📘 Chapter 2: Federalism
📚 Book: Democratic Politics II
📅 Session: 2025–26
👨🏫 Presented by: Amresh kumar
🎯 Simplifying Concepts with Amresh Academy
📘 Introduction – Federalism
🔹 In the last chapter, we studied vertical division of power 🏛️ — i.e., power shared between central, state & local governments (ऊर्ध्व शक्ति विभाजन).
🔹 In this chapter, we focus on this form of power sharing called Federalism ⚖️ (संघवाद) — where power is divided between a central govt. and state govts. (राज्य सरकारें).
🔹 First, we understand the concept of federalism 🧠. Then we explore how it works in India 🇮🇳 — in both theory (सिद्धांत) and practice (व्यवहार).
🔹 Finally, we learn about the Local Government 🏡 — the third tier (तीसरा स्तर) of Indian federalism, like Panchayats and Municipalities 🏘️.
⚖️ Federalism – Meaning
🔹 Federalism is a system of government where power is divided 🏛️ between a central authority (केंद्र सरकार) and various constituent units (घटक इकाइयाँ जैसे राज्य).
🔹 It usually has two or more tiers (स्तर) of government —
👉 For example: Central govt. + State govts. 🏛️🏞️
Each level has its own powers and responsibilities 📋✅.
🧩 Key Features of Federalism ⚖️
🔹 Two or more levels (tiers) of govt. exist 🏛️🏞️ (सरकारी स्तर).
🔹 All tiers govern the same citizens, but have separate jurisdiction (अधिकार-क्षेत्र) in matters like laws, tax & administration 📜💰.
🔹 Each tier’s power is clearly mentioned in the Constitution 📘, so their authority is constitutionally guaranteed 🔐 (संवैधानिक रूप से सुरक्षित).
🔹 No single govt. can change fundamental rules alone ❌
👉 Changes need consent of both levels 🤝.
🔹 Courts can interpret the Constitution ⚖️.
Supreme Court acts as a referee in disputes between governments 🧑⚖️.
🔹 Revenue sources are fixed for each govt., ensuring financial independence 💸✅.
🔹 It balances Unity 🇮🇳 and Regional Diversity 🌎 — the dual goals of federalism!
🎯 Objectives & Aspects of Federalism ⚖️
✅ Objectives of Federal System
Federalism has dual goals 🎯:
🔸 To accommodate regional diversity 🌍 (क्षेत्रीय विविधता को स्वीकार करना)
🔸 To safeguard & promote national unity 🇮🇳 (देश की एकता बनाए रखना)
🧱 Two Crucial Aspects of Ideal Federalism
🔹 Power-sharing rules must be agreed upon by all levels of govt. 🤝 (साझा सहमति)
🔹 There should be trust & willingness to live together 🫂 (विश्वास और सह-अस्तित्व की भावना)
🏛️ Types of Federation 🌍
✴️ 1. Coming Together Federation 🤝
🔹 Independent states unite voluntarily to form a larger nation 🗺️ —
They share sovereignty (संप्रभुता) but retain their identity 🌐.
🔹 Aim: To become stronger & more secure 🔒
🔹 Examples: 🇺🇸 USA, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, 🇦🇺 Australia
✴️ 2. Holding Together Federation 🧩
🔹 In a large country, the central govt. shares power with states/regions 🏞️ to keep the country united 🇮🇳
🔹 It often involves diverse regions with different languages, cultures etc. 🎭
🔹 Examples: 🇮🇳 India, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇧🇪 Belgium
What Makes India a Federal Country? ⚖️
🔹 The Constitution declares India as a “Union of States” 🏛️ (राज्यों का संघ)
🔹 India follows Three-tier federalism 🧱:
👉 Union govt., State govts., and Local govts. (Panchayats & Municipalities) 🏡
🔹 Threefold distribution of powers ⚖️ under:
📜 Union List (केंद्र सूची)
📜 State List (राज्य सूची)
📜 Concurrent List (समवर्ती सूची)
🔹 Not all states have equal powers ⚠️ —
👉 e.g., Union Territories are controlled by the Central Govt. 🎯
🔹 Any change in power-sharing needs 2/3 majority in Parliament 🗳️ (संसद में दो-तिहाई बहुमत)
🔹 If any dispute arises, the Supreme Court takes the final decision 👨⚖️⚖️
⚖️ Threefold Distribution of Legislative Power 📜
✴️ 1. Union List
🔹 Subjects of national importance like defence, foreign affairs, banking, communication & currency 🛡️🌍🏦
🔹 Need for uniform policy across India 🧭
🔹 Only Union Govt. can make laws on these 🚫🏛️ (केवल केंद्र सरकार)
✴️ 2. State List 🏞️
🔹 Subjects of local importance like police, trade, agriculture, irrigation 🚓🌾🛍️
🔹 Only State Govts. can make laws on these 📜✅ (केवल राज्य सरकारें)
✴️ 3. Concurrent List 📚
🔹 Common interest subjects: education, forests, trade unions, marriage, adoption, succession 🎓🌳👨👩👧👦
🔹 Both Union & State Govts. can make laws ⚖️
🔹 If there’s a conflict, Union law prevails 🚨 (केंद्र का कानून मान्य होगा)
🏛️ How Does India Practice Federalism?
