southern districts of Bihar in the year 2000
    3. Uttarakhand : It was formed by separating the hilly regions of Uttar Pradesh in the year 2000

    AP 10th Class Social Political Science 2nd Lesson Important Questions: 1 Mark

    Question 1.
    Define the term federalism?

    Answer: Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country. Both these levels of government, the central and state, enjoy their powers independently of each other

    Question 2.
    What is Unitary Government ?

    Answer: Under the unitary system either there is only one level of government or the sub units are subordinate to the central government

    Question 3.
    "The federal system has dual objective". Mention the dual objectives?

    Answer: To safeguard and promote the unity of the country, while at the same time accommodate regional diversity

    Question 4.
    Mention the three tier system prevailing in India?

    Answer:

    • Union government
    • State government
    • Local government
    Question 5.
    What is a union list ?

    Answer:

    • Subjects of national importance like defence, foreign affairs, atomic energy, banking, post and telegraph are included in the union list
    • Only the central government can pass laws on the because we need a uniform policy on important (or) national issues throughout the country. The union list has 97 subjects
    Question 6.
    What is a state list ?

    Answer:

    • It comprises subjects of state and local importance, such as police, trade, commerce, agriculture and irrigation
    • The state governments alone can make laws relating to the subjects mentioned in the state list. The state list has 66 subjects
    Question 7.
    What are Residuary powers ?

    Answer:

    • Matters which are not included in the division of powers are known as residuary powers
    • These subjects are not mentioned in either of union or state lists
    • The central government has been given the power to legislate on the residuary powers. Ex: Computer software
    Question 8.
    What are Union Territories ?

    Answer: These are the areas which are too small to become an independent state but which could not be merged with any of the existing states

    Question 9.
    What is the importance of judiciary in a federal government ?

    Answer: The judiciary plays an important role in overseeking the implementation of constitutional provisions and procedures. In case of any dispute about the division of powers, the High Court and the Supreme Court make a decision

    Question 10.
    What is decentralisation ?

    Answer: When power is taken away from central and state governments and given to local government, it is called decentralisation

    Question 11.
    What is a Gram Panchayat ?

    Answer: It is a council consisting of several ward members, often called panch and a president or sarpanch

    Question 12.
    What is Panchayat Samithi?

    Answer: A few grama panchayats are grouped together to form a panchayat samiti or block (or) mandal

    Question 13.
    How judiciary acts as a umpire in a federal nation ?

    Answer:

    • Courts have the power to interpret the constitution and the powers of different levels of government
    • The highest court acts as an umpire if disputes arises between different levels of government in the exercise of their respective powers
    Question 14.
    What is Zilla Parishad ?

    Answer: All the Panchayat Samitis or Mandals in a district together constitute the Zilla Parishad

    Question 15.
    Who is a Mayor?

    Answer: The Mayor is an elected chairperson of the Municipal Corporation

    Question 16.
    How many languages have been recognised as scheduled languages ?

    Answer: 22 languages

    Question 17.
    Which two languages have been identified as the official languages ?

    Answer: English and Hindi

    Question 18.
    Which government can make law on subjects included in the concurrent list ?

    Answer: Both the union and the state govts can make law on the subjects included in the concurrent list

    Question 19.
    What is a coalition government ?

    Answer: A government formed by the coming together of atleast two political parties. Usually partners in a coalition form a political alliance and adopt a common programmer

    Question 20.
    Which of the following countries is an example of Coming Together Federation?
    1. India
    2. Sri Lanka
    3. USA
    4. Belgium

    Answer: USA

    Question 21.
    Which one of the following countries is the example of Holding together federation"?
    1. Australia
    2. India

    Answer: India

    Question 22.
    Identify the correct feature of Unitary form of government from the following options?
    1. There are two or more levels of government
    2. Different tiers of government govern the same citizens
    3. Each tier of government has its own jurisdiction
    4. The sub-units are subordinate to the central government

    Answer:There are two or more levels of government

    Question 23.
    Choose the correct pair among the following?
    1. Russia - Unitary
    2. China - Federal
    3. Canada - Unitary
    4. Argentina - Federal

    Answer: Argentina - Federal

    Question 24.
    Which of the following countries is an example of coming together federation?
    1. United States of America
    2. India
    3. Spain
    4. Belgium

