Federalism Class 10 ||Political Science|| Chapter 2 NCERT Notes
Introduction:
Federalism is a system of government where power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country. In a federal system, there are two or more levels of government with their respective powers and responsibilities defined by a constitution. Both levels of government have authority and independence in certain spheres, ensuring a balance of power.
India is an example of a federal country, although its system has some unitary features as well. The chapter explores the concept of federalism, how it works, and its importance in countries like India.
Key Features of Federalism:
Two or More Levels of Government:
- Federalism divides the powers between a central government (Union or Federal government) and regional governments (state or provincial governments).
- Each level of government has its own areas of jurisdiction as defined by the constitution.
Division of Powers:
- The Constitution explicitly divides powers between the different levels of government. In India, this division is outlined in three lists:
- Union List: Subjects of national importance, such as defense, foreign affairs, banking, etc., where the Union government has exclusive authority.
- State List: Subjects of local or state importance, such as police, public health, and agriculture, where state governments have authority.
- Concurrent List: Subjects of common interest, such as education, forest, marriage, adoption, and succession, where both the Union and State governments can make laws. However, in case of a conflict, the Union law prevails.
Equal Status to All Levels of Government:
- In a federal system, both the central and the state governments derive their authority from the Constitution and function independently within their respective spheres.
- They are not subordinate to one another but coordinate and collaborate in areas of overlapping authority.
Rigid Constitution:
- A federal system requires a rigid constitution that clearly defines the powers and functions of each level of government.
- Any changes to the constitution affecting the distribution of powers require the consent of both the central and state governments.
Independent Judiciary:
- A federal system needs an independent judiciary to interpret the constitution and settle disputes between the central and state governments or between states.
- In India, the Supreme Court plays this crucial role.
Two or More Levels of Government:
- Federalism divides the powers between a central government (Union or Federal government) and regional governments (state or provincial governments).
- Each level of government has its own areas of jurisdiction as defined by the constitution.
Division of Powers:
- The Constitution explicitly divides powers between the different levels of government. In India, this division is outlined in three lists:
- Union List: Subjects of national importance, such as defense, foreign affairs, banking, etc., where the Union government has exclusive authority.
- State List: Subjects of local or state importance, such as police, public health, and agriculture, where state governments have authority.
- Concurrent List: Subjects of common interest, such as education, forest, marriage, adoption, and succession, where both the Union and State governments can make laws. However, in case of a conflict, the Union law prevails.
Equal Status to All Levels of Government:
- In a federal system, both the central and the state governments derive their authority from the Constitution and function independently within their respective spheres.
- They are not subordinate to one another but coordinate and collaborate in areas of overlapping authority.
Rigid Constitution:
- A federal system requires a rigid constitution that clearly defines the powers and functions of each level of government.
- Any changes to the constitution affecting the distribution of powers require the consent of both the central and state governments.
Independent Judiciary:
- A federal system needs an independent judiciary to interpret the constitution and settle disputes between the central and state governments or between states.
- In India, the Supreme Court plays this crucial role.
Types of Federalism:
Coming Together Federalism:
- In this type of federalism, independent states come together on their own to form a larger unit. The constituent states retain significant power, and the central authority is relatively weak.
- Examples: USA, Switzerland, Australia.
Holding Together Federalism:
- In this type, a large country decides to divide its power between the central government and the regional governments. In this system, the central government tends to be more powerful than the states.
- Examples: India, Spain, Belgium.
Coming Together Federalism:
- In this type of federalism, independent states come together on their own to form a larger unit. The constituent states retain significant power, and the central authority is relatively weak.
- Examples: USA, Switzerland, Australia.
Holding Together Federalism:
- In this type, a large country decides to divide its power between the central government and the regional governments. In this system, the central government tends to be more powerful than the states.
- Examples: India, Spain, Belgium.
Federalism in India:
India is a quasi-federal country, meaning that while it has features of a federal system, it also has unitary characteristics, especially during times of crisis or emergency.
Division of Powers:
- The Indian Constitution provides for the division of powers between the Union government and the state governments through the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List.
Union Territories:
- Some regions in India are administered directly by the central government. These are known as Union Territories, and they do not have the same autonomy as states. Some Union Territories, like Delhi and Puducherry, have been granted partial statehood and have their legislatures.
