Federalism Class 10 Notes
Federalism Class 10 Notes
Federalism Class 10 Notes
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What is Federalism?
To put it simply, Federalism can be referred to as a form of government which
comprises of a division of power between the central authority and several other units of
government such as states. While studying our Federalism Class 10 notes, you must
also go through the prominent levels of government in a nation following this concept. In
a federal country, there are two significant government levels, and each enjoys multiple
powers that are independent of one another. These two levels of a federal government
are:
1. The central government is responsible for handling issues that concern the entire
nation.
2. The state governments look after the day-to-day administration of individual
states/provinces.
Objectives of Federalism
The next concept you must explore through our Federalism class 10 notes is the
objectives of Federalism which are as follows:
In this system, the government’s powers There are two or more tiers of
are centralized. If there are sub-units government that function independently.
under the central government, they are
under the control of the centre.
The centre can pass orders or commands The centre cannot issue commands to the
to the sub-units. state governments.
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Features of Federalism
While summarizing this chapter of Class 10 social science, you must also prepare the
study notes on the salient features of Federalism which are enlisted below:
Formation of Federations
The next sub-topic we have summarized in our Federalism Class 10 notes is the
methods by which federations are formed. To ensure the success of federations, there
need to be two critical factors: mutual trust between the different government tiers and a
willingness to live together. Historically, federations have been formed in two different
ways:
● Independent states are coming together on their own accord to form a bigger
country. This type of federation was established in Australia, Switzerland, and the
USA.
● A large country decides to divide power between the national government and
constituent states. Examples of this type of federation include India, Belgium, and
Spain.
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1. Union List: It includes areas of national importance like defence, foreign affairs,
currency, banking, and communications. The union government holds the
powers to make laws on the regions mentioned in the union list.
2. State List: It includes areas of state-level and local importance like agriculture,
trade, commerce, irrigation, and police. The state government alone has the
power to make laws regarding the subjects on this list.
3. Concurrent List: It includes subjects that are of common interest to both the
central and state governments. It includes trade unions, forest, education,
marriage, succession, and adoption. Both the centre and state can make laws on
these subjects. If there is a conflict, the laws made by the centre will prevail.
From the time of independence, several new states have been formed in India. A vast
majority of India’s states are created to include people who speak the same language
and belong to the same region. These states are known as linguistic states. Examples
include Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, etc.
Language Policy
Center-state Relations
If no single party gets a majority in the Lok Sabha elections, major national parties ally
with regional parties to form the union government. This led to the practice of
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power-sharing between the centre and states while respecting state governments’
autonomy.
● Periodic elections must be held mandatorily to fill up positions in the various local
government bodies.
● One-third of all local-government positions are reserved for women.
● The State Election Commission was created in each state to hold municipal and
Panchayat level elections.
● A percentage of the position of executive heads in local elections is reserved for
SC, ST, and other backward classes.
● State governments are required to share revenue and powers with local
government bodies. The percentage of revenue sharing varies from state to
state.
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● The Panchayat Samitis in a district is grouped to form the Zilla Parishad. MLAs of
the areas, MPs of the district, and other district-level officials constitute the Zilla
Parishad.
Municipalities
Just like Gram Panchayats work in rural areas, municipalities are responsible for the
urban regions’ administration. Big cities have municipal corporations. Elected bodies of
representatives control municipal corporations and municipalities – like MPs, MLAs,
councillors, etc. The political head of the municipality is the Municipal Chairperson. The
head of a municipal corporation is the Mayor. The system of a decentralized local
government is the biggest democracy experiment in the world. Local governments have
helped in strengthening the functioning of democracy in India while supporting women
and citizens belonging to SC/ST and other backward classes to gain a voice in the
democratic process.
Important Questions
Now that you are familiar with the major concepts of Federalism and how it is practised
in India, take a look at the important exam questions you must prepare for Class 10
Social Science exam:
● Identify the following states on a blank political map of India: Chhattisgarh, Goa,
Manipur, and Sikkim.
● Identify any three federal countries in the world (other than India). Shade them on
a blank political world map.
● State the differences between a federal government and a unitary government.
● What are the prominent features of Federalism?
● Describe the key factors of how Federalism is practised in India.
Thus, we hope that our Federalism Class 10 notes help you understand the key
concepts explored in this chapter. Unsure about the right stream after 10th? Get in
touch with our Leverage Edu experts and we will assist you in selecting the best stream
of study as per your interests and preferences. Sign up for a free session with us today!
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