History & Civics
India has opted for a federal system of government with a strong unitary bias. In this context answer the following questions:
(a) List any three federal features of government in India.
(b) List any two conditions when the Parliament can make laws on Subjects in the State List.
(c) Write short notes on any two unitary features of the government in India.
Answer
(a) Three federal features of government in India are:
- There is a division of legislative and administrative powers between the Union and the State Governments and none of them could violate the limitations imposed by the Constitution. The Supreme Court stands at the head of Judiciary to safeguard this distribution of powers and to prevent any action which violates the limitations imposed by the Constitution.
- The States have been given the right to participate in the functioning of the government. India has a bicameral legislature, i.e., the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha mainly comprises representatives of the States.
- No system of federation can be successful unless both the Union and the States have adequate financial resources to enable them to discharge their duties. The Constitution of India has made provisions for the distribution of revenue between the Centre and the States. This distribution has ensured equitable distribution of the financial resources between the two units.
(b) The Parliament can make laws on Subjects in the State List:
- During the Proclamation of an Emergency.
- When the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by a two-thirds majority that a subject in the State List has assumed national importance.
(c) Two unitary features of the government in India are described below:
- A Single Constitution for Union and States — The States in India have not been given any right to make their own Constitution. The framers of the Constitution have provided for a single common and unified Constitution, both for the Centre and the States.
- Single Citizenship — The Indian Constitution provides for single citizenship of India which is common to all the people of various States and Union Territories.
Related Questions
Which bodies have the right to legislate on subjects in the Concurrent List? What happens in the case of conflict between such laws?
If the President does not give his assent to a Bill, what happens?
With reference to the powers of the Union Parliament, state the following:
(a) Three of its Legislative Powers.
(b) Three of its Financial Powers.
(c) Four of its Administrative or Executive Powers.
With reference to the composition of the Lok Sabha answer the following questions:
(a) What is the maximum strength fixed by the Constitution? What is the term of the House? By whom and on whose advice can the Lok Sabha be dissolved?
(b) State any three qualifications needed to contest for the Lok Sabha seat.
(c) Give two reasons to justify how the Lok Sabha is more powerful than the Rajya Sabha.