Class 10 Social Science Chapter 14 Federalism (Civics) Practice Paper 3

Class: X Subject: Political Science Session: 2025-26 Chapter: 02 - Federalism Time: 1½ Hours Max. Marks: 40

General Instructions:

1. All questions are compulsory.

2. This question paper contains 20 questions divided into five sections A, B, C, D and E.

3. Section A contains 10 MCQs of 1 mark each.

4. Section B contains 4 questions of 2 marks each.

5. Section C contains 3 questions of 3 marks each.

6. Section D contains 1 question of 5 marks.

7. Section E contains 2 Case Study Based questions of 4 marks each.

SECTION A - Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)

Q1. Which of the following countries is a 'holding together' federation?
(a) USA
(b) Australia
(c) India
(d) Switzerland

Q2. The Census of 2011 recorded how many major languages in India?
(a) 99
(b) 121
(c) 179
(d) 234

Q3. Which list contains subjects like police, agriculture, and irrigation?
(a) Union List
(b) State List
(c) Concurrent List
(d) Residuary List

Q4. The two objectives of the federal system are:
(a) Unity and development
(b) Unity and diversity
(c) Safeguard unity and accommodate diversity
(d) Power and authority

Q5. A few gram panchayats grouped together form a:
(a) Gram Sabha
(b) Panchayat Samiti
(c) Zilla Parishad
(d) Municipality

Q6. When were the areas and boundaries of Indian states reorganized on linguistic basis?
(a) 1950
(b) 1953
(c) 1956
(d) 1960

Q7. Which of the following is NOT a Union Territory?
(a) Delhi
(b) Puducherry
(c) Goa
(d) Chandigarh

Q8. If there is a conflict between Union and State law on a concurrent subject, which law prevails?
(a) State law
(b) Union law
(c) Both are valid
(d) Neither is valid

Q9. The chairperson of Zilla Parishad is elected by:
(a) All voters of the district
(b) Members of Zilla Parishad
(c) Chief Minister
(d) District Collector

Q10. Which state enjoys special powers under Article 371?
(a) Punjab
(b) Nagaland
(c) Kerala
(d) Tamil Nadu

SECTION B - Short Answer Questions (2 marks each)

Q11. What are the two main ways through which federations have been formed? Give one example of each.

Q12. Why do some states in India enjoy special status? Name any two such states.

Q13. What is the significance of having separate sources of revenue for each level of government in a federal system?

Q14. Mention any two subjects each from the Union List and State List.

SECTION C - Short Answer Questions (3 marks each)

Q15. Explain how the formation of linguistic states has strengthened Indian federalism. Give examples.

Q16. Describe the three-tier structure of rural local government in India.

Q17. Why is it necessary to have multiple tiers of government? Explain any three reasons.

SECTION D - Long Answer Question (5 marks)

Q18. "Decentralization is the basic idea behind the success of local government in India." Explain this statement by describing the need for decentralization, the main features of the 1992 Constitutional Amendment, and the current status of decentralization in India.

SECTION E - Case Study Based Questions (4 marks each)

Q19. Read the following case study and answer the questions that follow: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any one language. Hindi was identified as the official language. But Hindi is the mother tongue of only about 40 per cent of Indians. Besides Hindi, there are 22 other languages recognised as Scheduled Languages by the Constitution. States too have their own official languages. Much of the government work takes place in the official language of the concerned State. Unlike Sri Lanka, the leaders of our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.

(a) Why was Hindi not declared as the national language of India? (1 mark)
(b) How many Scheduled Languages are there in India? (1 mark)
(c) How did India's language policy differ from Sri Lanka's, and what were the results? (2 marks)

Q20. Read the following case study and answer the questions that follow: When power is taken away from Central and State governments and given to local government, it is called decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a large number of problems and issues which are best settled at the local level. People have better knowledge of problems in their localities. They also have better ideas on where to spend money and how to manage things more efficiently. Besides, at the local level it is possible for the people to directly participate in decision making.

(a) What is decentralization? (1 mark)
(b) Why can local problems be solved better at the local level? (1 mark)
(c) How does decentralization promote democratic participation? (2 marks) DETAILED ANSWER KEY - PAPER 03

SECTION A - Answers to MCQs

Q1.
(c) India India is a 'holding together' federation where a large country decided to divide its power between constituent states and national government. USA, Australia, and Switzerland are 'coming together' federations.

Q2.
(b) 121 The Census of 2011 recorded 121 major languages in India. These were grouped from over 1300 distinct languages that people mentioned as their mother tongues.

Q3.
(b) State List The State List contains subjects of state and local importance such as police, trade, commerce, agriculture, and irrigation. Only State Governments can make laws on these subjects.

