Class 11 Political Science Chapter 7 Question Answer | Federalism | English Medium

Class 11 Political Science Chapter 7 Question Answer | Federalism | English Medium | ASSEB

Class 11 Political Science Chapter 7: Federalism

Welcome to HSLC Guru. This article presents a complete question-and-answer guide for Class 11 Political Science Chapter 7 — Federalism from the ASSEB (Assam State Board of Secondary Education) Higher Secondary 1st Year syllabus, based on the NCERT textbook Indian Constitution at Work. The chapter examines federalism as an institutional arrangement that distributes governmental power between a central authority and regional units, the special character of Indian federalism with its strong unitary tilt, the Seventh Schedule division of subjects, Centre–State relations, special constitutional provisions for states such as Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East, the asymmetric features of the Indian federation, and the working of fiscal federalism through the GST Council and the Finance Commission. Students preparing for the HS 1st Year examination, civil services preliminaries, and competitive entrance tests will find every topic in the syllabus answered here in textbook style with additional short questions, long-answer questions, multiple-choice questions, comparison tables, and key terms. All content is aligned with ASSEB and NCERT prescriptions and uses the official board name ASSEB throughout.

Summary

Federalism is an institutional mechanism that accommodates two sets of polities — one at the national level and the other at the regional level. Each government is autonomous in its own sphere, derives its authority directly from a written constitution, and is supervised by an independent judiciary that arbitrates disputes between them. Federations originate in two ways: by aggregation, where independent units combine to form a larger union (as in the United States, Switzerland, and Australia), and by devolution, where a large unitary state divides itself into smaller self-governing units (as in India, Belgium, and Spain). The essential features of any federal polity include a written and rigid constitution, a clear constitutional division of powers between two levels of government, supremacy of the constitution, an independent judiciary, and bicameralism in the federal legislature. Federalism is contrasted with a unitary system, where all powers reside in a single central authority and any regional units are administrative conveniences rather than constitutionally protected partners.

Indian federalism, established by the Constitution of India in 1950, is a sui generis arrangement that combines federal form with strong unitary spirit. Article 1 declares that “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States” — the framers deliberately avoided the word “federation” to emphasise indissoluble unity. The Seventh Schedule divides legislative subjects into three lists: the Union List of 100 subjects (defence, foreign affairs, atomic energy, railways, currency, banking) on which only Parliament can legislate; the State List of 61 subjects (police, public health, agriculture, local government) on which only state legislatures can legislate; and the Concurrent List of 52 subjects (criminal law, marriage, education, forests) on which both can legislate, with Union law prevailing in case of conflict. Residuary powers — subjects not enumerated in any list — are vested in Parliament. Inter-State Councils, Zonal Councils, and the office of the Governor link the two tiers, while the Finance Commission and the GST Council manage Centre–State financial relations. The Constitution protects unity through emergency provisions (Articles 352, 356, 360), single citizenship, an integrated judiciary, all-India services, a single election commission, and Parliament’s power under Article 3 to alter state boundaries. Special provisions under Articles 371 to 371-J confer differential autonomy on Maharashtra, Gujarat, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, and Telangana, while the Sixth Schedule grants tribal autonomous councils to Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. Article 370 originally granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir; this provision was rendered inoperative by Presidential Order in August 2019 and the state was reorganised into two Union Territories. This pattern of unequal constitutional treatment for different states is described as asymmetric federalism — a defining feature of the Indian system that makes federalism in India a uniquely flexible instrument for managing the country’s vast linguistic, cultural, and regional diversity.

সাৰাংশ

সংঘৰাষ্ট্ৰবাদ (Federalism) এক প্ৰাতিষ্ঠানিক ব্যৱস্থা য’ত শাসন ক্ষমতা কেন্দ্ৰীয় চৰকাৰ আৰু আঞ্চলিক চৰকাৰৰ মাজত সাংবিধানিকভাৱে বিভাজিত হয়। প্ৰতিটো চৰকাৰ নিজৰ ক্ষেত্ৰত স্বতন্ত্ৰ, লিখিত সংবিধানে দুয়োৰে ক্ষমতা নিৰ্ধাৰণ কৰে আৰু এক স্বাধীন ন্যায়পালিকাই দুয়োৰে মাজৰ বিৰোধ মীমাংসা কৰে। সংঘৰাষ্ট্ৰ দুই ধৰণে গঠিত হ’ব পাৰে — সমন্বয়ৰ পথেৰে (যেনে আমেৰিকা যুক্তৰাষ্ট্ৰ য’ত স্বাধীন ৰাষ্ট্ৰসমূহ একত্ৰিত হৈ সংঘ গঠন কৰিলে) আৰু বিকেন্দ্ৰীকৰণৰ পথেৰে (যেনে ভাৰত য’ত এক বৃহৎ ৰাষ্ট্ৰক বিভাজন কৰি ৰাজ্যসমূহ সৃষ্টি কৰা হৈছিল)।

