Federalism

1. Which of the following describes the key change in Belgium's Constitution in 1993?

(A) The central government gained more powers
(B) The regional governments were given constitutional powers
(C) The power was centralized in Brussels
(D) The federal system was replaced with a unitary system

Answer: (B) The regional governments were given constitutional powers

2. Federalism is a system of government in which power is shared between:

(A) One central authority and regional governments
(B) One central authority and local governments
(C) Only the central government
(D) Only the state governments

Answer: (A) One central authority and regional governments

3. In a federal system, the central government cannot:

(A) Pass laws
(B) Order the state government to do something
(C) Appoint judges
(D) Control the legislature

Answer: (B) Order the state government to do something

4. What is the key feature of federalism in which powers are divided between the central and state governments?

(A) The states are completely independent of the central government
(B) Only the central government makes all the decisions
(C) Both levels of government are answerable to the people
(D) The central government controls the state governments directly

Answer: (C) Both levels of government are answerable to the people

5. Which of the following is not a characteristic of federalism?

(A) Two or more levels of government
(B) Powers are clearly distributed between levels of government
(C) The constitution can be changed by one level of government
(D) The existence of each government is constitutionally guaranteed

Answer: (C) The constitution can be changed by one level of government

6. Which of the following is true about the judicial system in federalism?

(A) The judiciary has no role in interpreting the constitution
(B) Courts have the power to resolve disputes between different levels of government
(C) The judiciary can only interpret laws passed by the central government
(D) The courts cannot intervene in matters of federal and state powers

Answer: (B) Courts have the power to resolve disputes between different levels of government

7. What is the main objective of federalism?

(A) To concentrate all powers in the central government
(B) To safeguard and promote unity while accommodating regional diversity
(C) To weaken the powers of the state governments
(D) To eliminate any differences between states

Answer: (B) To safeguard and promote unity while accommodating regional diversity

8. Which of the following is not a feature of the federal system in India?

(A) The central government has more power than state governments
(B) The states have the same powers as the central government
(C) Powers are distributed among different levels of government
(D) The division of powers is guaranteed by the constitution

Answer: (B) The states have the same powers as the central government

9. In which type of federation do independent states come together to form a bigger unit?

(A) Holding together federation
(B) Coming together federation
(C) Unitary system
(D) Confederal system

Answer: (B) Coming together federation

10. Which of the following countries is an example of a 'holding together' federation?

(A) USA
(B) Switzerland
(C) India
(D) Australia

Answer: (C) India

11. In a 'coming together' federation, how is power usually distributed?

(A) The central government is weaker than the states
(B) States have more power than the central government
(C) All constituent states have equal power
(D) The central government is more powerful than the states

Answer: (C) All constituent states have equal power

12. How did India emerge as an independent nation after Partition?

(A) As a federation
(B) As a Union of States
(C) As a unitary state
(D) As a confederation

Answer: (B) As a Union of States

13. Which list in the Indian Constitution contains subjects like defence, foreign affairs, and currency?

(A) State List
(B) Union List
(C) Concurrent List
(D) Residuary List

Answer: (B) Union List

14. What subjects are included in the State List according to the Indian Constitution?

(A) National defense and communications
(B) Police, trade, commerce, and agriculture
(C) Foreign affairs and banking
(D) Education, marriage, and adoption

Answer: (B) Police, trade, commerce, and agriculture

15. The Concurrent List in the Indian Constitution includes subjects that are:

(A) Exclusive to the Union Government
(B) Common to both the Union and State Governments
(C) Reserved for the States
(D) Reserved for the Union Territories

Answer: (B) Common to both the Union and State Governments

16. Which list in the Indian Constitution contains subjects that do not fall under any of the other three lists?

(A) State List
(B) Union List
(C) Concurrent List
(D) Residuary List

Answer: (D) Residuary List

17. What does the Union List in the Indian Constitution cover?

(A) Subjects related to local importance
(B) Subjects of national importance
(C) Subjects of common interest to both Union and State
(D) Subjects for which the States can make laws

Answer: (B) Subjects of national importance

18. If laws made by the Union Government and State Governments conflict on a subject in the Concurrent List, which law prevails?

(A) The law made by the State Government
(B) The law made by the Union Government
(C) Both laws are equally valid
(D) The Supreme Court decides which law prevails

Answer: (B) The law made by the Union Government

19. Which of the following areas in India are called Union Territories?

(A) Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
(B) Chandigarh and Lakshadweep
(C) Gujarat and Rajasthan
(D) Assam and Nagaland

Answer: (B) Chandigarh and Lakshadweep

20. How is the fundamental power-sharing arrangement between the Union Government and State Governments in India changed?

