chapter2-politics-Question Paper

Federalism — 80 Marks Paper

CBSE Board Examination

Democratic Politics II  |  Class X

Subject

Social Science

Total Marks

80 Marks

Time Allowed

3 Hours

Chapter 2  |  Federalism

General Instructions

1. All questions are compulsory. Internal choices have been provided wherever applicable.
2. The paper is divided into five sections: A, B, C, D and E.
3. Section A (Q.1–10): MCQ — 1 mark each  |  Section B (Q.11–15): Very Short Answer — 2 marks each.
4. Section C (Q.16–20): Short Answer — 3 marks each  |  Section D (Q.21–24): Long Answer — 5 marks each.
5. Section E (Q.25–26): Case-Based Questions — 4 marks each.
6. Write neat, legible answers in the space provided on the answer sheet.

Section A Multiple Choice Questions — Choose the most appropriate option 10 x 1 = 10 Marks

1.

Which of the following best defines Federalism? 1 M

AA system where the central government holds all power.

BA system where power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units.

CA system where the military controls governance.

DA system where states are fully independent with no central authority.

2.

The distinguishing feature of a federal government is: 1 M

ANational government gives some powers to the provincial governments.

BPower is distributed among the legislature, executive and judiciary.

CElected officials exercise supreme power in the government.

DGovernmental power is divided between different levels of government.

3.

Which country shifted from a unitary to a federal form of government in 1993? 1 M

ASri Lanka

BIndia

CBelgium

DAustralia

4.

India, Spain and Belgium are examples of which type of federation? 1 M

AComing together federations

BHolding together federations

CUnitary federations

DConstitutional monarchies

5.

Which of the following subjects is included in the Union List? 1 M

APolice

BAgriculture

CDefence

DMarriage

6.

Which of the following is a Concurrent List subject? 1 M

ACurrency

BEducation

CIrrigation

DForeign Affairs

7.

When power is taken away from Central and State governments and given to local government, it is called: 1 M

ACentralisation

BDecentralisation

CFederalisation

DNationalisation

8.

How many languages are recognised as Scheduled Languages in the Indian Constitution? 1 M

A14

B18

C22

D29

9.

The political head of a Municipal Corporation is called: 1 M

ASarpanch

BGovernor

CMayor

DChief Minister

10.

The era of coalition governments at the Centre in India began after: 1 M

A1947

B1975

C1990

D2004

Section B Very Short Answer Questions (Answer in 2–3 sentences) 5 x 2 = 10 Marks

11.

What are the two objectives of the federal system? 2 M

12.

Define the term 'Jurisdiction' in the context of federalism. 2 M

13.

What are Residuary Subjects? Give one example. 2 M

14.

What is a Coalition Government? 2 M

15.

What is the role of the State Election Commission? 2 M

Section C Short Answer Questions (Answer in 4–6 sentences) 5 x 3 = 15 Marks

16.

Distinguish between 'Coming Together' and 'Holding Together' federations with examples. 3 M

17.

Explain the three legislative lists in the Indian Constitution and what happens in case of a conflict between Union and State laws on the Concurrent List. 3 M

18.

How did the creation of linguistic States strengthen Indian unity? 3 M

19.

What changes did the Constitutional Amendment of 1992 bring about for local government in India? State any three. 3 M

20.

Mention any three features of the Panchayati Raj system of local government. 3 M

OR

Explain the structure of urban local government in India. 3 M

Section D Long Answer Questions (Answer in 8–10 sentences) 4 x 5 = 20 Marks

21.

Explain any five key features of a federal system of government. 5 M

22.

What makes India a federal country? Discuss the constitutional provisions that give India a federal character. 5 M

OR

How does a unitary system of government differ from a federal system? Compare Belgium and Sri Lanka in this context. 5 M

23.

Describe the language policy followed in India after independence. How did India's approach differ from Sri Lanka's? What was the significance of this approach? 5 M

24.

Explain how the practice of federalism has been strengthened in India through Centre–State relations and the rise of regional parties. 5 M

Section E Case-Based Questions — Read the passage and answer the questions that follow 2 x 4+4+4+4 = Marks as given

25.

Read the following passage carefully:

A major step towards decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the third-tier of democracy more powerful and effective. Now it is constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies. Seats are reserved in the elected bodies for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. At least one-third of all positions are reserved for women. An independent institution called the State Election Commission has been created in each State to conduct panchayat and municipal elections.

