NIOS Class 12 Political Science Chapter 8 Indian Federal System

NIOS Class 12 Political Science Chapter 8 Indian Federal System, Solutions to each chapter is provided in the list so that you can easily browse throughout different chapters NIOS Class 12 Political Science Chapter 8 Indian Federal System and select need one. NIOS Class 12 Political Science Chapter 8 Indian Federal System Question Answers Download PDF. NIOS Study Material of Class 12 Political Science Notes Paper 317.

NIOS Class 12 Political Science Chapter 8 Indian Federal System

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Also, you can read the NIOS book online in these sections Solutions by Expert Teachers as per National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) Book guidelines. These solutions are part of NIOS All Subject Solutions. Here we have given NIOS Class 12 Political Science Chapter 8 Indian Federal System, NIOS Senior Secondary Course Political Science Solutions for All Chapter, You can practice these here.

Indian Federal System

Chapter: 8

POLITICAL SCIENCE

TEXT BOOK QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWERS

INTEXT QUESTIONS 8.1

Q. Fill in the blanks:

1. In a federation the powers are …………… (with the Centre / with the State / divided between the Centre and the States).

Ans. Divided between the Centre and the States.

2. Federation has a ………….. Constitution. (written / unwritten / evolved) 

Ans. Written.

3. In the Indian Constitution there are ……….. Lists. (2,3,4)

Ans. 3.

4. 66 subjects are included in the ………… (Union/State / Concurrent)

Ans. State.

5. The Concurrent list consists of ………. subjects. (97,47,66)

Ans. 47.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 8.2

Q. Fill in the blanks:

1. The ……….. may change the area of a State by law. (Parliament / State Legislature / Municipal Corporation).

Ans. Parliament.

2. All Indian Services are under the control of ………… (Union Govt / State Govt / District Govt.)

Ans. Union Government.

3. In a federation there is …………. representation in the Upper House of Parliament. (unequal / equal / proportional) 

Ans. Unequal.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 8.3

Q. Fill in the blanks:

1. The Union List consists of ……….. subjects. (97 / 66  / 47) 

Ans. 97.

2. Post and Telegraph is subjects in the ……….. List. (Union / State / Concurrent) 

Ans. Union.

3. The ……….. can legislate on subjects in the State List when there is President’s rule. (State Legislature / Parliament / Both of them) 

Ans. Parliament.

4. Trade and Commerce is a subject with ………. List. (Union / State / Concurrent)

Ans. State.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 8.4

Q. Fill in the blanks:

1. Proposals for amendment to the Constitution can be initiated only by ………….. Government.

Ans. Central.

2. The Indian Constitution is ………… federal.

Ans. Quasi.

3. States are demanding …………. autonomy.

Ans. Greater.

4. ………… Commission has submitted its report relating to Centre-state relation.

Ans. Sarkaria.

TERMINAL EXERCISES 

Q. 1. Discuss the unitary features of the Constitution of India.

Ans. The Unitary Features of the Constitution of India: The following are the main unitary features of the Constitution of India:

1. Single citizenship: In India there is a dual polity but single citizenship.

2. The Constitution of the union of the states is a single frame in India.

3. The residuary powers are vested in Union List.

4. The Constitution becomes unitary in times of emergency.

5. Single Integrated Judicial System has been adopted.

6. All India Administrative Services (I.A.S.) are under the control of the Central Government.

7. The Constitution has mentioned India to be a “Union of States”.

8. Governors are appointed by the President and they work as the agent of Centre.

9. Centre can change the boundaries of the State.

10. There are many provisions which empower the Central Government to encroach upon the State List also.

Q. 2. Write a short note on the legislative relations between the Centre and the States.

Ans. The Legislative Relation between the Centre and the States: Regarding legislative relation, there is a three fold division of power in the Constitution. Union List, State List and Concurrent List. Union List consists of 97 subjects of national interest. State List consists of 66 subjects of local interest. The concurrent List constits of 47 subjects of common interest. The Parliament has the exclusive powers to enact laws on the subjects of Union List. The State legislatures have been empowered to make laws on the subjects included in State List. Both the Union and the States can make laws on the subjects of Concurrent List. But in case of a conflict between the Union and the State, the Union law prevails over the State law.