(A) By a simple majority in the Parliament
(B) By the President's decision
(C) Through a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament and ratification by State legislatures
(D) Through a decision by the Supreme Court

Answer: (C) Through a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament and ratification by State legislatures

21. What is a feature of the Union Territories in India?

(A) They have the same powers as the States
(B) They have no legislative powers
(C) They have equal powers to those of the State Governments
(D) They are autonomous with no central government control

Answer: (B) They have no legislative powers

22. States such as Assam, Nagaland, and Mizoram enjoy special powers mainly related to:

(A) Taxation laws
(B) The protection of land rights of indigenous peoples
(C) Appointment of judges
(D) Allocation of resources

Answer: (B) The protection of land rights of indigenous peoples

23. What was the first major test for democratic politics in India regarding federalism?

(A) Creation of linguistic States
(B) Establishment of Panchayats
(C) Language policy
(D) Introduction of Union Territories

Answer: (A) Creation of linguistic States

24. What was the main reason for the creation of linguistic States in India?

(A) To ensure people speaking the same language lived in the same State
(B) To represent cultural and religious diversity
(C) To divide the country into smaller territories
(D) To make administration more complex

Answer: (A) To ensure people speaking the same language lived in the same State

25. How did the creation of linguistic States affect India?

(A) It caused the disintegration of the country
(B) It made administration easier and more unified
(C) It resulted in the formation of new political parties
(D) It weakened the power of the Union Government

Answer: (B) It made administration easier and more unified

26. What was the main language policy adopted by the Indian Constitution?

(A) Hindi was declared the national language
(B) Only English was used for official purposes
(C) No language was declared as the national language
(D) All languages were given equal status

Answer: (C) No language was declared as the national language

27. Which of the following languages were recognized as Scheduled Languages in India?

(A) Only Hindi
(B) Hindi and English
(C) Hindi and 22 other languages
(D) Only regional languages

Answer: (C) Hindi and 21 other languages

28. How did the Indian government address the issue of promoting Hindi without imposing it on non-Hindi speaking States?

(A) By making Hindi the only official language
(B) By continuing the use of English for official purposes
(C) By enforcing the use of Hindi in all States
(D) By eliminating all regional languages

Answer: (B) By continuing the use of English for official purposes

29. What change occurred in Centre-State relations after 1990?

(A) The Central Government took more control over States
(B) Regional political parties began gaining power in many States
(C) The Constitution was amended to increase central power
(D) The State Governments lost all autonomy

Answer: (B) Regional political parties began gaining power in many States

30. What significant judicial change supported federal power-sharing in India?

(A) The Supreme Court allowed the Central Government to dismiss State Governments
(B) The Supreme Court restricted the Central Government from dismissing State Governments arbitrarily
(C) The Supreme Court gave more power to the Union Government
(D) The Supreme Court declared the States subordinate to the Union Government

Answer: (B) The Supreme Court restricted the Central Government from dismissing State Governments arbitrarily

31. What is decentralisation in the context of federalism?

(A) Transferring powers from local to central government
(B) Transferring powers from the State to local governments
(C) Reducing the powers of local governments
(D) Giving more powers to the Central Government

Answer: (B) Transferring powers from the State to local governments

32. Which of the following is a key feature of decentralisation as mentioned in the text?

(A) Only urban areas are included in decentralisation
(B) People can directly participate in decision-making at the local level
(C) Local governments are controlled by central government officials
(D) Only certain regions benefit from decentralisation

Answer: (B) People can directly participate in decision-making at the local level

33. Which of the following was established in each state after the 1992 amendment to conduct local elections?

(A) Election Commission of India
(B) District Council
(C) State Election Commission
(D) Panchayat Board

Answer: (C) State Election Commission

34. What was made mandatory by the 1992 Constitutional Amendment regarding local government bodies?

(A) Dissolution of municipal corporations
(B) Appointment of officials by state governments
(C) Regular elections to local government bodies
(D) Central approval for local decisions

Answer: (C) Regular elections to local government bodies

35. What is the purpose of reserving seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and women in local government bodies?

(A) To limit their participation in local elections
(B) To ensure greater representation and participation from marginalized groups
(C) To give more power to the state governments
(D) To make local government bodies exclusively for men

Answer: (B) To ensure greater representation and participation from marginalized groups

36. What is the political head of a municipal corporation called?

(A) Sarpanch
(B) Gram panchayat
(C) Mayor
(D) Chairperson

Answer: (C) Mayor

37. Which of the following is a challenge mentioned regarding local governments in India?

(A) Local governments have complete control over resources
(B) Gram sabhas are regularly held and well-attended
(C) State governments have not transferred significant powers to local governments
(D) All local governments have sufficient resources and autonomy

Answer: (C) State governments have not transferred significant powers to local governments