(a) What was the significance of the 1992 Constitutional Amendment for local government? 1 M

(b) Which institution was created to ensure free and fair local elections? 1 M

(c) What fraction of positions is reserved for women in local bodies? Why is this considered important? 2 M

26.

Read the following passage carefully:

All this changed significantly after 1990. This period saw the rise of regional political parties in many States of the country. This was also the beginning of the era of coalition governments at the Centre. Since no single party got a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, the major national parties had to enter into an alliance with many parties including several regional parties to form a government at the Centre. This led to a new culture of power sharing and respect for the autonomy of State Governments. This trend was supported by a major judgement of the Supreme Court that made it difficult for the Central Government to dismiss state governments in an arbitrary manner.

(a) What is a coalition government? 1 M

(b) How did the rise of regional parties change Centre–State relations in India? 2 M

(c) What role did the Supreme Court play in strengthening federalism after 1990? 1 M

Section F Match the Following & Fill in the Blanks 5 + 5 = 10 Marks

27.

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer: 5 M

List I — Level of Government	List II — Head / Officer
1. Union of India	A. Sarpanch
2. State	B. Mayor
3. Municipal Corporation	C. Prime Minister
4. Gram Panchayat	D. Governor
5. Zilla Parishad	E. Chairperson

28.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate terms: 5 M

(a) Since the United States is a   type of federation, all the constituent States have equal powers.

(b) India is a   type of federation where the Central Government tends to be more powerful.

(c) The   List contains subjects like Defence, Foreign Affairs and Banking.

(d) Education, Forests and Trade Unions are subjects found in the   List.

(e) The rural local government system in India is popularly known as  .

Section G Source-Based / Map Question 5 Marks

29.

Study the following data and answer the questions:

Though only 25 of the world's 193 countries have federal political systems, their citizens make up 40 per cent of the world's population. Most of the large countries of the world are federations. The USA, Switzerland, Australia and India are among the most notable federal countries. India is special because it is a "Holding Together" federation formed after independence to manage its immense diversity.

(a) What percentage of the world's population lives under federal political systems? 1 M

(b) Name any two "Coming Together" federations. Why are they called so? 2 M

(c) Why is India described as a "Holding Together" federation? Explain with reference to its special features. 2 M

Section A (MCQ)

10

Section B (VSA)

10

Section C (SA)

15

Section D (LA)

20

Section E (Case)

8

Section F (Match/Fill)

10

Section G (Source)

5

GRAND TOTAL

80

Answer Key & Marking Scheme

Chapter 2 — Federalism | Class X Democratic Politics

Section A — Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)

Q.1

Answer: (B) — Federalism is a system where power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country.

1 M

Q.2

Answer: (D) — The distinguishing feature is that governmental power is divided between different levels of government.

1 M

Q.3

Answer: (C) Belgium — In 1993, Belgium amended its Constitution giving regional governments constitutional powers independent of the Central Government, shifting from unitary to federal.

1 M

Q.4

Answer: (B) Holding together federations — A large country divides power between constituent States and the national government; the Central Government is typically more powerful.

1 M

Q.5

Answer: (C) Defence — Defence is a Union List subject requiring a uniform national policy. Police and Agriculture are State List; Marriage is Concurrent List.

1 M

Q.6

Answer: (B) Education — Education is on the Concurrent List. Currency and Foreign Affairs are Union List; Irrigation is State List.

1 M

Q.7

Answer: (B) Decentralisation — When power is taken away from Central and State governments and given to local government, it is called decentralisation.

1 M

Q.8

Answer: (C) 22 — The Indian Constitution recognises 22 languages as Scheduled Languages in the Eighth Schedule.

1 M

Q.9

Answer: (C) Mayor — The political head of a Municipal Corporation is the Mayor. The head of a municipality is the Municipal Chairperson; a Gram Panchayat is headed by the Sarpanch.

1 M

Q.10

Answer: (C) 1990 — After 1990, no single party obtained a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, beginning the era of coalition governments in India.

1 M

Section B — Very Short Answer Questions (2 marks each)

Q.11

The federal system has two objectives:
(i) To safeguard and promote the unity of the country.
(ii) To accommodate regional diversity by allowing constituent units to govern themselves on local matters.

2 M

Q.12

Jurisdiction refers to the area over which someone has legal authority. In federalism, it means the specific subject areas or geographical boundaries within which a tier of government has the authority to make and enforce laws. Each tier has its own jurisdiction and does not interfere with the other.