Q4.
(c) Safeguard unity and accommodate diversity The federal system has dual objectives: to safeguard and promote unity of the country, while at the same time accommodate regional diversity.

Q5.
(b) Panchayat Samiti A few gram panchayats are grouped together to form a Panchayat Samiti (also called block or mandal), which is the intermediate level between village and district.

Q6.
(c) 1956 In 1956, the States Reorganisation Act was implemented, which reorganized the boundaries of Indian states on a linguistic basis following the recommendations of the States Reorganisation Commission.

Q7.
(c) Goa Goa is a state, not a Union Territory. Delhi, Puducherry, and Chandigarh are Union Territories. Goa became a state in 1987.

Q8.
(b) Union law If there is a conflict between Union and State laws on a concurrent subject, the law made by the Union Government will prevail over the state law.

Q9.
(b) Members of Zilla Parishad The chairperson of Zilla Parishad is elected by the members of the Zilla Parishad. Most members are elected, though MPs and MLAs of that district are also members.

Q10.
(b) Nagaland States like Nagaland, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram enjoy special powers under Article 371 due to their peculiar social and historical circumstances.

SECTION B - Answers to Short Answer Questions

Q11. Two Routes of Federation Formation

1. Coming Together Federations: Independent states come together on their own to form a bigger unit by pooling sovereignty while retaining identity to increase their security. All constituent states usually have equal power. Example: USA, Switzerland, Australia

2. Holding Together Federations: A large country decides to divide its power between constituent states and the national government. The Central Government tends to be more powerful. Example: India, Spain, Belgium

Q12. Special Status for Some States Some states in India enjoy special status due to their peculiar social and historical circumstances. These special powers are especially in relation to: • Protection of land rights of indigenous peoples • Protection of their culture • Preferential employment in government services • Non-residents cannot buy land or houses in these states Examples: Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram (any two) - These states enjoy special provisions under Article 371.

Q13. Separate Sources of Revenue Having separate sources of revenue for each level of government is crucial in a federal system because: • It ensures financial autonomy of each level of government • Each level can function independently without depending on others for funds • It prevents one level from controlling another through financial means • Each level can fulfill its responsibilities assigned by the Constitution

Q14. Subjects from Union and State Lists Union List (any two):

1. Defence of the country

2. Foreign affairs

3. Banking

4. Communications

5. Currency (any two) State List (any two):

1. Police

2. Trade

3. Commerce

4. Agriculture

5. Irrigation (any two)

SECTION C - Answers to Short Answer Questions

Q15. Linguistic States and Indian Federalism The formation of linguistic states has strengthened Indian federalism in several important ways:

1. Addressed Diversity: India is linguistically diverse with over 121 major languages. Creating states based on language recognized and respected this diversity instead of trying to impose uniformity.

2. Promoted Unity: Despite initial fears that linguistic states would lead to disintegration, the experience showed the opposite. The formation of linguistic states actually made the country more united because people felt their identity was respected.

3. Improved Administration: When people and government officials speak the same language, administration becomes much easier and more efficient. It also increased people's participation in governance. Examples: • Andhra Pradesh was formed in 1953 as the first linguistic state for Telugu speakers • In 1956, major reorganization created states like Kerala for Malayalam speakers, Karnataka for Kannada speakers, Tamil Nadu for Tamil speakers • Later, states like Gujarat and Maharashtra were separated, and more recently states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand were formed recognizing cultural and regional identities

Q16. Three-Tier Rural Local Government The three-tier structure of rural local government in India, known as Panchayati Raj, consists of:

1. GRAM PANCHAYAT (Village Level): • Each village or group of villages has a Gram Panchayat • Consists of ward members (panch) and a president (Sarpanch) • Directly elected by all adult population of the village • Works under the supervision of Gram Sabha (all voters in the village) • Is the decision-making body for the entire village

2. PANCHAYAT SAMITI/BLOCK/MANDAL (Intermediate Level): • Few Gram Panchayats are grouped together to form Panchayat Samiti • Members are elected by all the Panchayat members in that area • Coordinates between Gram Panchayats and Zilla Parishad

3. ZILLA PARISHAD (District Level): • All Panchayat Samitis or Mandals in a district constitute the Zilla Parishad • Most members are elected, but MPs and MLAs of the district are also members • Chairperson is the political head • Responsible for overall development of the district

Q17. Need for Multiple Tiers of Government Multiple tiers of government are necessary for the following reasons:

1. Managing Large and Diverse Countries: A vast country like India with diverse regions, languages, and cultures cannot be efficiently run through just one or two levels of government. Multiple tiers allow for better management of diversity at appropriate levels.

2. Better Local Governance: Many problems and issues are best settled at the local level where people have better knowledge of local situations, problems, and solutions. Local governments can respond more quickly and effectively to local needs.

