What are the three lists in the Indian Constitution?

The Union List (subjects like defence, foreign affairs and currency), the State List (subjects like police, trade and agriculture) and the Concurrent List (subjects like education, forests and marriage on which both Centre and States can legislate).

What happens if there is a conflict over a Concurrent List subject?

If the laws of the Centre and a State conflict on a Concurrent List subject, the law made by the Union government prevails.

Why is India called a 'holding together' federation?

Because a large country first divided its power between the Centre and the States, with the central government usually more powerful, rather than independent states coming together to form a union.

What was the significance of the 1992 constitutional amendment?

It made local self-government constitutionally mandatory, requiring regular elections, reservation of seats for SCs, STs and women, and the creation of a State Election Commission, giving real power to the third tier.

CBSE Class 10 Civics · Chapter 2

Federalism

How power is shared between the centre and the states

Summary

Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units, with each tier having its own jurisdiction guaranteed by a written constitution.

India is a federation with three tiers — Union, State and local government. The Constitution divides subjects into the Union List, State List and Concurrent List, while residuary subjects rest with the Union. Some special provisions exist, and the language and finance policies have helped hold the federation together.

A major step was the strengthening of the third tier through the 1992 constitutional amendment, which made local self-government (Panchayati Raj and municipalities) constitutionally mandatory, with regular elections, reservation of seats and the State Election Commission.

Key points to remember

Federalism divides power between a central authority and constituent units, each with its own jurisdiction.
Key features: two or more levels of government, written constitution, specified powers, and an independent judiciary to settle disputes.
India has three tiers — Union government, State governments and local self-government.
Union List (defence, foreign affairs, currency), State List (police, trade, agriculture), Concurrent List (education, forests, marriage).
Residuary subjects (not in any list) are given to the Union government.
India follows a 'holding together' federation; the Centre is comparatively stronger.
Language policy: Hindi is the official language but 22 languages are in the Eighth Schedule; no language was imposed as the sole national language.
The 1992 amendment made the third tier (Panchayati Raj and municipalities) constitutionally mandatory, with regular elections and reservation of seats for SCs, STs and women.

Important questions (board pattern)

5 marksWhat is federalism? State its key features.
How to answer: Define federalism; then list two-plus levels of government, written constitution, division of powers, supremacy of constitution and independent judiciary.
3 marksDistinguish between a federal and a unitary form of government.
How to answer: Federal = power shared, units have own powers, cannot be changed unilaterally; unitary = central government supreme, sub-units take orders.
5 marksExplain the three-fold distribution of legislative powers in India.
How to answer: Union List, State List, Concurrent List with examples; residuary powers to the Union; who legislates on each.
5 marksHow has decentralisation been strengthened in India after 1992?
How to answer: Constitutionally mandatory local bodies, regular elections, reservation for SC/ST/women, State Election Commission, sharing of powers and revenue by states.
3 marksWhat is meant by 'coming together' and 'holding together' federations?
How to answer: Coming together = independent states unite (e.g. USA); holding together = a large country divides power among states (e.g. India).

Common exam traps

Don't confuse the three Lists — match the example to the right List (police = State, defence = Union, education = Concurrent).
Residuary subjects go to the Union, not the States.
Decentralisation became effective only after the 1992 amendment made local bodies mandatory — earlier they were weak.
India is 'holding together', not 'coming together' — don't reverse the two types.

Frequently asked questions

What are the three lists in the Indian Constitution?: The Union List (subjects like defence, foreign affairs and currency), the State List (subjects like police, trade and agriculture) and the Concurrent List (subjects like education, forests and marriage on which both Centre and States can legislate).
What happens if there is a conflict over a Concurrent List subject?: If the laws of the Centre and a State conflict on a Concurrent List subject, the law made by the Union government prevails.
Why is India called a 'holding together' federation?: Because a large country first divided its power between the Centre and the States, with the central government usually more powerful, rather than independent states coming together to form a union.
What was the significance of the 1992 constitutional amendment?: It made local self-government constitutionally mandatory, requiring regular elections, reservation of seats for SCs, STs and women, and the creation of a State Election Commission, giving real power to the third tier.