Daily Olympiad: Social Science - Federalism [20260725]

Solution

Correct: C

A federal system is characterized by the division of power between a central authority and various constituent units of the country, each having its own jurisdiction. This ensures that different levels of government can operate independently within their specified spheres.

Solution

Correct: B

The Union List includes subjects of national importance such as defence, foreign affairs, banking, communications, and currency. The Union government alone can make laws on these subjects to ensure a uniform policy across the country.

Solution

Correct: C

The judiciary plays a crucial role as an umpire in federal systems. It interprets the constitution and resolves disputes between different levels of government, ensuring the proper distribution of powers and upholding the constitutional framework.

Solution

Correct: D

A 'Coming Together' federation involves independent states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, pooling sovereignty and retaining identity. The USA, Switzerland, and Australia are examples. India, Spain, and Belgium are 'Holding Together' federations, where a large country decides to divide its power between constituent states and the national government.

Solution

Correct: C

Residuary subjects are those not explicitly mentioned in any of the three lists (Union, State, Concurrent) at the time the Constitution was framed. The Union government (Parliament) has the exclusive power to legislate on these subjects.

Solution

Correct: B

On subjects in the Concurrent List, both the Union and State governments can make laws. However, if there is a conflict between the two, the law made by the Union government prevails over the state law.

Solution

Correct: C

The reorganisation of states on linguistic lines, while initially controversial, actually made the country more united and strengthened administration. It ensured that people speaking the same language could manage their own affairs within a state, fostering better governance and greater public participation.

Solution

Correct: C

The Indian Constitution officially recognizes 22 languages as Scheduled Languages. This recognition aims to protect and promote the linguistic diversity of India.

Solution

Correct: C

The rise of regional political parties and the formation of coalition governments at the Centre after 1990 marked a new era. This necessitated power-sharing agreements between national and regional parties, leading to greater respect for the autonomy and roles of State governments, thereby strengthening federalism.

Solution

Correct: C

Decentralization refers to the process of taking power away from the central and state governments and giving it to local governments. This allows for greater public participation in decision-making and better addresses local problems.

Solution

Correct: C

The 73rd Amendment (for rural local self-government or Panchayati Raj) and the 74th Amendment (for urban local self-government or Municipalities) were enacted in 1992. These amendments made it mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies, reserved seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs, and for women, and transferred powers and revenue to these bodies.

Solution

Correct: C

Panchayati Raj is the general term for the system of rural local self-government in India. It typically consists of a three-tier structure: Gram Panchayat at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at the block level, and Zila Parishad at the district level.

Solution

Correct: C

Municipal Corporations are the local governing bodies for large urban areas or big cities in India. They are responsible for civic administration, infrastructure development, and public welfare within their jurisdiction.

Solution

Correct: D

In a federal system, fundamental provisions of the constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by one level of government. Such changes require the consent of both the central and state governments, often through a special amendment process, to protect the federal structure.

Solution

Correct: B

In a 'Holding Together' federation, a large country decides to divide its power between the constituent states and the national government. In such systems, the central government usually tends to be more powerful vis-à-vis the states, and constituent units often do not have equal powers.

Solution

Correct: C

The Union government (Parliament) has the exclusive power to make laws on subjects that are not mentioned in any of the three lists (Union, State, Concurrent). These are known as Residuary Subjects, covering issues that may have emerged after the constitution was framed, such as cyber-laws.

Solution

Correct: C

The judiciary acts as an impartial umpire in a federal system, ensuring that each level of government operates within its constitutional jurisdiction. Its primary role is to settle disputes between different levels of government regarding the division of powers.

Solution

Correct: C

In a 'Coming Together' federation, independent states voluntarily join to form a larger entity, thereby increasing their security and pooling sovereignty while maintaining their individual identities. Examples include the USA, Switzerland, and Australia.

Solution

Correct: B

Having their own distinct sources of revenue ensures that different levels of government can function independently and carry out their assigned responsibilities without being financially dependent on other tiers, thus strengthening their autonomy and the overall federal structure.

Solution

Correct: C

Despite initial fears, the reorganisation of states on linguistic lines proved to be a positive step. It created more manageable and unified states, facilitated better administration by promoting local languages, and helped accommodate linguistic diversity, thus strengthening national unity rather than fragmenting it.