3. Democratic Participation: Multiple tiers bring government closer to the people, making it possible for citizens to directly participate in decision-making. This promotes democratic values and helps people understand how government works. It realizes the important democratic principle of local self-government. Additional reasons: Prevents concentration of power, ensures checks and balances, accommodates regional aspirations, and makes administration more efficient.

SECTION D - Answer to Long Answer Question

Q18. Decentralization and Local Government in India Decentralization is indeed the foundational principle behind local government success. This can be understood through three aspects: I. THE NEED FOR DECENTRALIZATION:

1. Size and Diversity: • India is a vast country with states as large as independent European countries • Uttar Pradesh is bigger than Russia in population; Maharashtra is as big as Germany • Many states are internally very diverse • Cannot be run only through Central and State governments

2. Better Local Problem-Solving: • Large number of problems and issues are best settled at local level • Local people have better knowledge of local problems • They have better ideas on where to spend money and how to manage resources efficiently

3. Democratic Participation: • At local level, direct participation in decision-making is possible • Helps inculcate habits of democratic participation among citizens • Best way to realize the principle of local self-government II. THE 1992 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT: Before 1992, there was very little effective decentralization. The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments of 1992 made major changes:

1. Regular Elections: It became constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies

2. Reservation System: • Seats reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes • At least one-third of all positions reserved for women • This has dramatically increased women's representation in democracy

3. State Election Commission: Independent State Election Commission created in each state to conduct panchayat and municipal elections

4. Power and Revenue Sharing: State governments required to share some powers and revenue with local government bodies (though nature varies by state) III. CURRENT STATUS OF DECENTRALIZATION: Achievements: • Largest experiment in democracy - about 36 lakh elected representatives in panchayats and municipalities • This number is bigger than the population of many countries • Constitutional status has helped deepen democracy • Increased women's representation significantly • Elections held regularly and enthusiastically Challenges:

• Gram Sabhas not held regularly in many places • Most state governments have not transferred significant powers to local governments • Adequate resources not given to local bodies • Still a long way from realizing the ideal of self-government CONCLUSION: While decentralization through the 1992 amendment was a major step forward and has created the largest democratic experiment in the world, there is still much work to be done. Full success of local government depends on state governments actually devolving meaningful powers and resources to local bodies, and on active citizen participation in Gram Sabhas and local decision-making processes.

SECTION E - Answers to Case Study Based Questions

Q19. Language Policy in India
(a) Hindi was not declared as the national language of India because: • Hindi is the mother tongue of only about 40% of Indians • Declaring it as the national language would have been unfair to the majority 60% who speak other languages • It would have created resentment and possibly led to conflicts similar to those in Sri Lanka
(b) There are 22 Scheduled Languages recognized in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Besides these, the Census 2011 recorded 121 major languages.

(c) Difference between India and Sri Lanka's language policies: India's Policy: • Adopted a cautious and flexible approach • No national language declared; Hindi as official language with safeguards • Recognized 22 Scheduled Languages • States have their own official languages • Continued using English alongside Hindi when demanded Sri Lanka's Policy: • Imposed Sinhala as the only official language • Disregarded the Tamil-speaking minority • Adopted a rigid, majoritarian approach Results: • India's flexible policy helped maintain national unity and avoid ethnic conflicts • Sri Lanka's rigid policy led to feelings of alienation among Tamils, eventually resulting in a civil war that lasted decades • India's accommodation of linguistic diversity strengthened federalism; Sri Lanka's approach weakened national unity

Q20. Decentralization and Democracy
(a) Decentralization means taking away power from Central and State governments and giving it to local government. It involves transferring decision-making authority, resources, and responsibilities to the local level.
(b) Local problems can be solved better at the local level because: • Local people have direct, firsthand knowledge of problems in their localities • They understand the specific context, causes, and possible solutions better than distant authorities • They have better ideas about local priorities, where to spend money, and how to manage resources efficiently • Local solutions can be more appropriate and culturally suitable
(c) Decentralization promotes democratic participation in two major ways:

1. Direct Participation Becomes Possible: • At the local level, it is feasible for people to directly participate in decision-making • Citizens can attend Gram Sabha meetings, raise issues, suggest solutions, and vote on local budgets and plans • This is not possible at state or national levels due to large populations

2. Develops Democratic Culture: • Regular participation in local governance helps inculcate habits of democratic participation • People learn how democracy works, how to debate issues, build consensus, and make collective decisions • It empowers ordinary citizens, especially marginalized groups and women, to take part in governance • This strengthens democracy from the grassroots level upward Decentralization thus makes democracy more meaningful by bringing it closer to people and enabling their active participation in decisions that affect their daily lives.