Under certain circumstances the Parliament can legislate on the subjects mentioned in the State List. These are:

(i) If there is a proclamation of emergency.

(ii) If the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by two thirds majority to the effect that an particular subject in the State List is of national importance.

(iii) When a state is under President’s Rule.

(iv) When two or more states make a joint request to the Parliament to legislate on a state subject.

(v) In order to implement any international treaty or agreement.

Another important point of legislative relations is that the residuary powers have been vested with the union.

Q. 3. Describe the financial relations between the Centre and States.

Ans. Financial Relations between Centre and the States:

1. Taxes levied by the Centre and collected by the States: Stamp duty, the taxes on the production of medicines and cosmetic preparations.

2. Taxes levied and collected by the Centre but distributed among the States: Taxes included in this category are duties on the succession of property other than agricultural land, estate duty except that on agricultural land terminal taxes on goods or passengers carried by air, sea or railways, taxes on railways freights and fares, taxes on newspapers, taxes on inter-state trade or commerce, etc. But such taxes concerning the Union territories are taken by the Centre.

3.Taxes levied and collected by the Centre and distributed between the Centre and the States: Income tax, excise duties other than those on medicine and toilet preparations.

4. Grants-in-Aid to the States: (i) The states of Assam, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa are given grants in lieu of export duty on jute and jute products.

(ii) Such sum as Parliament may by law provide shall be changed on the Consolidated Fund of India.

(iii) Such sum as for the purpose of raising the level of administration of the tribal area.

5. Appointment of the Finance Commission: The President is empowered to appoint a Finance Commission after 5 years or earlier as he deemes necessary. It will make the recommendation of taxes between the union and the states.

Q. 4. Explain that the Indian Constitution is federal in form but unitary in spirit.

Or

Examine the nature of Indian federation. Why do we call India a quasi federal state?

Ans. In a federal system a written constitution and rigid constitution, an independent judiciary to decide disputes between Centre and the States are needed. Though the Indian Constitution has all such features, but could not be said in the category of federations. Because certain non-federal features are also incorporated in Indian Constitution.

Single citizenship, strong Centre, appointment of the Governor by the President, inequality of representation in the Rajya Sabha are some examples of unitary systems. There is a tilt towards strong Centre. The states have to work in close cooperation with the Centre. This has led support to the contention that the Indian Constitution is federal in form but unitary in spirit.

SOME OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q. 1. What is a federation?

Ans. Federation word is derived from the Latin word ‘Foedus’ which means agreement. According to Hamilton “Federation is an association of states that form a new one.”

Q. 2. What do you mean by ‘residual powers’?

Ans. In a federal form of government the powers are distributed in the union and the states. For this purpose generally three lists are drafted:

(i) Centre List or the Union List.

(ii) State List and.

(iii) Concurrent List.

But still there is a possibility of some other powers which are not concerned by those lists and those are called the residuary powers. These are generally given to the Union Government.

Q. 3. What is need and importance of written constitution in a federation? Give example of Indian Constitution.

Ans. The most important feature of a federation is that its constitution should be a written one, so that both the Union Government as well as the State can refer to that as and when needed. The Constitution of India is a written document and is the most elaborate Constitution of the world. It establishes supremacy of the Constitution because both the Union and the States are given powers by the Constitution as to be independent in their spheres of governance.

Q. 4. What is meant by the Supremacy of Judiciary in federal system of India?

Ans. A very important feature of a federation is an independent judiciary to interpret the Constitution and to maintain its sanctity. The Supreme Court of India has the original jurisdiction to settle disputes between the Union and the States. It can declare a law as unconstitutional, if it contravenes any provision of the Constitution.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS 

Q. 1. How does the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India act as the watchdog of public purse?

Ans. In Indian Constitution there is a provision to appoint the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. He is appointed by the President in reference to the financial relations of Centre and States. He examines the incomes and expenditures of the Centre and of the States yearly. He gives his report to the President and the President gives the consent to put it into the houses of the Parliament.

