NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science (Democratic Politics) Chapter 2: Federalism (NCERT 2026–27)

These Class 10 Civics Chapter 2 solutions cover Federalism from Democratic Politics–II, the NCERT textbook for the 2026–27 session. The chapter explains the vertical division of power between different levels of government — the most common form of power-sharing in modern democracies. It describes what federalism is and its key features, what makes India a federal country (the three-fold distribution of powers through the Union, State and Concurrent Lists), how federalism is practised in India (linguistic States, the language policy and Centre–State relations), and the decentralisation of power to a third tier of panchayats and municipalities. Below you get step-by-step answers to all the end-of-chapter Exercises, clear notes on key terms, extra practice, MCQs, Assertion–Reason and FAQs.

Class: 10 Subject: Social Science (Civics) Book: Democratic Politics–II Chapter: 2 – Federalism Discipline: Political Science (Civics) Session: 2026–27
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Class 10 Civics Chapter 2 – Overview

Chapter 2, Federalism, focuses on the vertical division of power among different levels of government. Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units, with two (or more) levels of government enjoying their power independent of each other. The chapter lists the key features of federalism — two or more tiers, constitutionally guaranteed jurisdictions, the need for both levels’ consent to change fundamental provisions, and courts acting as umpire. It contrasts ‘coming together’ federations (USA, Switzerland, Australia) with ‘holding together’ federations (India, Spain, Belgium). It then shows what makes India federal: the Constitution declares India a Union of States with a three-fold distribution of powers (Union, State and Concurrent Lists, plus residuary powers with the Union). Finally it explains how federalism has been strengthened in practice through linguistic States, a flexible language policy, healthier Centre–State relations after 1990, and the decentralisation of power to a third tier of local self-government created by the 1992 constitutional amendment.

Key Concepts & Terms

Federalism: a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country; usually there are two levels of government, each enjoying its power independent of the other.

Unitary government: a system in which there is only one level of government, or the sub-units are subordinate to the central government and can be ordered by it.

Key features of federalism: two or more tiers of government; different tiers govern the same citizens but each has its own jurisdiction; jurisdictions are specified in the Constitution; fundamental provisions cannot be changed by one level alone; courts interpret the Constitution and act as umpire; sources of revenue for each level are clearly specified.

‘Coming together’ federations: independent States come together on their own to form a bigger unit (USA, Switzerland, Australia); the States usually have equal power and are strong vis-à-vis the federal government.

‘Holding together’ federations: a large country divides its power between constituent States and the national government (India, Spain, Belgium); the Central Government tends to be more powerful and some units may have unequal or special powers.

Union List: subjects of national importance (defence, foreign affairs, banking, communications, currency) on which only the Union Government can make laws.

State List: subjects of State and local importance (police, trade, commerce, agriculture, irrigation) on which only the State Governments can make laws.

Concurrent List: subjects of common interest (education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption, succession) on which both levels can legislate; if their laws conflict, the Union law prevails.

Residuary subjects: subjects that do not fall in any of the three lists (such as computer software); the Union Government has the power to legislate on them.

Jurisdiction: the area over which someone has legal authority, defined by geographical boundaries or by certain kinds of subjects.

Coalition government: a government formed by the coming together of at least two political parties, usually forming a political alliance and adopting a common programme.

Decentralisation: taking power away from the Central and State governments and giving it to local government, so that problems best settled at the local level are dealt with by people who know them best.

Panchayati Raj: the system of rural local government — gram panchayat (with panch and sarpanch), panchayat samiti/block, and zilla parishad — supervised by the gram sabha, with urban areas governed by municipalities and municipal corporations (headed by a mayor).

“Exercises” — Full Solutions

All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT textbook’s end-of-chapter Exercises. Answers are original, written in exam-ready style. Map-based questions (1–2) are answered in words, as no images are reproduced.

1. Locate the following States on a blank outline political map of India: Manipur, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh and Goa.

