Daily Olympiad: Social Science - Federalism [20260511]

Solution

Correct: B

A federal system is characterized by the division of power between a central government and various constituent units (like states or provinces). In contrast, a unitary system has a single level of government, or sub-units are subordinate to the central government.

Solution

Correct: C

In a federal system, an independent judiciary acts as an umpire to settle disputes between different levels of government regarding the division of powers. It interprets the constitution and the powers of the various government tiers.

Solution

Correct: B

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

Solution

Correct: C

Education is a subject under the Concurrent List, meaning both the Union (central) and State governments can make laws on it. Defence, Banking, and Railways are subjects exclusively under the Union List.

Solution

Correct: B

According to the Indian Constitution, the Union Government (Central Government) has the power to legislate on 'Residuary Subjects' – those matters not included in the Union List, State List, or Concurrent List.

Solution

Correct: C

The reorganization of states on a linguistic basis was done to make administration easier by grouping people who spoke the same language, fostering better communication, and promoting regional languages and cultures, thereby strengthening national unity rather than weakening it.

Solution

Correct: C

The Indian Constitution does not declare any language as the national language. It identified Hindi as the official language and recognized 22 languages (including Hindi) as Scheduled Languages. English is also used alongside Hindi for official purposes.

Solution

Correct: C

The Constitutional Amendment of 1992 (73rd and 74th Amendments) made it mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies (Panchayati Raj and Municipalities), reserve seats for SCs, STs, and OBCs, and ensure financial autonomy for these bodies, thereby significantly strengthening decentralisation.

Solution

Correct: B

The 1992 Amendment made it constitutionally mandatory to reserve seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local body elections, ensuring broader representation. It also mandated regular elections and the establishment of State Election Commissions.

Solution

Correct: B

A Gram Panchayat is the decision-making body for a single village or a group of villages. Its members, including the Sarpanch (president), are directly elected by all the adult population living in that village or ward.

Solution

Correct: B

Having separate sources of revenue for each level of government ensures their financial independence and capacity to carry out their assigned responsibilities and functions without being solely dependent on grants from other levels.

Solution

Correct: C

In a unitary system, either there is only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the central government. The central government can pass orders to the provincial or local government, and their powers are not constitutionally guaranteed as independent entities.

Solution

Correct: B

Some regions are granted special status or designated as Union Territories because they are either too small to be independent states, geographically remote, or possess distinct cultural identities that need protection. They do not have the full powers of a State and are directly administered by the Union Government.

Solution

Correct: B

The Governor's role as the Centre's representative can, at times, become a point of contention and lead to tensions between the Union Government and the State Government, especially when different political parties are in power at the Centre and the State.

Solution

Correct: B

The elected head of a Municipal Corporation, which governs large urban areas, is known as the Mayor. A Sarpanch is the head of a Gram Panchayat, and a District Magistrate is a district-level administrative officer appointed by the state government.

Solution

Correct: B

The period after 1990 saw the rise of regional political parties and the era of coalition governments at the Centre. This made the central government more sensitive to the demands and concerns of state governments, thereby strengthening federalism and power sharing arrangements.

Solution

Correct: B

Vertical power sharing refers to the division of power among different levels of government – a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level. Horizontal power sharing, on the other hand, is the division of power among different organs of government at the same level (legislature, executive, judiciary).

Solution

Correct: B

To ensure the federal structure is protected, fundamental provisions of the Indian Constitution, especially those concerning power sharing between the Centre and the States, cannot be unilaterally changed by the Parliament. They require a special majority in both Houses of Parliament AND ratification by at least half of the total number of State Legislatures.

Solution

Correct: D

'Jurisdiction' in the context of federalism refers to the area over which someone has legal authority. This includes both the geographical area and the specific subjects or matters on which a particular level of government has the power to legislate, execute, or administer.

Solution

Correct: B

The dual objective of a federal system is to safeguard and promote the unity of the country, while simultaneously accommodating regional diversity. It allows different cultural and linguistic groups to coexist within a unified nation.