ভাৰতীয় সংঘৰাষ্ট্ৰৰ এক বিশেষ চৰিত্ৰ আছে — ই ৰূপত সংঘৰাষ্ট্ৰীয় কিন্তু আত্মাত একাত্মতাবাদী (federal in form, unitary in spirit)। সংবিধানৰ প্ৰথম অনুচ্ছেদে কয় “ভাৰত, অৰ্থাৎ ভাৰতবৰ্ষ, ৰাজ্যসমূহৰ এক সংঘ হ’ব”। সপ্তম তালিকাত (Seventh Schedule) তিনিখন তালিকাৰ মাধ্যমেৰে ক্ষমতা বিভাজন কৰা হৈছে — সংঘ তালিকা (১০০ বিষয়, যেনে প্ৰতিৰক্ষা, বিদেশ, পৰমাণু শক্তি, ৰে’ল), ৰাজ্য তালিকা (৬১ বিষয়, যেনে আৰক্ষী, কৃষি, স্থানীয় সাশন), আৰু যুগ্ম তালিকা (৫২ বিষয়, যেনে ফৌজদাৰী আইন, শিক্ষা, বনাঞ্চল)। অৱশিষ্ট ক্ষমতা সংঘ চৰকাৰৰ হাতত। অসমকে ধৰি উত্তৰ-পূৰ্বাঞ্চলৰ ৰাজ্যসমূহৰ বাবে সংবিধানৰ ৩৭১ অনুচ্ছেদ আৰু ষষ্ঠ তালিকাত বিশেষ ব্যৱস্থা ৰখা হৈছে — অসমৰ বড়োলেণ্ড, কাৰ্বি আংলং, আৰু ডিমা হাচাও স্বায়ত্তশাসিত পৰিষদ ষষ্ঠ তালিকাৰ অধীনত। জিএছটি পৰিষদ (GST Council), অৰ্থ আয়োগ, আৰু আন্তঃৰাজ্যিক পৰিষদে কেন্দ্ৰ-ৰাজ্য সম্পৰ্ক নিৰ্ধাৰণ কৰে। ৰাজ্যপালৰ ভূমিকা, ৩৫৬ অনুচ্ছেদৰ অধীনত ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতি শাসন, একক নাগৰিকত্ব, আৰু সংসদে ৰাজ্যৰ সীমা সলনি কৰিব পৰা ক্ষমতা — এই সকলোৱে ভাৰতীয় সংঘৰাষ্ট্ৰক একাত্মতাবাদী চৰিত্ৰ প্ৰদান কৰিছে। বিভিন্ন ৰাজ্যৰ বাবে বিভিন্ন বিধানক “অসমান সংঘৰাষ্ট্ৰবাদ” (asymmetric federalism) বুলি কোৱা হয়, যিয়ে ভাৰতৰ ভাষিক আৰু সাংস্কৃতিক বৈচিত্ৰ্যক স্বীকৃতি প্ৰদান কৰে।

NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Which of the following events reflect the working of federalism? Justify your answer.

(a) Government of Rajasthan opposes the construction of a temple by religious group at Pushkar.

Answer: This does not reflect the working of federalism. Maintenance of public order is a State List subject and the Rajasthan government’s action concerns its internal administrative jurisdiction; it does not involve negotiation or coordination between the Centre and the State.

(b) The central government releases funds for relief in cyclone-affected states.

Answer: This reflects the working of federalism. Disaster relief and financial assistance from the Union to the States during natural calamities is a clear instance of cooperative federalism, channelled through the National Disaster Response Fund and Finance Commission grants.

(c) The Sixth Schedule status is granted to Darjeeling district.

Answer: This reflects federalism. Granting Sixth Schedule status involves constitutional amendment and creation of an autonomous council with legislative and executive powers — a recognition that federalism in India accommodates regional and ethnic identities through asymmetric autonomy arrangements.

(d) Manipur University is converted into a Central University.

Answer: This reflects federalism because higher education is on the Concurrent List and the conversion required cooperation between the State of Manipur and the Union government, illustrating the shared jurisdiction of the two levels.

(e) Government of Bihar opposes the recruitment of non-Biharis in the State Police Force.

Answer: Police is a State List subject, so the State has the constitutional authority to decide its recruitment policy; however, this does not involve interaction between Centre and State and is therefore an exercise of state autonomy rather than a federal interaction.

2. Which of the following statements about the federal system are correct or incorrect? Justify.

(a) Federalism enhances the possibility of people of different regions to interact without the fear of one cultural group dominating the other.

Answer: Correct. By distributing power between the Centre and the regional units, federalism guarantees minority cultures, languages and religious groups protection from majoritarian imposition, allowing peaceful coexistence within a single political framework.

(b) People in a federal system have dual identity and loyalty.

Answer: Correct. Citizens of a federal state simultaneously belong to a region (state) and to the nation as a whole, holding loyalty both to their state and to the country.

(c) Federations have two sets of governments — at the central and regional level — but only the central government is responsible to the people.