    Answer: United States of America

    Question 25.
    Which one of the following options prove that India is a quasi-federal state?
    (B)
    1. More powers with Centre
    2. Residuary subjects with Centre
    3. Equal subjects with Centre and States
    4. Currency and Railways with Centre
    5. I, HI and IV
    6. I, II and IV
    7. II, III and IV
    8. I, II and III

    Answer: I, II and IV

    Question 26.
    Match Column I with Column II and choose the correct option?
    Column I Column II
    i) Union List 1) Agriculture
    ii) State List 2) Computer Software
    iii) Concurrent List 3) Banking
    iv) Residuary Subjects 4) Education
    1. i-3, ii-1, iii-4, iv-2
    2. i-4, ii-3, iii-2, iv-1
    3. i-2, ii -4, iii-3, iv - 1
    4. i-1, ii-2, iii-3, iv-4

    Answer: i-3, ii-1, iii-4, iv-2

    Question 27.
    Which one of the following is an example of coming together federation?
    1. India
    2. USA
    3. Belgium
    4. Spain

    Answer: USA

    Question 28.
    Why is the power shared amongst different organs of government called as horizontal distribution of power?

    Answer: It allows different organs of government to be placed at the same level

    Question 29.
    In Indias federal system, the Central and the State governments have the power to legislate on all those subjects which are included in the?

    Answer: Concurrent list

    Question 30.
    Which of the following states of India enjoy special powers (under article 371 A) of the Constitution of India?
    1. Nagaland
    2. Rajasthan
    3. Punjab
    4. Tamil Nadu

    Answer: Nagaland

    Question 31.
    Match the following items given in Column A with those in Column B?
    Column A Column B
    I) Information Technology 1) Concurrent List
    II) Police 2) Union List
    III) Education 3) State List
    IV) Defence 4) Residuary Subjects
    Choose the correct answer from the option given below:
    1. 1-4, II-3, ID-1, IV-2
    2. 1-3,11-4,111-1, IV-2
    3. 1-4, II-l, III-3, IV-2
    4. 1-4, II-2, III-l, IV-3

    Answer: 1-4, II-3, III-l, IV-2

    Question 32.
    Anita is appearing in an examination conducted for recruitment to Central Government positions. In how many languages as mentioned in the 8th Schedule can she opt to take the exam?

    Answer: 22 languages

    Question 33.
    Which of the following options prove that India is a quasi-federal state?
    1. More powers with Centre
    2. Residuary subjects with Centre
    3. Equal subjects with Centre and State
    4. Currency and Railways with Centre
    5. I, III & IV
    6. I, II & IV
    7. II, III & IV
    8. II, III & IV

    Answer: I, II & IV

    Question 34.
    Identify the correct statement/s about the theory of Federalism in the Indian Constitution?
    1. The Constitution declared India as a Union of States
    2. Sharing of power between the Union Government and the State governments is basic to the structure of the Constitution
    3. It is easy to make changes to this power sharing arrangement
    4. The Parliament can on its own change this arrangement
    5. I & II
    6. II & III
    7. I & III
    8. II & IV

    Answer: I & II

    Question 35.
    What is not an integral part of the government?
    1. Office of the Prime Minister
    2. Legislature
    3. Executive
    4. Judiciary

    Answer: Office of the Prime Minister

    Question 36.
    Match column - A with column - B and choose the correct option?
    Column-A (Subjects) Column - B (List)
    A) Banks 1) Concurrent List
    B) Agriculture 2) Union List
    C) Education 3) State List
    D) Computer 4) Residuary Subjects
    1. a-4, b-3, c-1, d-1
    2. a-3, b-4, c-1, d-2
    3. a-2, b-3, c - 1, d-4
    4. a-4,b-2,c-1,d-3

    Answer: a-2, b-3, c-1, d-4

    Question 37.
    Which one of the following subjects comes under the legislation of Centre and State in India?
    1. Education
    2. Forests
    3. Banking
    4. Trade

    Answer: Education

    Question 38.
    How does judiciary act as an umpire in a federal nation?

    Answer: Courts use the power to interpret the Constitution

    Question 39.
    Which one of the following subjects is included in the Union List?
    1. Communication
    2. Trade
    3. Commerce
    4. Irrigation

    Answer: Communication

    Question 40.
    Which one of the following subjects is included in the State List?
    1. Banking
    2. Business
    3. Currency
    4. Communication

    Answer: Business

    Question 41.
    Which one of the following subjects is included in the Concurrent List?
    1. Trade
    2. Commerce
    3. Agriculture
    4. Marriage

    Answer: Marriage

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