🌐 Federalism (संघवाद)
❇️ Meaning of Federalism
🔹 Simply put, Federalism means the idea of staying united (संघ = organization + वाद = ideology).
❇️ What is Federalism?
🔹 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
🔹 The Union (Central) Government handles matters of national importance, while State Governments handle matters of regional importance.
👉 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
🔹 Article 1 of the Indian Constitution calls India a “Union of States”.
🔹 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
🔹 According to the Constitution, India has:
- 1 Union (Central) Government
- 28 States
- 8 Union Territories (Delhi has the status of National Capital Territory).
🔹 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.
📜 Written Constitution.
⚖️ Division of Powers (Union List – 97 subjects, State List – 66 subjects, Concurrent List – 47 subjects + Residuary Powers).
⚖️ Independent Judiciary (स्वतंत्र न्यायपालिका).
🏛️ Supremacy of Constitution.
❇️ Union List (संघ सूची)
🔹 Matters of national importance (about 99 subjects).
👉 Examples: Defense, Foreign Affairs, Railways, Ports, Banking, Minerals etc.
❇️ State List (राज्य सूची)
🔹 Matters of regional importance (about 66 subjects).
👉 Examples: Police, Justice, Local Government, Agriculture, Irrigation, Health etc.
❇️ Concurrent List (समवर्ती सूची)
🔹 Matters of common importance (about 47/52 subjects).
👉 Examples: Criminal Law, Civil Procedure, Social Security etc.
❇️ Division of Powers
🔹 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.
📌 Exam Tip:
Federalism in India is unique because it is not strictly federal but a mix of federal + unitary features.
🌐 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 (एकात्मक लक्षण):
🔶 Single Citizenship (इकहरी नागरिकता)
🔶 Strong Centre (संघीय पक्ष अधिक ताकतवर) in power distribution
🔶 One Constitution for Union and States
🔶 Integrated Judiciary (एकीकृत न्यायपालिका)
🔶 Unitary Rule during Emergency (आपातकाल में एकात्मक शासन) → Centre becomes powerful
🔶 Appointment of Governors in states by the President
🔶 Single Administrative System (इकहरी प्रशासकीय व्यवस्था) – All India Services (IAS, IPS, etc.)
🔶 Importance of Union Government in Constitutional Amendments
🏛 Why Strong Central Government in India?
❇️ Reasons for Establishing a Powerful Central Government (सशक्त केन्द्रीय सरकार):
🔶 India is as vast as a continent, with huge diversity and socio-economic problems.
🔶 The Constitution makers wanted a strong Centre to handle these diversities and challenges.
🔶 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:
🔹 Demand for Autonomy (स्वायत्तता की मांग)
- Financial Autonomy (वित्तीय स्वायत्तता) → States demand more revenue sources & control over resources.
- Administrative Autonomy (प्रशासनिक स्वायत्तता) → More powers to states in division of subjects.
- Cultural & Linguistic Issues (सांस्कृतिक और भाषाई मुद्दे) → e.g. Tamil Nadu opposing Hindi, Punjab promoting Punjabi & Sanskrit.
🔹 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.
🔹 Demand for New States
- Demands for creation of new states has also created tension.
🔹 Inter-State Disputes
- Boundary disputes (सीमा विवाद) → e.g. Belgaum issue between Maharashtra & Karnataka.
- River water disputes (जल विवाद) → e.g. Kaveri dispute between Karnataka & Tamil Nadu.
🔹 Special Provisions (विशिष्ट प्रावधान)
- 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.