Answer: Incorrect. In a genuine federation, both the central government and the state governments are independently responsible to the people, are directly elected, and operate within their own constitutional spheres.

(d) Indian federalism is based on the principles laid out in the Indian Constitution that determine division of powers, financial relations, etc.

Answer: Correct. The Constitution alone determines the division of legislative, administrative, and financial powers between the Union and the States through the Seventh Schedule and several specific articles, making it the supreme arbiter of federal relations.

3. The Indian Constitution does not have a provision similar to the one in the Belgian Constitution which grants greater autonomy to its constituent units. Mention provisions in the Indian Constitution that grant some autonomy to its constituent units.

Answer: Although the Indian Constitution has a strong unitary bias, it grants substantial autonomy to constituent units through the following provisions:

Article 1: Declares India a “Union of States,” recognising states as constitutional partners.
Seventh Schedule: Provides three lists demarcating subjects of legislation between the Union and the States.
State Legislatures: States have their own elected legislatures empowered to make laws on State List subjects.
Article 371 to 371-J: Provide special provisions for Maharashtra, Gujarat, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, and Telangana.
Sixth Schedule: Provides autonomous district councils for tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram with legislative and judicial powers.
Eighth Schedule: Recognises 22 official languages, protecting linguistic identity.
Finance Commission: Mandates fair sharing of central revenue with the states under Article 280.
Inter-State Council: Established under Article 263 to facilitate cooperation between Union and States.

4. Imagine that you have been entrusted with the task of drafting the constitution of a federal country. What are the main features you would like to incorporate? Mention any five features and justify each one of them in less than ten words.

Answer: The five essential features I would incorporate in a federal constitution are:

Written and rigid constitution — to clearly demarcate powers and prevent unilateral change.
Division of powers between Union and States — to guarantee regional autonomy.
Independent judiciary with power of judicial review — to settle Centre-State disputes.
Bicameral legislature with a strong upper house representing states — to give states a voice at the national level.
Independent Finance Commission and revenue sharing mechanism — to ensure financial autonomy.

5. The distribution of powers between the centre and the states in India favours the centre. Comment.

Answer: The Indian Constitution clearly tilts the balance of power in favour of the Centre, prompting K.C. Wheare to call India “quasi-federal” rather than fully federal. Several features illustrate this Centre-leaning bias:

Larger Union List: The Union List has 100 subjects, mostly important national matters such as defence, foreign affairs, atomic energy, railways, currency, and banking.
Residuary Powers with Centre: Under Article 248, all subjects not enumerated in any list belong to Parliament, unlike in the U.S.A. where residuary powers vest in states.
Concurrent List Predominance: When laws of the Union and a State conflict on Concurrent List subjects, the Union law prevails (Article 254).
Emergency Powers: Articles 352, 356, and 360 enable the Centre to suspend the federal structure during war, breakdown of state machinery, or financial emergency.
Single Constitution and Single Citizenship: Unlike the U.S.A., India has one Constitution applicable to both Union and States and a single citizenship.
Appointment of Governors: The President appoints Governors who hold office during his pleasure and represent central interests in the states.
Article 3: Parliament can create new states or alter the boundaries of existing states without the concerned state’s consent.
All-India Services: IAS, IPS, and IFS officers, though serving in states, are recruited and controlled by the Centre.
Financial Dependence of States: States rely on the Centre for grants-in-aid, loans, and shares of central taxes determined by the Finance Commission.

6. Why are many people unhappy about the role of Governor of states? Explain.

Answer: The Governor’s office has long been controversial in Indian federalism, especially when different political parties control the Centre and the State. The chief reasons for popular unhappiness are:

The Governor is not elected but appointed by the Union Cabinet through the President, often acting as a “central agent” rather than a constitutional head of the state.
The Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President, which makes the office vulnerable to political pressure from the Centre.
Under Article 356, the Governor can recommend the imposition of President’s Rule and dismissal of an elected state government — a power often misused for partisan ends in cases such as Andhra Pradesh (1984), Karnataka (1989), and Bihar (2005).
The Governor exercises discretion in inviting a chief minister after a hung verdict, opening room for partisan choice (e.g., Goa 2017, Karnataka 2018).
Bills passed by the state legislature can be reserved by the Governor for the President’s consideration, delaying state legislation indefinitely.
The Sarkaria Commission (1987) and the Punchhi Commission (2010) both noted the misuse of the Governor’s office and recommended reforms.

7. President’s Rule can be imposed on a state if the President is satisfied that the government cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. State which of the following conditions are appropriate for the proclamation of President’s Rule.

Answer:

Two ministers of the state quarrelling with each other: Not appropriate. Personal quarrels between ministers are political matters, not a breakdown of constitutional machinery.
Different parties forming the government in the state and at the centre: Not appropriate. Political diversity is the essence of federalism and a healthy democracy.
Defeat of the ruling party in the state in the central elections: Not appropriate. National election results do not affect the state government’s mandate.
Loss of majority of the ruling party in the state: Appropriate, but only after the alternatives — formation of a new government, or fresh elections — have been explored.
Political instability leading to violence: Appropriate if the violence is so severe that the state machinery cannot function in accordance with the Constitution.
Floods and famine: Not appropriate. Natural calamities are addressed by disaster management mechanisms, not by President’s Rule.

