The Governance System (Indian Polity and Governance)

Total Questions: 80

41. Consider the following statements and select the correct answer from the code given at the end: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998]

Assertion (A): Federalism is not practical in India.

Reason (R) India is not a Federal State. Select the correct answer from the code given below:

Correct Answer: (c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
Solution:India is not a complete Federal State because some provisions in the Indian Constitution give it a unitary character. So, the Indian constitution is federal in nature but unitary in spirit.

However, a number of Constitutional experts accept it as a federal state as there is a division of powers between the Union and States. K.C. Where describes the Indian Constitution as "Quasi-Federal". This, (A) is true, but (R) is false.

The general features of federalism are

Division of power: Federalism divides power between a central government and regional governments, with each level having its own specific responsibilities and areas of authority.
Supremacy of Constitution: Federalism is based on a written Constitution that defines the powers and responsibilities of the central and regional governments and establishes a system of checks and balances to ensure that neither level of government becomes too powerful.
Independent judiciary: Federalism typically includes an independent judiciary that can interpret the Constitution and resolve disputes between different levels of government.
Bicameral legislature: Federalism often features a bicameral legislature, with one chamber representing the people and the other representing the regional governments.
Flexibility: Federalism allows for flexibility in the sharing of powers between central and regional governments and allows for adjustments as circumstances change.

42. Which One of the following in Indian polity is an essential feature that indicates that it is federal in character? [U.P.S.C. (Pre) 2021]

Correct Answer: (a) The independence of judiciary is safeguarded.
Solution:Independence of the judiciary is an essential condition of the federal system because it is the judiciary which has the power of interpretation of the constitution.

The general features of federalism are

Division of power: Federalism divides power between a central government and regional governments, with each level having its own specific responsibilities and areas of authority.
Supremacy of Constitution: Federalism is based on a written Constitution that defines the powers and responsibilities of the central and regional governments and establishes a system of checks and balances to ensure that neither level of government becomes too powerful.
Independent judiciary: Federalism typically includes an independent judiciary that can interpret the Constitution and resolve disputes between different levels of government.
Bicameral legislature: Federalism often features a bicameral legislature, with one chamber representing the people and the other representing the regional governments.
Flexibility: Federalism allows for flexibility in the sharing of powers between central and regional governments and allows for adjustments as circumstances change.

43. Which of the following is not a federal feature of the Indian Constitution? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) (Re. Exam) 2015]

Correct Answer: (c) Single Citizenship
Solution:The Indian Constitution has both Federal and Unitary features Its Federal characteristics include a Written Constitution, rigid Constitution, distribution of powers between States and Centre, Independence of Judiciary and bicameral Legislature, etc.

However, it also includes features like single citizenship, the appointment of Governors by the President, declaration of Emergency and the Power of Parliament for agreements implementation which are unitary char Acteristics. Thus, option (c) is not a federal feature among above options

44. Which unitary elements are found in Indian Federal System? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre)-2017]

i. Written Constitution

ii. Rigid Constitution

iii. Supremacy of the Constitution

iv. Appointment of Governor

v. Decentralization of Powers

vi. President's approval on state bills

vii. Constitutional Crisis

viii. One Supreme Court

Correct Answer: (d) iv, vi, vii
Solution:The Constitution of India contains all the usual features of a federation, viz, two governments, division of powers, written Constitution, rigidity of the Constitution, independent judiciary and Bi-cameralism.

However, the Indian Constitution also contains a large no of unitary features, viz a strung Centre, single Constitution, single Citizenship, flexibility of Constitution, integrated Judiciary, appointment of state Governor by the Centre, all India services, Emergency provision, etc.

45. Which of the following is a unitary element in Indian Federal System? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]

(1) Decentralization of Powers

(ii) Appointment of Governors

(iii) Unequal representation in Rajya Sabha

(iv) Judicial Review

(v) All India Services (vi) Bicameral legislature

Correct Answer: (b) ii, iii, v
Solution:Article 1 of the Indian Constitution declares India to be a Union of States. However, the constitution has unitary element in the federal structure. For example provisions for a powerful Centre, single citizenship, the appointment of governors, All India services and unequal representation in the Rajya Sabha are unitary elements.

