Class 10 Social Science Chapter 14 Federalism (Civics) PYQ

Class: X Subject: Social Science Session: 2025-26 Book: Political Science Type: PYQ (Board Exam) Board: CBSE Chapter 2 : Federalism

SECTION A : Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark Each)

Q1. How many subjects are there in the Union List? [CBSE 2023] [1]
(a) 52
(b) 66
(c) 97
(d) 47 Ans:
(c) 97 (approximately). Union List includes subjects of national importance like defence, foreign affairs, banking, communications, and currency. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q2. Which of the following is in the State List? [CBSE 2022] [1]
(a) Defence
(b) Police
(c) Banking
(d) Foreign affairs Ans:
(b) Police. State List includes subjects of state and local importance - police, trade, commerce, agriculture, and irrigation. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q3. Which constitutional amendment decentralised power to local self-government bodies? [CBSE 2024] [1]
(a) 42nd Amendment
(b) 73rd and 74th Amendment
(c) 44th Amendment
(d) 86th Amendment Ans:
(b) 73rd and 74th Amendment (1992). These made it constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies and reserve seats for SCs, STs, and women. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q4. What is a coalition government? [CBSE 2021] [1]
(a) Government by the military
(b) Government formed by alliance of two or more political parties
(c) Government by a single party
(d) Government by the judiciary Ans:
(b) Government formed by alliance of two or more political parties when no single party gets majority. Common in India since 1989. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q5. The system of Panchayati Raj involves: [CBSE 2020] [1]
(a) Only village level governance
(b) Three tiers - village, block, and district levels
(c) State-level governance only
(d) National level governance Ans:
(b) Three tiers - Gram Panchayat (village), Panchayat Samiti (block/taluka), and Zila Parishad (district). This is the rural local self-government system. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q6. Residuary subjects are dealt with by: [CBSE 2023] [1]
(a) State Government
(b) Local Government
(c) Union Government
(d) Concurrent List Ans:
(c) Union Government. Subjects not mentioned in any of the three lists (Union, State, Concurrent) are called residuary subjects and fall under the Centre. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q7. In a federal system, the central and state governments: [CBSE 2024] [1]
(a) Central government is supreme over states
(b) Both derive powers from the Constitution and are independent in their own sphere
(c) States are supreme over centre
(d) Both are subordinate to judiciary Ans:
(b) Both derive their powers from the Constitution and are independent in their own sphere. Neither is subordinate to the other in matters assigned to it. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q8. Which of the following is a feature of Indian federalism? [CBSE 2022] [1]
(a) Single citizenship
(b) States can secede from the Union
(c) Independent judiciary that settles Centre-State disputes
(d) Both
(a) and
(c) Ans:
(d) Both
(a) and
(c) . India has single citizenship and an independent judiciary. However, states cannot secede from the Union. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q9. The policy of making Hindi the sole official language was opposed mainly by: [CBSE 2021] [1]
(a) North Indian states
(b) Southern states, especially Tamil Nadu
(c) Western states
(d) North-eastern states Ans:
(b) Southern states, especially Tamil Nadu. The imposition of Hindi was seen as dominance of Hindi-speaking regions, leading to major protests in 1960s. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q10. Assertion
(a) : India is a holding together federation. Reason (R): A large country divided its power between constituent states and national government. [CBSE 2024] [1]
(a) Both true and (R) correctly explains
(a)
(b) Both true but (R) does not explain
(a)
(c)
(a) is true but (R) is false
(d)
(a) is false Ans:
(a) Both true and (R) correctly explains
(a) . In a holding together federation, a large country decides to divide power rather than independent states coming together. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SECTION B : Short Answer Questions (3 Marks Each)

Q11. Distinguish between Union List, State List, and Concurrent List with examples. [CBSE 2023] [3] • Union List: Subjects of national importance managed by Central Government alone - defence, foreign affairs, banking, currency, atomic energy, railways. • State List: Subjects of state/local importance managed by State Governments - police, trade, agriculture, irrigation, land revenue, public health. • Concurrent List: Subjects where both Centre and State can legislate - education, forests, marriage, trade unions. In case of conflict, central law prevails.

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Q12. How has decentralisation strengthened democracy in India? [CBSE 2024] [3] • Grassroots Democracy: 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992) created constitutional status for Panchayats and Municipalities, bringing governance closer to people. • Reservations: At least one-third seats reserved for women. Seats also reserved for SCs and STs, ensuring representation of marginalised groups in local governance. • Direct Participation: People directly elect local representatives and participate in Gram Sabha meetings, making democracy more participatory and responsive to local needs.

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Q13. What makes India a federal country? Explain key features. [CBSE 2022] [3] • Constitutional Division: Powers divided between Union, State, and Concurrent Lists. Neither Centre nor States can unilaterally change this arrangement. • Written Constitution: The Constitution is supreme. An independent judiciary (Supreme Court and High Courts) resolves disputes between Centre and States. • Three Tiers: Federal structure with Union Government, State Governments, and Local Self-Government bodies, each with defined responsibilities and powers.

