๐ Federalism (เคธंเคเคตाเคฆ)
❇️ Meaning of Federalism
๐น Simply put, Federalism means the idea of staying united (เคธंเค = organization + เคตाเคฆ = ideology).
❇️ What is Federalism?
๐น Federalism is an institutional system where two levels of government work together:
- Central (Union) Government → For national-level matters.
- State Government → For state-level matters.
❇️ Federal Structure
๐น The Union (Central) Government handles matters of national importance, while State Governments handle matters of regional importance.
๐ Example:
- Union Govt makes laws on subjects of the Union List.
- State Govt makes laws on subjects of the State List.
❇️ Federalism in Indian Constitution
๐น Article 1 of the Indian Constitution calls India a “Union of States”.
๐น The federal system in India is based on the decision taken during the National Movement that, after independence, powers would be shared between the Central and State governments.
❇️ Federal System in India
๐น According to the Constitution, India has:
- 1 Union (Central) Government
- 28 States
- 8 Union Territories (Delhi has the status of National Capital Territory).
๐น Federalism also exists in countries like USA, Germany, Nigeria, West Indies, but their systems are different from India.
❇️ Features of Indian Federalism
✨ Three levels of government – Union, State, Local.
๐ Written Constitution.
⚖️ Division of Powers (Union List – 97 subjects, State List – 66 subjects, Concurrent List – 47 subjects + Residuary Powers).
⚖️ Independent Judiciary (เคธ्เคตเคคंเคค्เคฐ เคจ्เคฏाเคฏเคชाเคฒिเคा).
๐️ Supremacy of Constitution.
❇️ Union List (เคธंเค เคธूเคी)
๐น Matters of national importance (about 99 subjects).
๐ Examples: Defense, Foreign Affairs, Railways, Ports, Banking, Minerals etc.
❇️ State List (เคฐाเค्เคฏ เคธूเคी)
๐น Matters of regional importance (about 66 subjects).
๐ Examples: Police, Justice, Local Government, Agriculture, Irrigation, Health etc.
❇️ Concurrent List (เคธเคฎเคตเคฐ्เคคी เคธूเคी)
๐น Matters of common importance (about 47/52 subjects).
๐ Examples: Criminal Law, Civil Procedure, Social Security etc.
❇️ Division of Powers
๐น The Constitution clearly divides powers between Union and State Governments (Articles 245–255).
- Union Govt → National subjects.
- State Govt → Regional subjects.
❇️ Federal Features of Indian Constitution
✔️ Supremacy of Constitution – No authority is above the Constitution.
✔️ Division of Powers – Three Lists (Union, State, Concurrent).
✔️ Independent Judiciary – Prevents dictatorship, ensures justice.
✔️ Amendment System – Based on federal principles.
✔️ Three-tier Government – Union, State, and Local governments.
๐ Exam Tip:
Federalism in India is unique because it is not strictly federal but a mix of federal + unitary features.
๐ Features of Unitary System in Indian Constitution
❇️ Unitary Features in Indian Constitution
Although the Indian Constitution has federal characteristics, it also carries certain unitary features (เคเคाเคค्เคฎเค เคฒเค्เคทเคฃ):
๐ถ Single Citizenship (เคเคเคนเคฐी เคจाเคเคฐिเคเคคा)
๐ถ Strong Centre (เคธंเคीเคฏ เคชเค्เคท เค
เคงिเค เคคाเคเคคเคตเคฐ) in power distribution
๐ถ One Constitution for Union and States
๐ถ Integrated Judiciary (เคเคीเคृเคค เคจ्เคฏाเคฏเคชाเคฒिเคा)
๐ถ Unitary Rule during Emergency (เคเคชाเคคเคाเคฒ เคฎें เคเคाเคค्เคฎเค เคถाเคธเคจ) → Centre becomes powerful
๐ถ Appointment of Governors in states by the President
๐ถ Single Administrative System (เคเคเคนเคฐी เคช्เคฐเคถाเคธเคीเคฏ เคต्เคฏเคตเคธ्เคฅा) – All India Services (IAS, IPS, etc.)
๐ถ Importance of Union Government in Constitutional Amendments
๐ Why Strong Central Government in India?
❇️ Reasons for Establishing a Powerful Central Government (เคธเคถเค्เคค เคेเคจ्เคฆ्เคฐीเคฏ เคธเคฐเคाเคฐ):
๐ถ India is as vast as a continent, with huge diversity and socio-economic problems.
๐ถ The Constitution makers wanted a strong Centre to handle these diversities and challenges.
๐ถ At the time of Independence (1947), there were 500+ princely states. Only a strong Central Government could integrate them into the Indian Union.
⚖️ Tensions in Indian Federal System
❇️ Centre–State Relations
Though the Constitution gives more powers to the Centre, states often raise objections and make the following demands:
๐น Demand for Autonomy (เคธ्เคตाเคฏเคค्เคคเคคा เคी เคฎांเค)
- Financial Autonomy (เคตिเคค्เคคीเคฏ เคธ्เคตाเคฏเคค्เคคเคคा) → States demand more revenue sources & control over resources.
- Administrative Autonomy (เคช्เคฐเคถाเคธเคจिเค เคธ्เคตाเคฏเคค्เคคเคคा) → More powers to states in division of subjects.
- Cultural & Linguistic Issues (เคธांเคธ्เคृเคคिเค เคเคฐ เคญाเคทाเค เคฎुเคฆ्เคฆे) → e.g. Tamil Nadu opposing Hindi, Punjab promoting Punjabi & Sanskrit.
๐น Role of Governor & President’s Rule
- Governors are appointed by the President without state consent.
- Misuse of Article 356 → Central Government imposes President’s Rule in states unfairly.
๐น Demand for New States
- Demands for creation of new states has also created tension.
๐น Inter-State Disputes
- Boundary disputes (เคธीเคฎा เคตिเคตाเคฆ) → e.g. Belgaum issue between Maharashtra & Karnataka.
- River water disputes (เคเคฒ เคตिเคตाเคฆ) → e.g. Kaveri dispute between Karnataka & Tamil Nadu.
๐น Special Provisions (เคตिเคถिเคท्เค เคช्เคฐाเคตเคงाเคจ)
- Article 370 → Granted special status to Jammu & Kashmir (separate Constitution, flag, limited powers of Parliament).
- Articles 371 to 371(J) → Special status to states like Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Goa.