8. Why are demands for autonomy raised by different states from time to time?

Answer: Demands for greater state autonomy are a recurrent feature of Indian federalism because of the following reasons:

Greater financial independence: States want more revenue-raising authority and a larger share of central taxes (e.g., demands by Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and West Bengal).
Curtailment of central interference: Misuse of Article 356 and the Governor’s office has produced strong demands for restraint on central authority.
Linguistic and cultural identity: States such as Punjab and Tamil Nadu have demanded protection of their distinct linguistic and cultural heritage.
Tribal autonomy: Tribal communities have demanded autonomous councils — leading to the formation of Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, and similar arrangements in Assam.
Regional underdevelopment: Backward regions within larger states have demanded separate statehood (Telangana, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh) to address neglect.
Demand for control over state subjects: States demand exclusive jurisdiction over matters listed in the State List without central encroachment.

9. How has the financial relationship between the Centre and the states been depicted in the Indian Constitution? Are the states totally dependent on the Centre for finances?

Answer: The Constitution distributes financial powers between the Centre and the States through Articles 264 to 293 (Part XII). Major taxes such as income tax (other than agricultural), customs, corporation tax, and excise on petroleum products are levied and collected by the Centre, while States levy taxes on land revenue, agricultural income, professions, vehicles, and excise on alcohol. The introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017 created a unified indirect tax administered jointly by the Union and the States through the GST Council (Article 279-A).

States are not totally dependent on the Centre — they have their own sources of revenue and exclusive taxation powers — but they do rely heavily on central transfers because the Centre’s revenue base is far larger than that of any single state. The Finance Commission constituted every five years under Article 280 distributes net central tax revenue between the Centre and the States and recommends grants-in-aid to needier states under Article 275. The Centre also provides grants for centrally sponsored schemes and special category states. While this dependence has been criticised as a unitary feature, it allows the Centre to redistribute resources from richer to poorer states and ensure balanced development.

10. Distinguish between the federal nation and a unitary government using examples.

Answer: The two systems differ on several constitutional grounds. The differences are summarised in the table below.

Federal Government	Unitary Government
There are two or more sets of governments — central and regional — each constitutionally autonomous.	There is only one government for the entire country.
Powers are constitutionally divided between the levels of government.	All powers are concentrated in the central authority.
The constitution is written, supreme, and rigid.	The constitution may be unwritten or flexible.
An independent judiciary settles disputes between the levels.	The judiciary need not arbitrate between levels of government.
States or provinces enjoy independent existence and cannot be abolished by the centre alone.	Local or provincial authorities exist only at the will of the centre.
Examples: U.S.A., Canada, Australia, Switzerland, India, Germany.	Examples: United Kingdom, France, Japan, China, Sri Lanka.

Additional Short Answer Questions

1. Define federalism.

Answer: Federalism is an institutional mechanism that distributes governmental power constitutionally between a central authority and regional units, each operating within its own sphere of competence under a written constitution and supervised by an independent judiciary.

2. From which Latin word is “federalism” derived and what does it mean?

Answer: The word “federalism” is derived from the Latin word “foedus,” meaning “treaty,” “agreement,” or “covenant,” reflecting the idea of a contractual union between previously independent political units.

3. What are the two routes through which federations are formed?

Answer: Federations may be formed through (a) the route of aggregation, where independent units agree to combine into a larger union (U.S.A., Switzerland, Australia), and (b) the route of devolution, where a large unitary state divides itself into self-governing units (India, Belgium, Spain).

4. Why is the Indian Constitution called “federal in form but unitary in spirit”?

Answer: The Constitution provides all the formal features of a federation — a written constitution, division of powers, an independent judiciary, and bicameralism — but it gives the Centre greater authority through residuary powers, emergency provisions, single citizenship, all-India services, and the Governor’s office, making the system effectively unitary in operation.

5. What does Article 1 of the Indian Constitution declare?

Answer: Article 1 declares that “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.” The framers deliberately used “Union” rather than “Federation” to indicate that the Indian federation is not a result of agreement among states and that no state has the right to secede.

6. What is the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution?

Answer: The Seventh Schedule contains three lists — Union List, State List, and Concurrent List — which divide legislative subjects between Parliament and the State Legislatures.

7. How many subjects are in the Union, State, and Concurrent Lists at present?

Answer: At present the Union List has 100 subjects, the State List has 61 subjects, and the Concurrent List has 52 subjects, after various amendments since 1950.

8. Where do residuary powers reside in India?

Answer: Under Article 248, residuary powers — that is, the power to legislate on subjects not enumerated in any of the three lists — are vested in Parliament, unlike in the U.S.A. where they belong to the states.

