This document provides an overview of federalism and decentralization in India. It defines federalism and describes key features, including division of powers between central and state governments. India is characterized as a federal country based on its constitutional division of legislative powers into union, state and concurrent lists. The document also discusses the creation of states along linguistic lines, the role of the Supreme Court in disputes, and decentralization through rural and urban local governments like panchayats and municipalities. In summary, it outlines India's federal system of government with power shared between central, state and local levels according to the constitution.

1. NCERT CLASS X
SUBJECT – DEMOCRATIC POLITICS
PRESENTED BY MAHENDRA KUMAR
MAHENDRA PAREEK1
federalism

2. What is federalism?
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 Definition - Federalism is a system of government in which
the power is divided between a central authority (CENTRAL
GOVT – for whole India ) and various constituent units
(RESPECTIVE 28 STATES )of the country.
 CG is usually responsible for a few subjects of common
national interest. SG look after much of the day-to-day
administration of their state

3. Difference
Unitary federal
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 One level of government
 Subunits (states) are
subordinate of central
government
 Central government can
pass orders to state
governments.
 Examples: China, Japan,
U.K, France
 Two or more level of
governments
 State govts have their own
independent powers
 Central government
cannot pass orders to
state govt.To do
something.
 Example-USA, Brazil,
Belgium India, Canada,
Germany

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5. Key features of federalism
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❖ There are two or more levels (or tiers) of government
❖ Different tiers of government govern the same citizens.
❖ Each tier (CG/SG/LG) has its own JURISDICTION in
specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
❖ This jurisdiction is specified in our constitution.
constitutionally guaranteed existence and authority of each
tier (CG/SG/LG)

6. Key features of federalism
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❖Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly
specified to ensure its financial autonomy.
❖Supreme court acts as interpreter of constitution and settled the
disputes between CG/SG, SG/SG, CG/INDIVIDUAL AND
SG/INDIVIDUAL.
❖ The federal system thus has dual objectives: to safeguard and
promote unity of the country, while at the same time
accommodate regional diversity (INDIA & BELGIUM).
❖ An ideal federal system has both aspects : mutual trust and
agreement to live together.

7. Types of Federation
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COMINGTOGETHER
 Independent states come
together to form a bigger unit
of federation.
 Constituents states usually
have equal powers
 Examples: Sri Lanka, France,
Spain, Italy
HOLDINGTOGETHER
 A country divides its own
territory into several sub-
units
 Central govt. is stronger than
state governments.
 The USA, India, Canada,
Brazil, Belgium

8. What makes India a federal country?
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 The Constitution declared India as a Union of States.
 The word federation is not used in constitution.
 the Indian Union is based on the principles of federalism.
 The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier (CG/SG)
system of government.
 A third tier of federalism was added in the form of Panchayats
and Municipalities.

9. What makes India a federal country? Contd…
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 Constitution clearly provided a threefold distribution of
legislative powers between the (UG and SG).
 Union List - Union Government alone can make laws
relating to national importance subjects.
 Defence , foreign affairs, banking, communications, currency.
 State List - SG alone can make laws relating to state and local
importance subjects.
 Police, trade, commerce, agriculture and irrigation.

10. What makes India a federal country?
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 Concurrent List –
 Both the Union as well as the State Governments can make laws
on the subjects of common interest to both the Union
Government as well as the State Governments. If conflict, law
made by the Union Government will prevail
 Subjects -education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption and
succession.
 Residuary power –
 Union Government has the power to make laws
 Includes subjects that do not fall in any of the three lists. Ex-
computer software

11. What makes India a federal country?
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 Different state, special status. Small area-Uts govern by UG.
 Change in this arrangement (federalism) constitution
amendment – passed by Parliament with 2/3 majority +
passed by more than half of the states
 INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY -
 SC interpret the constitution .
 SC settle the disputes between UG & SG
 Sc is the apex body of judiciary .

12. What makes India a federal country?
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 Financial power of UG & SG –
 Power to raise resources by levying taxes in order to carry on the
government and the responsibilities assigned to each of them.