2 M

Q.13

Residuary Subjects are topics that do not fall in any of the three legislative lists (Union, State, Concurrent), or subjects that came into existence after the Constitution was framed. According to the Constitution, the Union Government has the power to legislate on these subjects.
Example: Computer software, Internet governance, Artificial Intelligence.

2 M

Q.14

A Coalition Government is a government formed by the coming together of at least two political parties. Usually, partners in a coalition form a political alliance and adopt a common programme. In India, coalition governments became common after 1990 when no single party could win a majority in the Lok Sabha.

2 M

Q.15

The State Election Commission is an independent institution created in each State by the 1992 Constitutional Amendment. Its role is to conduct, supervise and ensure free and fair elections to Panchayats and Municipalities (local government bodies) in that State.

2 M

Section C — Short Answer Questions (3 marks each)

Q.16

Coming Together Federations: Independent States voluntarily come together to form a bigger unit, pooling sovereignty while retaining their identity. States are usually strong and have equal powers. Examples: USA, Switzerland, Australia.

Holding Together Federations: A large country decides to divide power between the national government and constituent States to accommodate diversity. The Central Government tends to be more powerful. Different units may have unequal powers. Examples: India, Spain, Belgium.
(Award 1.5 marks for each type with example.)

3 M

Q.17

Union List: Subjects of national importance — Defence, Foreign Affairs, Banking, Currency, Communications. Only the Union Government can make laws.
State List: Subjects of local importance — Police, Agriculture, Trade, Irrigation. Only State Governments can make laws.
Concurrent List: Subjects of common interest — Education, Forests, Trade Unions, Marriage. Both Union and State Governments can make laws.
Conflict Resolution: If Union and State laws on the Concurrent List conflict, the Union Government's law prevails.

3 M

Q.18

Initially, national leaders feared that creating States on the basis of language would lead to disintegration of the country. The Central Government resisted linguistic States for some time. However, experience showed the opposite — the formation of linguistic States actually made the country more united and made administration easier. People who spoke the same language were grouped together. Some States like Nagaland, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand were also created on the basis of culture, ethnicity or geography. This flexible approach respected diversity while maintaining national unity.

3 M

Q.19

The 1992 Constitutional Amendment made local government more powerful:
(i) It is now constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies.
(ii) Seats are reserved for SC, ST and OBC groups in elected bodies and executive heads.
(iii) At least one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
(iv) An independent State Election Commission was created in each State.
(v) State governments are required to share powers and revenue with local bodies.
(Any three points — 1 mark each.)

3 M

Q.20

Panchayati Raj features:
(i) Each village or group of villages has a Gram Panchayat with ward members (panch) and a president (Sarpanch) directly elected by adult voters.
(ii) The Gram Panchayat works under the supervision of the Gram Sabha (all adult voters in the village).
(iii) Several Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti/Block/Mandal; all Panchayat Samitis in a district form the Zilla Parishad headed by the Zilla Parishad Chairperson.

OR: Urban local bodies: Towns have Municipalities (headed by Municipal Chairperson); big cities have Municipal Corporations (headed by Mayor). Both are controlled by elected representatives.

3 M

Section D — Long Answer Questions (5 marks each)

Q.21

Five key features of a federal system:
1. Multiple tiers of government: There are two or more levels of government governing the same citizens.
2. Separate Jurisdictions: Each tier has its own jurisdiction in legislation, taxation and administration, specified in the Constitution.
3. Constitutional guarantee: The existence and authority of each tier is constitutionally guaranteed; fundamental provisions cannot be changed unilaterally by one level.
4. Judicial umpire: Courts have the power to interpret the Constitution; the highest court resolves disputes between levels of government.
5. Financial autonomy: Sources of revenue for each level are clearly specified so each government can function independently.
6. Dual objectives: Safeguard national unity while accommodating regional diversity.
(Any five points — 1 mark each.)