9. What is the Concurrent List? Give two examples of subjects on it.

Answer: The Concurrent List contains subjects on which both Parliament and State Legislatures may legislate. Examples include criminal law, marriage and divorce, education, forests, and bankruptcy. In case of conflict, central law prevails.

10. What are the four kinds of emergencies under the Indian Constitution?

Answer: Article 352 — National Emergency caused by war, external aggression, or armed rebellion; Article 356 — President’s Rule due to failure of constitutional machinery in a state; Article 360 — Financial Emergency. These provisions allow the Centre to override federal divisions during a crisis.

11. What is the Sixth Schedule and which states does it cover?

Answer: The Sixth Schedule provides for the administration of tribal areas through Autonomous District Councils with legislative, executive, and judicial powers. It applies to specified tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. In Assam it covers the Bodoland Territorial Region, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao Autonomous Councils.

12. What was Article 370 and what happened to it in 2019?

Answer: Article 370 granted special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, including its own constitution, flag, and limited applicability of Indian laws. On 5 August 2019, the Government of India issued a Presidential Order rendering most provisions of Article 370 inoperative and reorganised the state into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

13. Which states are covered under Article 371 special provisions?

Answer: Articles 371 to 371-J provide special provisions for Maharashtra, Gujarat, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, and Telangana, addressing each state’s particular historical, cultural, or developmental concerns.

14. What is asymmetric federalism? Give an Indian example.

Answer: Asymmetric federalism refers to a federal arrangement in which different constituent units enjoy different degrees of autonomy and have different relationships with the central government. India’s special provisions under Articles 371 to 371-J and the Sixth Schedule for tribal areas are classic examples of asymmetric federalism.

15. What is the GST Council and which Article governs it?

Answer: The Goods and Services Tax Council, established under Article 279-A by the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016, is a joint body of the Centre and the States that decides GST rates, exemptions, and dispute resolution mechanisms. It is regarded as a pioneer institution of cooperative fiscal federalism.

16. What is the role of the Finance Commission?

Answer: Constituted every five years by the President under Article 280, the Finance Commission recommends the distribution of net tax proceeds between the Centre and the States, the principles governing grants-in-aid, and measures to augment state finances. The 15th Finance Commission’s report covers the period 2021-26.

17. Who appoints a Governor and how can he be removed?

Answer: The Governor is appointed by the President under Article 155 on the advice of the Union Cabinet. He holds office “during the pleasure of the President” (Article 156), which means the Centre can recall him at any time without giving reasons.

18. What is Article 356?

Answer: Article 356 empowers the President, on the report of the Governor or otherwise, to dismiss a state government and assume its functions when satisfied that the government of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution — popularly known as “President’s Rule” or “State Emergency.”

19. Mention three demands raised by states for greater autonomy.

Answer: States have demanded (a) greater devolution of revenue, (b) restraint on the use of Article 356, and (c) protection of linguistic and cultural identity. These demands have been articulated by Tamil Nadu, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, and several others over the decades.

20. Name three commissions appointed to review Centre-State relations.

Answer: The Sarkaria Commission (1983–87), the M.M. Punchhi Commission (2007–10), and the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2000–02, chaired by M.N. Venkatachaliah) all examined the Centre-State relationship and recommended major reforms.

Long Answer Questions

1. Discuss the salient features of Indian federalism.

Answer: The Constitution of India establishes a federal polity with several distinctive features. (i) Written and rigid constitution: A single, supreme, and largely rigid constitution governs both the Union and the States. (ii) Division of powers through the Seventh Schedule: Subjects are clearly distributed in three lists — Union, State, and Concurrent. (iii) Supremacy of the Constitution: All authorities, both Union and State, derive their powers from the Constitution. (iv) Independent judiciary: The Supreme Court adjudicates Centre-State disputes under Article 131 and exercises judicial review under Articles 13, 32, and 226. (v) Bicameralism: Parliament has a directly elected Lok Sabha and a Rajya Sabha that represents the States. (vi) Strong unitary bias: Residuary powers, emergency provisions, single citizenship, all-India services, and the Governor’s office tilt the balance towards the Centre. (vii) Asymmetric arrangements: Special provisions under Articles 371 to 371-J and the Sixth Schedule give differential autonomy to particular states. (viii) Cooperative institutions: The Inter-State Council, Zonal Councils, Finance Commission, and GST Council foster cooperation between the Union and the States. Together, these features create a federation that is uniquely Indian — strong at the Centre yet sensitive to regional diversity.

2. Compare federal and unitary systems of government.

Answer: A federal system distributes governmental authority between two levels — central and regional — through a written constitution, while a unitary system concentrates all power in a single central authority. In a federation, the constitution is supreme over both levels, the judiciary acts as umpire, and regional units enjoy guaranteed autonomy. Examples include the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, and India. In a unitary system, the central government is the sole source of legal authority and may delegate functions to provincial or local bodies, which it can also rescind. Examples include the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and Sri Lanka. Federalism is preferred in countries with large territories or significant linguistic, cultural, or ethnic diversity, while unitary systems suit smaller, more homogeneous societies.