Role of Politics in Federalism 🎯
🧾 Constitutional provisions are necessary but not sufficient for federalism's success.
👉 Its real success comes from India’s democratic nature 🗳️
✴️ Key Political Factors that support federalism:
1️⃣ Linguistic States 🗣️
2️⃣ Language Policy 📜
3️⃣ Centre-State Relations 🏛️
🗣️ Linguistic States
🔹 After 1947, many new states were created based on language (भाषा के आधार पर राज्य बनाए गए).
🔹 Some states like Nagaland, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand were created for cultural, ethnic, or geographical reasons 🌄🌿
🔹 At first, leaders feared this would divide the country, but it actually led to stronger unity
🔹 It also made administration easier ✅
Language Policy
🔹 No language was given the status of National Language ❌🗣️
🔹 English was to stop being used officially after 1965, but non-Hindi states protested 🛑
🔹 In Tamil Nadu, the protest turned violent, so the govt. allowed English + Hindi for official use 🇮🇳🗣️
🔹 Hindi is the official language (राजभाषा), but is the mother tongue of only ~40% Indians.
🔹 Apart from Hindi, 21 languages are in the Scheduled List 📚
🔹 States also have their own official languages 🗺️
🏛️ Centre–State Relations
🔹 Earlier, same party ruled at Centre & States, so states had limited independence 🚫
🔹 Centre sometimes misused power to dismiss opposition-led state govts. ❌
🔹 After 1990, rise of regional parties changed this 🌱
🔹 Coalition governments formed at Centre 🤝 — required alliances with regional parties.
🔹 A big Supreme Court ruling made it harder to dismiss state governments unfairly ⚖️
🏡 Local Government Empowerment
🔹 1/3rd seats reserved for women 👩⚖️
🔹 State Election Commissions created for local elections 🗳️
🔹 States must share power + revenue with local govts. (Panchayats & Municipalities) 💰
👉 Sharing pattern varies state to state 📊
Decentralisation in India
📖 Meaning of Decentralisation
🔹 When power is transferred from Central & State govts. to Local Government, it is called Decentralisation 🏛️➡️🏘️ (विकेन्द्रीयकरण)
🔹 It allows local people to take decisions on local issues ✅
📅 Key Steps Taken in 1992 – Major Reform Year 🗓️
🔸 Regular elections to local bodies made constitutional 📥
🔸 Reservation for SC, ST, OBC in local seats 🧑🏽🌾
🔸 1/3rd seats for women 👩⚖️
🔸 Creation of State Election Commission 🗳️
🔸 States must share power & revenue with local bodies 💰📜
Structure of Panchayati Raj (Rural Local Government)
🏘️ Village Level: Gram Panchayat
🔹 Every village/group of villages has a Gram Panchayat 🏡
🔹 Head is Sarpanch (सरपंच), directly elected by adult villagers 🗳️
🔹 Works under Gram Sabha (ग्राम सभा) – which includes all voters ✅
🏞️ Block Level: Panchayat Samiti
🔹 A group of Gram Panchayats forms a Block/Mandal 🧩
🔹 This level helps in coordinating decisions across villages 📋
🏛️ District Level: Zilla Parishad
🔹 All Blocks/Mandals form the Zilla Parishad 🏛️
🔹 Members: Elected reps, MLAs, Lok Sabha MPs, and govt. officers 👥
🔹 Led by a Chairperson, the political head of the Parishad 🎩
🏙️ Urban Local Bodies
🏘️ Municipalities & Municipal Corporations
🔹 Municipalities are set up in towns 🏠
🔹 Big cities have Municipal Corporations 🏙️
🔹 Both are run by elected representatives 🗳️
🔹 Head of Municipality = Municipal Chairperson 👤
🔹 Head of Municipal Corporation = Mayor 🎩 (महापौर)
👉 These local bodies manage urban planning, water, sanitation, roads, and public services 🛣️🚰🧹
🏡 Rural Local Bodies (Panchayati Raj)
✴️ 1. Gram Panchayat
🔹 For each village/group of villages
🔹 Members: Panch + Sarpanch (सरपंच)
🔹 Directly elected by adults in village 👨👩👧👦
🔹 Works under Gram Sabha (all voters) 🗳️
✴️ 2. Panchayat Samiti / Block Samiti
🔹 Group of Gram Panchayats = Block/Mandal Samiti 🧱
🔹 Members elected by all Panchayat members of the area 🗳️
✴️ 3. Zila Parishad
🔹 All Block Samitis in a district = Zila Parishad 🏛️
🔹 Members:
🔸 Elected representatives
🔸 MLAs + Lok Sabha MPs from the district 🗳️
🔸 Some district-level officers 👨💼
🔹 Chairperson is the political head of Zila Parishad 🎩
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