Q. 2. Why do you say that Indian Constitution is rigid in nature as far as the Indian federal system is cocerned?

Ans. Rigid Constitution:

1. The procedure of amending the Constitution in a federal system is normally rigid. Indian Constitution provides that some amendments require a special majority. Such an amendment has to be passed by majority of total members of each house of the Parliament as well as by two-thirds majority of the members present and voting therein.

2. However, in addition to this process in some amendments majority of the total number must be approved by at least 50% of the states.

3. After this procedure the amendment is signed by the head of the state, i.e. the President. Hence, the Indian Constitution has been rightly called a rigid constitution.

Q. 3. Explain that in Indian Constitution there is clear division of power.

Ans. 1. In our Constitution, there is a clear division of power, so that the States and the Centre are required to enact and legislate within their sphere of activity and none violates its limits and tries to encroach upon the functions of the other.

2. Our constitution enumerates three lists, viz. the Union, the State and the Concurrent Lists.

3. The Union List consists of 97 subjects of national importance such as Defence, Railways, Post and Telegraph, etc.

4. The State List consists of 66 subjects of local interest such as Public Health, Police, etc. 

5. The Concurrent List has 47 subjects important to both the Union and the State such as Electricity, Trade Union, Economic and Social Planning, etc.

Q. 4. Why is the Indian federation called a centralized federation?

Ans. The Constitution of India has established the federal form of Government in India. It possesses all the necessary characteristics of a federation i.e., the Indian Constitution is a written and rigid one, the powers between the Centre and the State have been divided. But the Union Government has been given more power than the State Governments and there is a single citizenship of the citizens. So, Indian federation is a centralized federation.

Q. 5. Define Federalism. India is a union of states. What does it imply?

Ans. Federalism means a system of Government in which both the Central and the State Governments derive their powers and authority from the Constitution. They have their distinct areas of Functioning. Neither the Central Government nor the State Governments can usually interfere in the area which belongs to the other.

The Constitution of India also provides for a federation, though the word is nowhere used. India is a ‘union of states’, an expression which implies two things:

1. Unlike USA, the Indian federation is not the result of an agreement between the units.

2. The units have no right to secede from the federation. In fact, the units of the Indian federation have no independent existence of their own. The Parliament can alter their names and territories without their consent.

OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS

I. Choose the correct answer:

Q. 1. What type of Constitution is generally possess by a Federation? 

(a) Written.

(b) Unwritten.

(c) Evolved.

(d) None of the above. 

Ans. (a) Written.

Q. 2. How many lists are there in the Indian Constitution?

(a) 2.

(b) 3.

(c) 1.

(d) 4.

Ans. (b) 3.

Q. 3. How many subjects are included in the Union List?

(a) 97.

(b) 66. 

(c) 47.

(d) only 3.

Ans.(a) 97.

Q. 4. 66 Subjects are included in which list?

(a) State.

(b) Union.

(c) Concurrent.

(d) Residuary.

Ans. (a) State.

Q. 5. How many subjects are there in he concurrent list of the subjects?

(a) 97.

(b) 47.

(c) 66.

(d) only 17.

Ans. (b) 47.

II. Fill in the blanks:

1. In a federation there is ……….. representation in the Upper House of the Indian Parliament (or the Rajya Sabha). (unequal /equal / proportional) 

Ans. Unequal.

2. All Indian Services are under the control of ………… Govt. (Local / State / Union) 

Ans. Union Govt.

3. The ………… may charge the area of a state by law (Parliament / State Legislative / Municipal Corporation) 

Ans. Parliament.

4.Trade and Commerce is a subject with ………. list. (Union / State / Concurrent) 

Ans. State.

5. The ………… can legislate on subjects in the state list when there is a President’s rule. (State Legislature / Parliament / Both of them)

Ans. Parliament.

6. The Union List consists of ……….. subjects. (97 / 66 / 47)

Ans. 97.

7. Post and Telegraph is subjects in the ………… list. (Union / State / Concurrent) 

Ans. Union.