Special Status of Some States:
- Some states in India enjoy a special status due to historical reasons, such as Jammu & Kashmir (before the abrogation of Article 370), and some states in the North-East under Article 371 of the Constitution.
Strong Central Government:
- While India has a federal structure, the central government has more power in certain circumstances, like during emergencies (national, state, or financial). In such cases, India operates more like a unitary system where the central government can take over the powers of the state governments.
Decentralization in India:
Decentralization refers to the transfer of powers and responsibilities from higher levels of government to lower levels, such as local governments. In India, the process of decentralization was strengthened by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments in 1992.
Rural Local Government (Panchayati Raj):
- The 73rd Amendment provided for a three-tier system of Panchayati Raj, with elected bodies at the village, intermediate, and district levels.
- These bodies are responsible for local governance and the development of rural areas.
Urban Local Government (Municipalities):
- The 74th Amendment established elected municipalities to govern urban areas.
- Municipalities are responsible for civic amenities, such as water supply, sanitation, and urban planning.
Empowerment of Local Governments:
- These amendments aimed to give more decision-making power to local governments and involve citizens in the democratic process at the grassroots level.
Federalism and Accommodating Diversity:
Linguistic States:
- After independence, India reorganized its states based on language to accommodate the country's cultural and linguistic diversity. This reorganization helped maintain unity by allowing people to govern themselves in their own language.
- This move strengthened federalism by recognizing and respecting the diversity of the Indian population.
Language Policy:
- India has no national language, but Hindi is the official language of the Union Government, along with English.
- States can have their official languages, which allows linguistic diversity to be accommodated within the framework of federalism.
Coalition Government:
- Federalism in India has also been reinforced by the rise of coalition governments at the Centre. Since 1990, no single party has been able to secure a majority in the Parliament, leading to the formation of coalition governments.
- This has increased the role and influence of regional parties and states in national politics, thus strengthening federalism.
Linguistic States:
- After independence, India reorganized its states based on language to accommodate the country's cultural and linguistic diversity. This reorganization helped maintain unity by allowing people to govern themselves in their own language.
- This move strengthened federalism by recognizing and respecting the diversity of the Indian population.
Language Policy:
- India has no national language, but Hindi is the official language of the Union Government, along with English.
- States can have their official languages, which allows linguistic diversity to be accommodated within the framework of federalism.
Coalition Government:
- Federalism in India has also been reinforced by the rise of coalition governments at the Centre. Since 1990, no single party has been able to secure a majority in the Parliament, leading to the formation of coalition governments.
- This has increased the role and influence of regional parties and states in national politics, thus strengthening federalism.
Challenges to Indian Federalism:
Centralized Tendencies:
- Despite being a federal country, India has a tendency toward centralization, particularly in times of national emergencies. The Union government can dismiss state governments or dissolve state legislatures under certain conditions (Article 356 – President’s Rule).
Inter-State Disputes:
- Disputes over water sharing, borders, and other resources between states are common. For example, the Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has been ongoing for decades.
Fiscal Federalism:
- The allocation of financial resources between the Union and State governments is a contentious issue. The states rely heavily on financial transfers from the central government, which can lead to a sense of dependence and imbalance.
Centralized Tendencies:
- Despite being a federal country, India has a tendency toward centralization, particularly in times of national emergencies. The Union government can dismiss state governments or dissolve state legislatures under certain conditions (Article 356 – President’s Rule).
Inter-State Disputes:
- Disputes over water sharing, borders, and other resources between states are common. For example, the Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has been ongoing for decades.
Fiscal Federalism:
- The allocation of financial resources between the Union and State governments is a contentious issue. The states rely heavily on financial transfers from the central government, which can lead to a sense of dependence and imbalance.
Conclusion:
Federalism in India plays a crucial role in ensuring that the diverse needs of various regions and communities are met while maintaining the unity and integrity of the nation. The Indian federal system, though not completely federal in nature, accommodates the needs of a large, diverse country by balancing central authority with state autonomy. Decentralization, the linguistic reorganization of states, and linguistic policies are steps taken to ensure inclusivity and stability in this system. However, challenges remain, particularly concerning the centralization of power and inter-state disputes.