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Q14. Explain the significance of linguistic states in Indian federalism. [CBSE 2021] [3] • States Reorganisation (1956): States were reorganised along linguistic lines, ensuring that people speaking the same language lived in the same state. • Unity: Rather than dividing the country as feared, linguistic states strengthened national unity. People felt their identity was respected within the federal structure. • Administration: Language-based states made administration easier as government could communicate with citizens in their own language, improving governance.

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Q15. How is federalism practised differently in India compared to Belgium? [CBSE 2020] [3] • India: A holding-together federation with strong Centre. Centre can create new states, impose President's Rule, and has emergency powers over states. • Belgium: A coming-together federation with equal communities. Community governments have independent powers on cultural and language matters. • Key Difference: India has three lists dividing subjects; Belgium relies on constitutional arrangements between language communities. Both achieve unity through power sharing.

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SECTION C : Long Answer Questions (5 Marks Each)

Q16. "The real success of federalism in India is due to the nature of democratic politics." Justify. [CBSE 2024] [5] Ans: Indian federalism has succeeded because of democratic practices: • Linguistic States: Reorganisation of states on language basis (1956) respected regional identities while maintaining national unity. • Language Policy: No single language was imposed. Hindi and English serve as official languages, and 22 Scheduled Languages are recognised. • Coalition Politics: Rise of regional parties and coalition governments has shifted real power to states, making Indian federalism more decentralised.

• Decentralisation: 73rd and 74th Amendments empowered local bodies. State Finance Commissions and regular elections strengthened grassroots democracy. • Judicial Role: Independent judiciary settles Centre-State disputes impartially. Courts have upheld the federal structure as a basic feature of the Constitution. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q17. Describe the three-tier system of Panchayati Raj and its significance in Indian democracy. [CBSE 2023] [5] Ans: Panchayati Raj is the system of rural local self-government: • Gram Panchayat: Lowest tier at village level. Headed by Sarpanch. Manages village development, sanitation, roads, and welfare schemes. Gram Sabha is the general body. • Panchayat Samiti: Middle tier at block/taluka level. Coordinates activities of Gram Panchayats. Plans development programmes for the block area. • Zila Parishad: Top tier at district level. Headed by a chairperson. Prepares development plans for the entire district and distributes funds to Panchayat Samitis.

• 73rd Amendment: Made Panchayati Raj constitutionally mandatory. Regular elections, reservation for women (33%), SCs and STs, and devolution of powers are guaranteed. • Significance: Brings democracy to the grassroots level. Over 30 lakh elected representatives, including a large number of women, participate in local governance. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q18. How does the Indian Constitution ensure a federal structure while maintaining national unity? [CBSE 2022] [5] Ans: The Constitution balances federalism with national unity: • Three Lists: Union, State, and Concurrent Lists clearly divide powers. Residuary powers rest with the Centre, ensuring national interest is protected. • Independent Judiciary: Supreme Court acts as the guardian of the Constitution and arbiter of Centre-State disputes, ensuring neither oversteps its boundaries. • Single Citizenship: Unlike the US, India has single citizenship. Citizens of every state enjoy same rights everywhere, promoting national unity.

• Emergency Provisions: In emergencies, the Centre can take over state functions. This ensures national security while normally allowing states autonomy. • Flexible Approach: Through language policy, creation of new states, and special provisions (Article 370 was for J&K;), India has accommodated diverse demands within a federal framework. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q19. Explain the features of Indian federalism that make it unique. [CBSE 2021] [5] Ans: Indian federalism has several distinctive features: • Holding Together: India is a holding-together federation where a large country divided power, unlike coming-together federations (USA, Switzerland). • Strong Centre: The Centre has more powers than states. It can create new states, alter boundaries, and exercise emergency powers. • Asymmetric Federalism: Some states have special status (like Northeastern states under Article 371). Different states have different powers depending on circumstances.

• Three-tier Structure: Union, State, and Local governments. The 73rd and 74th Amendments made local governance a constitutional right, adding a unique third tier. • Coalition Federalism: Rise of regional parties has made coalition governments common, giving states greater voice in national governance through political alliances. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q20. What are the key differences between a unitary and a federal form of government? [CBSE 2020] [5] Ans: Unitary and federal systems differ fundamentally: • Power Distribution: In unitary system, central government holds all power. In federal system, power is constitutionally divided between centre and states. • Sovereignty: In unitary, sub-national units are subordinate to the centre. In federal, both levels are constitutionally independent in their spheres. • Constitution: Federal systems have written constitutions that cannot be easily changed by one level. Unitary systems may have flexible constitutions.

• Judiciary: Federal systems need independent judiciary to resolve disputes. Unitary systems may not need an independent arbiter between levels of government. • Examples: Unitary - UK, France, Japan. Federal - India, USA, Australia, Switzerland. India combines federal structure with unitary features for unity in diversity. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ --- End of Chapter 2 PYQ ---