3. Explain the division of legislative powers between the Union and the States with examples.

Answer: The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution contains three lists. The Union List (100 subjects) covers matters of national importance such as defence, foreign affairs, atomic energy, currency, banking, railways, posts and telegraphs, and inter-state trade — only Parliament can legislate on these. The State List (61 subjects) covers matters of state and local interest such as police, public order, public health, agriculture, land revenue, local government, and trade within the state — only state legislatures can legislate on these. The Concurrent List (52 subjects) covers matters of common interest such as criminal law and procedure, marriage and divorce, contracts, bankruptcy, education, forests, and economic and social planning — both Parliament and the state legislatures can legislate, but the central law prevails in case of conflict (Article 254). Subjects not enumerated in any of the lists are residuary subjects and are reserved for Parliament under Article 248.

4. Discuss the financial relations between the Centre and the States.

Answer: Articles 264 to 293 of the Constitution govern the financial relations between the Centre and the States. The Union levies and collects income tax (other than agricultural), corporation tax, customs duties, and excise on petroleum products, while the States levy taxes on land revenue, agricultural income, professions, vehicles, and excise on alcoholic liquor. The Goods and Services Tax (GST), introduced in July 2017, replaced most indirect taxes with a unified tax system jointly administered by the Centre and the States through the GST Council. The Finance Commission, constituted under Article 280 every five years, decides the share of central taxes to be devolved to the States and recommends grants-in-aid to states under Article 275. Special grants are provided to states facing revenue deficit, for natural disasters, and for the upliftment of Scheduled Tribes and backward areas. Although the States have constitutional taxation powers, the Centre’s larger revenue base and greater borrowing capacity make the States somewhat dependent on central transfers — a feature critics regard as a unitary tilt in fiscal federalism.

5. What is asymmetric federalism? Discuss its expressions in the Indian Constitution.

Answer: Asymmetric federalism is a federal arrangement in which constituent units have different relationships with the central government and enjoy different levels of autonomy. The Indian Constitution exemplifies asymmetric federalism through Articles 371 to 371-J, which give special provisions to twelve states. For instance, Article 371-A protects Naga customary law, religious practices, and ownership of land in Nagaland; Article 371-B provided for a special committee for the tribal areas of Assam (now superseded by the creation of Meghalaya); Article 371-G protects Mizo customary law in Mizoram; Article 371-F gave Sikkim special provisions on its merger in 1975; Article 371-H gives the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh special responsibility for law and order; and Article 371-J grants special status to the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. The Sixth Schedule confers autonomous district councils on tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. Article 370 originally granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir until its abrogation in 2019. These uneven arrangements allow the Indian federation to accommodate the country’s enormous regional, cultural, and ethnic diversity within a single constitutional framework.

6. Examine the role of the Governor in Indian federalism.

Answer: The Governor is the constitutional head of a state appointed by the President under Article 155 and holding office during the President’s pleasure (Article 156). His normal duties include giving assent to state bills, summoning and proroguing the legislature, appointing the chief minister, and making certain key appointments. However, several discretionary powers have made the office controversial. The Governor may reserve a state bill for the President’s consideration, recommend the imposition of President’s Rule under Article 356, dismiss a council of ministers that has lost the legislature’s confidence, and exercise judgement when no party has a clear majority after an election. Because the Governor is a Centre-appointee with no fixed term, his actions have repeatedly been seen as serving the political interests of the ruling party at the Centre rather than the constitutional interests of the state. The Sarkaria and Punchhi Commissions both recommended that Governors be appointed in consultation with the Chief Minister, given a fixed term, removed only on serious grounds, and barred from active politics for a period before and after their tenure. Reform of the Governor’s office remains one of the most discussed issues in Indian federal practice.

7. Explain the unitary features of the Indian Constitution.

Answer: While the Indian Constitution is federal in form, it carries strong unitary features that distinguish it from classical federations such as the U.S.A. and Australia. (i) Article 1 calls India a “Union of States” — states have no right to secede. (ii) Single Constitution for both Union and States. (iii) Single citizenship for all Indians, irrespective of state of residence. (iv) Integrated and unified judiciary headed by the Supreme Court. (v) Residuary powers vested in Parliament under Article 248. (vi) Emergency provisions (Articles 352, 356, 360) that convert the federation into a unitary system. (vii) Single Election Commission for the entire country. (viii) Single Comptroller and Auditor-General. (ix) All-India services (IAS, IPS, IFS) controlled by the Centre but serving in the states. (x) Power of Parliament under Article 3 to alter state boundaries without state consent. (xi) Governors appointed by the Centre. (xii) Centre’s overriding powers in Concurrent List matters under Article 254. These features prompted K.C. Wheare to describe India as a “quasi-federal” state and Granville Austin as a “cooperative federation.”