Indian federalism is significant for several reasons:

Accommodation of diversity: Federalism in India allows for the accommodation of diversity by giving autonomy to states to govern their own affairs and address their unique needs and concerns.
Effective governance: A robust federal structure needs to be in place to deliver effective governance and to ensure that the diverse needs and interests of the states are represented in the decision-making process.
Promotion of democracy: Federalism promotes democracy by ensuring that power is decentralized and shared between different levels of government. This allows for greater participation and representation of citizens in the decision-making process.
Protection of rights: Federalism allows for more robust protection of individual and minority rights as state governments are better able to address the specific needs and concerns of their diverse populations and can tailor policies and legislation accordingly.

46. Which of the following statements about the federal system in India are correct? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]

1. The Constitution introduces a federal system as the basic structure of Government.

2. There is a strong admixture of a unitary bias.

3. Both the Union and State Legislatures are sovereign.

4. The legislative, financial and judicial powers have been divided between the Union and its units.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

Correct Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only 
Solution:The Constitution of India introduces a federal system as the basic structure of Government as there is the distribution of Power as given under the seventh schedule of the Constitution and Art. 245-255 which is related to the distribution of Legislative powers.

However, features like single Citizenship, Appointment of Governors by Presidents, Power of the Parliament to legislate on any matter of state list in a time of Emergency (Article 250), Power of Parliament to legislate on a matter of state in the national interest (Art 249) shows a strong Unitary System.

Statement 1 and 2 are correct and 3 and 4 are wrong because the state legislature does not have power in reference to Foreign and Defence matters. This power comes under the Union Parliament. So, only Union is sovereign not the States.

There is only hierarchy in the Judicial system not the division of judicial power between the Union and the state. So option 4 is also wrong.

47. Which one of the following characteristics is not true for unitary form of Government? [65th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2019]

Correct Answer: (c) Ideal for large countries
Solution:Char Acteristics of a unitary form of Government are a Strong Centre, Single Constitution, Flexibility of the Constitution, Emergency provisions, Single Citizenship, Integrated judiciary, All-India Services, Integrated Audit Machinery,

Parliament's Authority over state list, Appointment of Governor, Integrated Election machinery, Veto over State Bills. It cannot be Out rightly said that it is ideal for large countries; it only depends on countries will. So, the answer to this question will be (c).

48. Assertion (A): President of India is elected indirectly. Reason (R): Parliamentary system in India has been combined with Republicanism. [R.A.S/R.T.S. (Pre) 2013]

Correct Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Solution:The President of India is elected by indirect election. The Parliamentary system in India has been combined with republicanism, as the Head of the State is the President.

As in a Republic, there is no hereditary ruler, and all the representatives and other authorities are elected by direct or indirect, election by the people of India. Thus, both statements are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

49. Here are two statements: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2009]

Assertion (A): Political Parties are life-blood of democracy.

Reason (R) Normally people blame political parties for bad governance. Which of the following is correct in above context-

Correct Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Solution:In a democratic system, political parties play an important role in the formation of government. They bring people together to achieve control of the Government and develop policies favorably and in the interests of the people.

So it is said that political parties are the life-blood of democracy, It is also true that people usually blame political parties for bad governance. Thus, both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

50. Who had proposed "Party Less Democracy" In India? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]

Correct Answer: (c) Mahatma Gandhi
Solution:Both Mahatma Gandhi and Jay Prakash Narayan supported party-less democracy in India. Factors such as population size, cultural diversity, political culture and history of the country often determine the choice of democratic system.

Direct Democracy: Citizens directly vote on laws and participate in public affairs. For example, City-States of Ancient Greece.
Representative Democracy: Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. It is of two kinds- Parliamentary and Presidential Democracy. For example, India, United States, France.
Presidential Democracy: President is the head of the state and head of the government and is directly elected by the people. Strict separation of powers between executive and legislature. For example, United States.
Parliamentary Democracy: Head of the government is elected by the people and head of the state is a ceremonial figure. Executive is accountable to legislature. For example, India.
Consensus Democracy: Decision making is made through consensus among all members of governing body instead of majority vote. For example, Swiss Cantons.
Semi-Direct Democracy: A greater degree of people participation through plebiscites, initiatives, referendums than in representative democracy. For examples, Liechtenstein