ANSWER This is a map activity; on a blank outline political map of India, mark and label the four States as follows: Manipur – in the north-east, sharing an international border with Myanmar; its capital is Imphal. Sikkim – in the north-east Himalayas, between Nepal, China (Tibet) and Bhutan; its capital is Gangtok. Chhattisgarh – in central India, surrounded by Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh; its capital is Raipur. Goa – on the west coast along the Arabian Sea, between Maharashtra and Karnataka; its capital is Panaji.

2. Identify and shade three federal countries (other than India) on a blank outline political map of the world.

ANSWER On a blank outline political map of the world, shade and label any three of the federal countries shown in the chapter. A simple, correct choice is: United States of America – in North America. Australia – the island continent in the southern hemisphere. Brazil – the largest country in South America. (Other acceptable examples from the chapter include Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Russia, Belgium, Spain, Nigeria, Pakistan, Malaysia, Argentina and South Africa.)

3. Point out one feature in the practice of federalism in India that is similar to and one feature that is different from that of Belgium.

ANSWER Similar feature: Like Belgium, India is a ‘holding together’ federation in which power is shared between the central government and the regional/State governments through the Constitution, and the existence and authority of each level is constitutionally guaranteed. Both countries also recognise and accommodate their linguistic and regional diversity within the federal structure. Different feature: In Belgium, a special ‘community government’ is elected by people belonging to one language community to look after cultural, educational and language-related issues, and the State and Central governments have almost equal powers. In India there is no such community government; instead India has a strong Central Government with the Union, States and (since 1992) a third tier of local self-government, and the Centre is generally more powerful than the States.

4. What is the main difference between a federal form of government and a unitary one? Explain with an example.

ANSWER The main difference lies in how power is distributed between the central and the lower (provincial/State) governments. In a unitary government, 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, which must obey. Example: Sri Lanka has a unitary system where the national government holds all the powers. In a federal government, there are two or more levels of government, and the central government cannot order the State government to do something. The State government has powers of its own for which it is not answerable to the central government; both levels are separately answerable to the people, and their jurisdictions are guaranteed by the Constitution. Example: India has a federal system with the Union and State governments enjoying powers of their own.

5. State any two differences between the local government before and after the Constitutional amendment in 1992.

ANSWER Before the 1992 amendment: (i) elections to local government bodies were not held regularly; (ii) local governments were directly under the control of the State governments and had no powers or resources of their own, so there was very little real decentralisation. After the 1992 amendment: (i) it became constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies, conducted by an independent State Election Commission in each State; (ii) seats were reserved in elected bodies and executive heads for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, with at least one-third of all positions reserved for women, and State governments are now required to share some powers and revenue with local bodies.

6. Fill in the blanks:Since the United States is a ___________________ type of federation, all the constituent States have equal powers and States are ______________ vis-à-vis the federal government. But India is a _____________________ type of federation and some States have more power than others. In India, the ____________ government has more powers.

ANSWER Since the United States is a ‘coming together’ type of federation, all the constituent States have equal powers and States are strong vis-à-vis the federal government. But India is a ‘holding together’ type of federation and some States have more power than others. In India, the Central (Union) government has more powers.

7. Here are three reactions to the language policy followed in India. Give an argument and an example to support any of these positions.Sangeeta: The policy of accommodation has strengthened national unity.Arman: Language-based States have divided us by making everyone conscious of their language.Harish: This policy has only helped to consolidate the dominance of English over all other languages.

