Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central (national) government and regional (state/provincial) governments. Both levels operate independently in their own spheres and are governed by the same constitution.
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Key Features of Federalism
- 1.Dual government: Two levels — central and state — each with defined powers.
- 2.Written Constitution: Division of powers is specified in a written constitution.
- 3.Constitutional supremacy: Neither level can override the constitution unilaterally.
- 4.Independent judiciary: Courts adjudicate disputes between levels of government.
- 5.Revenue sharing: Financial resources are shared between the two levels.
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Coming Together vs. Holding Together Federations
Coming Together (Aggregative): Independent states voluntarily join to form a federation for mutual benefit. Example: USA, Switzerland, Australia. States have more autonomy.
Holding Together (Disaggregative): A large country with diverse regions decentralises power to keep the nation together. Example: India, Spain, Belgium. Centre is usually stronger.
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India as a Federal State
India is described as a "Quasi-Federal" state (K.C. Wheare) or a federation with a centralising tendency because, while states have significant powers, the Centre is stronger in practice.
- Division of Powers (Seventh Schedule):
- Union List (97 subjects): Only Parliament can legislate — defence, foreign affairs, currency, railways.
- State List (66 subjects): Only state legislature can legislate — police, agriculture, trade, irrigation.
- Concurrent List (47 subjects): Both can legislate — education, forests, trade unions, marriage.
- On the Concurrent List, in case of conflict, Central law prevails.
- Residuary powers go to the Centre.
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Language Policy — A Federal Accommodation
- India has no "national language" — Hindi is the official language of the Union, but states can use their own languages.
- The Constitution recognised 22 scheduled languages.
- Linguistic reorganisation of states (1956): States were reorganised on linguistic lines (e.g., Andhra Pradesh for Telugu speakers), showing respect for regional diversity.
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Decentralisation in India
- After the 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992):
- Panchayati Raj (rural local bodies) and Urban Local Bodies (municipalities) became the third tier of government.
- Elections every 5 years; seats reserved for women (1/3), SCs, and STs.
- Three levels of Panchayati Raj: Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti (Block), Zila Parishad.
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Worked Examples
Distinguish between "coming together" and "holding together" federations.
In the USA, independent states came together voluntarily, giving each state strong autonomy. In India, a large unitary country chose to decentralise power to diverse regions to hold the nation together — the Centre remains stronger.
Why does India have a stronger Centre compared to the USA?
India's constitution places defence, currency, and railways only with the Centre. Residuary powers (subjects not in any list) also go to the Centre. In the USA, residuary powers go to the states.
What happens when a state law and a central law on the Concurrent List conflict?
The Central law prevails. For example, if a state passes a law on education that contradicts a central law, the central law automatically takes precedence, ensuring national uniformity on shared subjects.
Why were Indian states reorganised on linguistic lines in 1956?
The States Reorganisation Act (1956) redrew internal boundaries to ensure that people speaking the same language lived in the same state. This satisfied regional identities, reduced linguistic conflicts, and made administration easier.
How do Gram Panchayats practice local self-governance?
The Gram Panchayat, at the village level, manages local roads, water supply, sanitation, and primary schools. It is elected by all adult voters of the village and implements centrally and state-funded schemes at the grassroots.
Why is the appointment of the State Governor significant in centre-state relations?
The Governor is appointed by the Central Government. In theory the Governor acts on the advice of the state cabinet, but the Centre can use the Governor to impose President's Rule (Article 356) if a state government "fails". Critics say this can be misused to destabilise elected state governments.
Give two examples of fiscal federalism in India.
1. The Finance Commission recommends how tax revenues (like GST) are divided between Centre and states.
2. The Centre provides grants-in-aid to states for development schemes. Both mechanisms ensure states have adequate funds to govern, balancing central coordination with state autonomy.
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Common mistakes
- Students say India has a "unitary system" — incorrect. India is a federal system with a strong Centre, NOT unitary.
- The Union List has more subjects (97) than the State List (66) — this shows central dominance.
- "Decentralisation" is specifically about the third tier (local bodies), not about Union-State relations.
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Summary
Federalism divides power between the Centre and states through a written constitution. India is a "holding-together" federation with a stronger Centre. The three lists (Union, State, Concurrent) define powers. The 73rd and 74th Amendments added a third tier — local self-government — deepening democratic decentralisation.