8. What are the special constitutional provisions for the North-Eastern states? How do they protect regional identity?

Answer: The North-Eastern states enjoy special constitutional protection through Articles 371-A, 371-B, 371-C, 371-G, 371-H, and the Sixth Schedule. Nagaland (Article 371-A) is protected against parliamentary laws on Naga religious or social practices, customary law, ownership and transfer of land, and administration of civil and criminal justice involving Naga customary law. Assam (Article 371-B) originally provided for a special committee of the legislative assembly for the tribal areas (largely superseded by the creation of Meghalaya in 1972, though the Sixth Schedule continues to govern Bodoland, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao). Manipur (Article 371-C) provides for a Hill Areas Committee in the state legislature. Mizoram (Article 371-G) protects Mizo customary law and land ownership in similar terms to Nagaland. Arunachal Pradesh (Article 371-H) gives the Governor special responsibility for law and order. The Sixth Schedule establishes autonomous district councils with their own legislative, executive, and judicial powers in tribal areas of Assam (Bodoland Territorial Region, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao), Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. Together, these provisions secure the customary law, land rights, language, religion, and cultural practices of the diverse tribal and ethnic communities of the region within the Indian federal framework.

9. Discuss the major Centre-State disputes and their resolution mechanisms in India.

Answer: Centre-State disputes have arisen over the misuse of Article 356, the conduct of Governors, distribution of central taxes, sharing of inter-state river waters, deployment of central forces in states, and the imposition of central legislation on State List subjects. The constitutional remedies for such disputes include: (i) the Supreme Court under Article 131, which has original jurisdiction over Centre-State disputes; (ii) the Inter-State Council under Article 263, which discusses matters of common interest; (iii) Zonal Councils for cooperative regional planning; (iv) the Finance Commission for financial disputes; (v) special tribunals such as the Inter-State Water Disputes Tribunal under Article 262; and (vi) the GST Council for indirect tax disputes. The landmark S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) judgment by the Supreme Court placed major restrictions on the misuse of Article 356, holding that Presidential proclamations are subject to judicial review. The Sarkaria Commission and Punchhi Commission have made detailed recommendations for resolving these disputes through dialogue and institutional reform.

10. Explain inter-state relations and inter-state disputes in India with examples.

Answer: Articles 261 to 263 govern inter-state relations. Under Article 261, public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of one state must be given full faith and credit in other states. Article 262 empowers Parliament to legislate for the adjudication of inter-state river water disputes — examples include the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry), the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal, and the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan). Article 263 allows the President to establish an Inter-State Council to discuss matters of common interest, formally constituted in 1990. Boundary disputes have been frequent — Maharashtra-Karnataka over Belgaum; Punjab-Haryana over Chandigarh and SYL Canal; Assam-Mizoram, Assam-Nagaland, Assam-Meghalaya, and Assam-Arunachal Pradesh over interstate boundaries. Trade barriers, language disputes, and migration of workers also raise inter-state issues. Successful federalism in India depends on the smooth functioning of these inter-state cooperation mechanisms.

The Seventh Schedule – Distribution of Subjects

List	Subjects (count)	Important Examples
Union List	100	Defence, foreign affairs, atomic energy, war and peace, citizenship, railways, airways, posts and telegraphs, banking, insurance, currency, foreign trade, inter-state trade, census, all-India services
State List	61	Public order, police, prisons, local government, public health, sanitation, agriculture, land revenue, fisheries, water, intra-state trade, state public services
Concurrent List	52	Criminal law and procedure, civil procedure, marriage and divorce, contracts, bankruptcy, trade unions, social security, education, forests, protection of wild animals, economic and social planning

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. The word “federalism” is derived from the Latin word —
(a) Federation (b) Foedus (c) Forum (d) Fiducia

Answer: (b) Foedus.

2. Article 1 of the Constitution describes India as —
(a) Federation of States (b) Union of States (c) Confederation of States (d) Republic of States

Answer: (b) Union of States.

3. The Seventh Schedule contains —
(a) Two lists (b) Three lists (c) Four lists (d) Five lists

Answer: (b) Three lists.

4. Residuary powers in India are vested in —
(a) The States (b) The Centre (c) The Inter-State Council (d) The Supreme Court

Answer: (b) The Centre.

5. The Union List currently contains how many subjects?
(a) 97 (b) 99 (c) 100 (d) 105

Answer: (c) 100.

6. Police is a subject in the —
(a) Union List (b) State List (c) Concurrent List (d) Residuary list

Answer: (b) State List.

7. Education is a subject in the —
(a) Union List (b) State List (c) Concurrent List (d) Residuary List

Answer: (c) Concurrent List.

8. Which Article empowers the President to impose President’s Rule on a state?
(a) Article 352 (b) Article 356 (c) Article 360 (d) Article 370

Answer: (b) Article 356.

9. Article 280 of the Constitution provides for —
(a) Inter-State Council (b) Finance Commission (c) GST Council (d) Election Commission

Answer: (b) Finance Commission.

10. The GST Council is established under —
(a) Article 263 (b) Article 280 (c) Article 279-A (d) Article 356

Answer: (c) Article 279-A.