ANSWER Supporting Sangeeta: India’s policy of accommodating languages has strengthened national unity. Hindi was made the official language but was not imposed as the sole national language; 21 other languages are recognised as Scheduled Languages, States have their own official languages, and English continues alongside Hindi. Example: unlike Sri Lanka, which faced civil conflict by imposing Sinhala, India’s flexibility helped non-Hindi States feel secure and kept the country united. Supporting Arman (alternative view): One could argue that creating States on the basis of language made people more conscious of linguistic identity, sometimes leading to demands and rivalries. Example: in Tamil Nadu the anti-Hindi movement once took a violent form. (However, experience has actually shown that linguistic States made India more united and administration easier.) Supporting Harish (alternative view): One could argue that continuing English along with Hindi favoured the English-speaking elite. Example: many critics felt the decision to keep English benefited those educated in English rather than ordinary speakers of regional languages. (In an exam you need argue and give an example for any one position; the accommodating view, like Sangeeta’s, is best supported by the chapter.)

8. The distinguishing feature of a federal government is:(a) National government gives some powers to the provincial governments.(b) Power is distributed among the legislature, executive and judiciary.(c) Elected officials exercise supreme power in the government.(d) Governmental power is divided between different levels of government.

ANSWER (d) Governmental power is divided between different levels of government. This is the essence of federalism — the vertical division of power between a central authority and constituent units. Option (b) describes the horizontal separation of powers, not federalism.

9. A few subjects in various Lists of the Indian Constitution are given here. Group them under the Union, State and Concurrent Lists as provided in the table below.A. Defence; B. Police; C. Agriculture; D. Education; E. Banking; F. Forests; G. Communications; H. Trade; I. Marriages

ANSWER
ListSubjects
Union ListA. Defence; E. Banking; G. Communications
State ListB. Police; C. Agriculture; H. Trade
Concurrent ListD. Education; F. Forests; I. Marriages

10. Examine the following pairs that give the level of government in India and the powers of the government at that level to make laws on the subjects mentioned against each. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?(a) State government – State List(b) Central government – Union List(c) Central and State governments – Concurrent List(d) Local governments – Residuary powers

ANSWER (d) Local governments – Residuary powers is not correctly matched. Residuary powers (subjects not in any of the three lists) belong to the Union/Central Government, not to local governments. Pairs (a), (b) and (c) are correctly matched.

11. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:List I: 1. Union of India; 2. State; 3. Municipal Corporation; 4. Gram PanchayatList II: A. Prime Minister; B. Sarpanch; C. Governor; D. MayorCodes: (a) 1-D 2-A 3-B 4-C   (b) 1-B 2-C 3-D 4-A   (c) 1-A 2-C 3-D 4-B   (d) 1-C 2-D 3-A 4-B

ANSWER (c) 1-A, 2-C, 3-D, 4-B. The Union of India is headed by the Prime Minister; a State’s constitutional head is the Governor; a Municipal Corporation is headed by the Mayor; and a Gram Panchayat is headed by the Sarpanch.

12. Consider the following two statements.A. In a federation, the powers of the federal and provincial governments are clearly demarcated.B. India is a federation because the powers of the Union and State Governments are specified in the Constitution and they have exclusive jurisdiction on their respective subjects.C. Sri Lanka is a federation because the country is divided into provinces.D. India is no longer a federation because some powers of the States have been devolved to the local government bodies.Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) A, B and C   (b) A, C and D   (c) A and B only   (d) B and C only

ANSWER (c) A and B only. Statement A correctly defines federalism and Statement B correctly explains why India is a federation. Statement C is wrong because Sri Lanka is a unitary, not a federal, country. Statement D is wrong because devolving powers to local governments actually deepens federalism rather than ending it.

Extra Practice Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Define federalism.

ANSWERFederalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country. Usually there are two levels of government — one for the entire country and the others at the level of provinces or States — and both enjoy their power independent of the other.

Q2. Name the three lists of subjects given in the Indian Constitution.

ANSWERThe Constitution provides a three-fold distribution of legislative powers through the Union List (subjects of national importance, e.g. defence), the State List (subjects of State and local importance, e.g. police) and the Concurrent List (subjects of common interest, e.g. education). Residuary subjects belong to the Union.

Q3. What are residuary subjects?

ANSWERResiduary subjects are those that do not fall under any of the three lists, including subjects like computer software that arose after the Constitution was made. According to the Constitution, the Union Government has the power to legislate on these residuary subjects.