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16. How is federalism practised?
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 Linguistic States –
 Many new states have been created on federal principles after
independence.
 Some states were created on the basis of languages spoken by
people. AP-1953-Telugu.
 Some States were created to recognise differences based on
culture, ethnicity or geography. Nagaland, UK and Jharkhand.

17. MAHENDRA PAREEK17
 Language policy –
 No national language .
 Hindi (Mother tongue of 40% ) was identified as the official
language.
 There are 22 (Hindi + 21 languages)recognised as Scheduled
Languages by the Constitution
 According to the Constitution, the use of English for official
purposes was to stop in 1965 ( after 15 yrs from 1950)
 Non Hindi states opposed it . Continued...
 Promotion of Hindi by UG.

18. Centre-State relations
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 Same party UG instruct SG – No disputes.
 Different party – UG try to control SG undermined the spirit of
federalism.
 All this changed significantly after 1990.
 COALITION GOVERNMENTS - major national parties had to
enter into an alliance with many parties including several
regional parties to form a government at the Centre.
 This led to a new culture of power sharing and respect for the
autonomy of State Governments
 Thus, federal power sharing is more effective today

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20. Decentralisation in India
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 India is vast (size & population) and culturally diverse So its rationale
to decentralise the power
 When power is taken away from Central and State governments and
given to local govt, it is called decentralisation.
 The basic idea behind decentralisation
- Local problem – local solution
- Better understanding where and how to spend money.
 One of principle of democracy is local self-government.

21. Decentralisation in India
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Before 1992 –
❖Panchayats in villages and municipalities in urban areas were directly
under the control of state governments.
❖ Elections were not held regularly.
❖ Local governments did not have any powers or resources of their
own..

22. Decentralisation in India
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After amendment of 1992 –
 To hold Regular elections to local government bodies become
constitutionally mandatory.
 Reserved seats for SC,ST AND OBCs.
 one-third (1/3) of all positions are reserved for women.
 State Election Commission has been created in each State to conduct
Panchayat and municipal elections
 The SGs are required to share some powers and revenue with local
government bodies.The nature of sharing varies from State to State.

23. RURAL LOCAL GOVT- PANCHAYATI RAJ
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 Gram Panchayat (ग्राम पंचायत) –
 Consists ward members (Panch पंच) and the sarpanch (सरपंच).
 Decision-making body for village.
 Elected by Gram Sabha.
Gram Sabha (ग्राम सभा )(Permanent Body)
 formed by voters of a village .
 It elects ward members and the Sarpanch of the Gram panchayat.
 It meets twice or thrice to approve annual budget.

24. RURAL LOCAL GOVT- PANCHAYATI RAJ
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 Block Level - Panchayat samiti (पंचायत सममतत )
 Group of a few panchayats formed panchayat samiti
 Its members are indirectly elected by the panchayat members .
 District Level- Zila Parishad (जिला परिषद् )
 Panchayat Samitis constitutes Zila Parishad.
 District MPs, MLAs and officials are some other members.
 Zila Parishad Chairman (जिला प्रमुख ) or President is a
political head.

25. RURAL LOCAL GOVT- PANCHAYATI RAJ
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 Block Level - Panchayat samiti (पंचायत सममतत )
 Group of a few panchayats formed panchayat samiti
 Its members are indirectly elected by the panchayat members .
 District Level- Zila Parishad (जिला परिषद् )
 Panchayat Samitis constitutes Zila Parishad.
 District MPs, MLAs and officials are some other members.
 Zila Parishad Chairman (जिला प्रमुख ) or President is a
political head.

26. URBAN LOCAL GOVT
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 Municipalities –
 Municipalities are set up in towns.
 Chaired by a political head is called Municipal Chairman
 Controlled by elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives
 Municipal Corporations –
 Municipal Corporations are set up in BIG CITIES.
 Chaired by a political head is called Mayor
 Controlled by elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.

27. MAHENDRA PAREEK27
 There are now about 36 lakh elected representatives in the
Panchayats and municipalities etc all over the country.
 This number is bigger than the population of many countries
in the world

28. VOTE OF THANKS
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 1 NCERT BOOKS
 2 INTERNERT AND GOOGLE
 3 ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA
 OUR PRINCIPAL
 4 MYVIEWERS