11. Article 370 was associated with —
(a) Maharashtra (b) Jammu and Kashmir (c) Nagaland (d) Sikkim

Answer: (b) Jammu and Kashmir.

12. Article 370 was rendered inoperative in the year —
(a) 2014 (b) 2017 (c) 2019 (d) 2020

13. The Sixth Schedule deals with —
(a) Tribal areas of North-East India (b) Languages (c) Anti-defection law (d) Panchayats

Answer: (a) Tribal areas of North-East India.

14. Article 371-A protects the customary law of —
(a) Mizoram (b) Manipur (c) Nagaland (d) Sikkim

Answer: (c) Nagaland.

15. The Inter-State Council was constituted in —
(a) 1985 (b) 1990 (c) 1995 (d) 2000

Answer: (b) 1990.

16. Which Article provides for inter-state river water dispute adjudication?
(a) Article 261 (b) Article 262 (c) Article 263 (d) Article 264

Answer: (b) Article 262.

17. The Sarkaria Commission was set up to examine —
(a) Centre-State relations (b) Reservation policy (c) Election reforms (d) Electoral funding

Answer: (a) Centre-State relations.

18. Who appoints the Governor of a state?
(a) Prime Minister (b) Chief Minister (c) President (d) Chief Justice of India

Answer: (c) President.

19. The S.R. Bommai case (1994) is associated with —
(a) Article 356 (b) Article 370 (c) Article 280 (d) Article 263

Answer: (a) Article 356.

20. The Goods and Services Tax came into effect from —
(a) 1 April 2016 (b) 1 July 2017 (c) 1 January 2018 (d) 1 April 2019

Answer: (b) 1 July 2017.

21. Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam is administered under —
(a) Fifth Schedule (b) Sixth Schedule (c) Eighth Schedule (d) Ninth Schedule

Answer: (b) Sixth Schedule.

22. The first State Reorganisation Commission was set up in —
(a) 1948 (b) 1953 (c) 1956 (d) 1960

Answer: (b) 1953.

23. Andhra Pradesh, the first linguistic state, was formed in —
(a) 1947 (b) 1950 (c) 1953 (d) 1956

24. Telangana became the 29th state of India in —
(a) 2010 (b) 2012 (c) 2014 (d) 2016

25. Which Schedule of the Constitution lists official languages?
(a) Sixth Schedule (b) Seventh Schedule (c) Eighth Schedule (d) Ninth Schedule

Answer: (c) Eighth Schedule.

Key Terms

Term	Meaning
Federalism	Constitutional division of governmental power between a central authority and regional units, each operating within its own sphere.
Unitary Government	System in which all powers are concentrated in a single central authority that may delegate functions to local units.
Quasi-Federal	Term used by K.C. Wheare to describe a federation with strong unitary features, such as the Indian system.
Cooperative Federalism	Federal practice in which the Union and the States work together through institutions such as the GST Council, NITI Aayog, and the Inter-State Council.
Asymmetric Federalism	Arrangement in which different constituent units enjoy different levels of autonomy, as in the case of Articles 371 to 371-J in India.
Union List	List of 100 subjects in the Seventh Schedule on which only Parliament can legislate.
State List	List of 61 subjects in the Seventh Schedule on which only state legislatures can legislate.
Concurrent List	List of 52 subjects in the Seventh Schedule on which both Parliament and the state legislatures can legislate; central law prevails in conflict.
Residuary Powers	Powers to legislate on subjects not enumerated in any list; vested in Parliament under Article 248.
Article 356	Provision empowering the President to dismiss a state government and impose President’s Rule when constitutional machinery fails.
Article 370	Provision granting special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir until rendered inoperative on 5 August 2019.
Sixth Schedule	Schedule providing for autonomous district councils in tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
Eighth Schedule	Schedule recognising 22 official languages of the Republic of India.
Finance Commission	Commission constituted every five years under Article 280 to recommend distribution of central tax revenue between Union and States.
GST Council	Joint Centre-State body under Article 279-A that decides Goods and Services Tax rates and rules.
Inter-State Council	Body under Article 263 that discusses matters of common interest between the Union and the States, constituted in 1990.
Sarkaria Commission	Commission (1983-87) appointed to review Centre-State relations and recommend reforms.
Punchhi Commission	Commission (2007-10) on Centre-State relations recommending reform of the Governor’s office and Article 356.
S.R. Bommai Case (1994)	Supreme Court ruling that Presidential proclamations under Article 356 are subject to judicial review.
Single Citizenship	Indian constitutional principle granting one common citizenship to all Indians, irrespective of state of residence.

This concludes the complete question-and-answer guide for Class 11 Political Science Chapter 7 — Federalism, prepared in accordance with the ASSEB Higher Secondary 1st Year syllabus and the NCERT textbook Indian Constitution at Work. Mastery of this chapter is essential for understanding the functioning of the Indian state and forms a strong foundation for HS examinations and future studies in political science, law, and public administration.