Q4. What is meant by decentralisation?

ANSWERDecentralisation means taking power away from the Central and State governments and giving it to local government. The idea is that a large number of problems are best settled at the local level, where people have better knowledge of their needs and can directly participate in decision-making.

Q5. How did the creation of linguistic States strengthen India?

ANSWERAlthough some leaders feared linguistic States would disintegrate the country, experience showed the opposite. Forming States so that people speaking the same language lived in the same State actually made the country more united and made administration easier, becoming a successful test for democratic politics.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Explain any five key features of federalism.

ANSWERFederalism has several defining features. (1) There are two or more levels (tiers) of government. (2) Different tiers of government govern the same citizens, but each tier has its own jurisdiction in matters of legislation, taxation and administration. (3) The jurisdictions of the respective tiers are specified in the Constitution, so the existence and authority of each tier is constitutionally guaranteed. (4) The fundamental provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by one level of government; such changes require the consent of both levels. (5) Courts have the power to interpret the Constitution and the powers of different levels of government, with the highest court acting as an umpire if disputes arise. In addition, sources of revenue for each level are clearly specified to ensure financial autonomy. Together these features safeguard the unity of the country while accommodating regional diversity.

Q2. Distinguish between ‘coming together’ and ‘holding together’ federations.

ANSWERFederations are formed through two routes. In a ‘coming together’ federation, independent States voluntarily come together to form a bigger unit, pooling sovereignty while retaining their identity so as to increase their security; the USA, Switzerland and Australia are examples, and here the constituent States usually have equal power and are strong vis-à-vis the federal government. In a ‘holding together’ federation, a large country decides to divide its power between the constituent States and the national government; India, Spain and Belgium are examples, and here the Central Government tends to be more powerful vis-à-vis the States. Often the constituent units have unequal powers — in India, States such as Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram enjoy special powers under Article 371, while small areas like Chandigarh, Lakshadweep and Delhi are Union Territories with limited powers and the Centre’s special control. Thus the balance of power depends on the historical context in which the federation was formed.

Q3. How has federalism been strengthened in practice in India after 1990?

ANSWERConstitutional provisions alone are not enough; the success of Indian federalism is due to the nature of its democratic politics. After 1990 federal power-sharing became far more effective. For a long time the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most States, and the Central Government often misused the Constitution to dismiss State governments controlled by rival parties, undermining federalism. After 1990 the rise of regional political parties and the era of coalition governments at the Centre changed this: since no single party won a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, the major national parties had to form alliances with regional parties to govern. This led to a new culture of power-sharing and respect for the autonomy of State governments. The trend was supported by a major Supreme Court judgement that made it difficult for the Central Government to dismiss State governments in an arbitrary manner. Along with linguistic States and a flexible language policy, these developments made federal power-sharing more effective than in the early years after the Constitution came into force.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. Federalism is best defined as a system in which power is:

(a) held entirely by the central government    (b) divided between a central authority and constituent units    (c) held only by the States    (d) divided among the legislature, executive and judiciary

2. The USA, Switzerland and Australia are examples of:

(a) holding together federations    (b) unitary states    (c) coming together federations    (d) confederations

3. India, Spain and Belgium are examples of:

(a) coming together federations    (b) holding together federations    (c) unitary states    (d) city-states

4. Defence, foreign affairs and currency are subjects in the:

(a) State List    (b) Concurrent List    (c) Union List    (d) Residuary list

5. If a law made by the State Government conflicts with a Union law on a Concurrent List subject:

(a) the State law prevails    (b) the Union law prevails    (c) both are cancelled    (d) the High Court decides afresh

6. The power to legislate on residuary subjects rests with the:

(a) State Government    (b) Local Government    (c) Union Government    (d) Gram Sabha