5 M

Q.22

What makes India federal:
Although the word "federation" is not used, India is a Union of States based on principles of federalism. Constitutional provisions include:
(i) A three-tier system — Union Government, State Governments, and (since 1992) Local Government.
(ii) Three legislative lists — Union List (97 subjects), State List (66 subjects), Concurrent List (47 subjects).
(iii) Residuary powers with the Union Government.
(iv) Constitutional amendment requires approval of both Houses of Parliament (two-thirds majority) and ratification by at least half the State Legislatures.
(v) Judicial oversight — High Courts and Supreme Court resolve federal disputes.
(vi) Special powers for some States under Article 371 (Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram etc.).
(vii) Union Territories — small units like Chandigarh and Delhi with limited powers under Central control.
OR: Belgium vs Sri Lanka comparison — Belgium is federal (regional governments have constitutional powers independent of Centre); Sri Lanka is unitary (national government holds all powers; Tamil leaders seek federal status). (1 mark per point, up to 5.)

5 M

Q.23

India's Language Policy:
(i) The Constitution did not give any language the status of "National Language." Hindi was identified as the Official Language but is the mother tongue of only ~40% of Indians.
(ii) 22 other languages are recognised as Scheduled Languages; candidates can take Central Government exams in any of these.
(iii) According to the Constitution, English for official use was to stop in 1965. However, non-Hindi States (especially Tamil Nadu) protested violently. The Central Government agreed to continue English along with Hindi.
(iv) Indian leaders showed a cautious and flexible attitude, unlike Sri Lanka which tried to impose Sinhala as the only official language, leading to civil conflict.
Significance: India's inclusive language policy helped avoid ethnic conflict, preserved regional identities, and demonstrated the true spirit of federalism — respecting diversity while maintaining unity.

5 M

Q.24

Centre–State Relations and Federalism in Practice:
(i) For many years after independence, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most States; State Governments did not exercise their rights as autonomous federal units.
(ii) When rival parties ruled States, the Centre would sometimes misuse the Constitution to dismiss those governments — undermining federalism.
(iii) After 1990, regional political parties rose across States. No single national party could win a Lok Sabha majority.
(iv) This led to coalition governments at the Centre, where national parties had to ally with regional parties, thus being forced to respect State autonomy.
(v) A landmark Supreme Court judgement made it difficult for the Centre to dismiss State governments arbitrarily.
(vi) This resulted in a new culture of power sharing and respect for diversity, making federal power sharing more effective than in the early post-independence years.

5 M

Section E — Case-Based Questions

Q.25(a)

The 1992 Amendment made the third tier of democracy (local government) constitutionally mandatory and more powerful — regular elections became compulsory, seats were reserved, and powers/revenue were to be shared.

1 M

Q.25(b)

The State Election Commission was created as an independent institution in each State to conduct free and fair Panchayat and Municipal elections.

1 M

Q.25(c)

One-third of all positions are reserved for women. This is significant because it ensures meaningful political participation for women at the grassroots level, increases their representation in decision-making, and gives voice to a historically underrepresented group in Indian democracy.

2 M

Q.26(a)

A coalition government is a government formed by the coming together of at least two political parties that form a political alliance and adopt a common programme.

1 M

Q.26(b)

The rise of regional parties meant that national parties needed their support to form governments at the Centre. This compelled national parties to respect State autonomy, consult regional parties on policy, and share power more meaningfully. A new culture of power-sharing and federalism in practice emerged.

2 M

Q.26(c)

The Supreme Court passed a landmark judgement making it difficult for the Central Government to dismiss State governments in an arbitrary manner, thereby protecting State autonomy and strengthening genuine federal practice.

1 M

Section F — Match the Following & Fill in the Blanks

Q.27

Matching Answers:
1 — C (Union of India — Prime Minister)
2 — D (State — Governor)
3 — B (Municipal Corporation — Mayor)
4 — A (Gram Panchayat — Sarpanch)
5 — E (Zilla Parishad — Chairperson)

5 M

Q.28

(a) Coming Together federation
(b) Holding Together federation
(c) Union List
(d) Concurrent List
(e) Panchayati Raj

5 M

Section G — Source-Based Question

Q.29(a)

40 per cent of the world's population lives under federal political systems, even though only 25 of the world's 193 countries have federal systems.

1 M

Q.29(b)

Two "Coming Together" federations: USA and Switzerland (also Australia). They are called "Coming Together" because independent States voluntarily came together to form a bigger unit — pooling sovereignty for greater security while retaining their individual identity.

2 M

Q.29(c)

India is a "Holding Together" federation because a large, diverse nation decided to divide power between the national government and constituent States. The Central Government is more powerful. Different States may have unequal powers (some have special provisions under Article 371). India manages enormous linguistic, religious, cultural and regional diversity through this federal structure, unlike "Coming Together" where states had equal power before uniting.

2 M