7. The major step towards decentralisation by amending the Constitution was taken in:

(a) 1947    (b) 1965    (c) 1992    (d) 2000

8. At least what fraction of all positions in local bodies is reserved for women?

(a) one-fourth    (b) one-third    (c) one-half    (d) two-thirds

9. The political head of a Municipal Corporation is the:

(a) Sarpanch    (b) Collector    (c) Mayor    (d) Governor

10. Hindi is the mother tongue of about what percentage of Indians?

(a) 22%    (b) 40%    (c) 60%    (d) 80%

Answer key: 1-(b), 2-(c), 3-(b), 4-(c), 5-(b), 6-(c), 7-(c), 8-(b), 9-(c), 10-(b).

For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.

A-R 1. Assertion: In a federal system, the central government cannot order the State government to do something.

Reason: The State government has powers of its own for which it is not answerable to the central government.

A-R 2. Assertion: Sri Lanka is a federation.

Reason: In Sri Lanka the national government has all the powers and functions as a unitary system.

A-R 3. Assertion: In India, some States enjoy a special status with more powers than others.

Reason: India is a ‘holding together’ federation in which constituent units may have unequal powers due to their peculiar social and historical circumstances.

A-R 4. Assertion: The creation of linguistic States weakened the unity of India.

Reason: Forming States on the basis of language made administration easier and the country more united.

A-R 5. Assertion: Federal power-sharing in India became more effective after 1990.

Reason: The rise of regional parties and coalition governments led to greater respect for the autonomy of State governments.

Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(D), 3-(A), 4-(D), 5-(A).

Exam Tips & Common Mistakes

How to score full marks in this chapter

Memorise the key features of federalism and the difference between federal and unitary governments with examples (India vs Sri Lanka). Be clear on the two routes — ‘coming together’ (USA, Switzerland, Australia) and ‘holding together’ (India, Spain, Belgium). Learn the contents of the Union, State and Concurrent Lists with two or three examples each, and remember that the Union law prevails on Concurrent subjects and that residuary powers lie with the Centre. For decentralisation, remember the 1992 amendment, the reservations (SC/ST/OBC and one-third for women), the State Election Commission, and the structure gram panchayat → panchayat samiti → zilla parishad, with municipalities/corporations in towns. Use the textbook’s real examples — linguistic States, the Tamil Nadu anti-Hindi movement, coalition governments after 1990 — to add depth.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Confusing the federal (vertical) division of power with the separation of powers among legislature, executive and judiciary (horizontal).
  • Calling Sri Lanka a federation — it has a unitary government.
  • Placing residuary powers with local or State governments — they belong to the Union.
  • Mixing up ‘coming together’ and ‘holding together’ federations and their examples.
  • Saying the State law prevails over a conflicting Union law in the Concurrent List — the Union law prevails.
  • Forgetting that the third tier of government was made effective only by the 1992 constitutional amendment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chapter 2 of Class 10 Civics (Democratic Politics) about?

Chapter 2, Federalism, explains the vertical division of power between different levels of government. It defines federalism and its key features, distinguishes ‘coming together’ and ‘holding together’ federations, shows what makes India a federal country through the Union, State and Concurrent Lists, and describes how federalism is practised through linguistic States, the language policy, Centre–State relations and the decentralisation of power to local governments.

What are the three lists in the Indian Constitution?

The Constitution provides a three-fold distribution of legislative powers: the Union List (national subjects such as defence, foreign affairs, banking and currency), the State List (State and local subjects such as police, trade, commerce and agriculture), and the Concurrent List (subjects of common interest such as education, forests and marriage). If Union and State laws conflict on a Concurrent subject, the Union law prevails, and residuary subjects belong to the Union.

What change did the 1992 constitutional amendment bring to local government?

The 1992 amendment made the third tier of democracy more powerful and effective. It made regular elections to local bodies constitutionally mandatory, reserved seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (with at least one-third of positions for women), created an independent State Election Commission in each State, and required State governments to share some powers and revenue with local government bodies.

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