Federalism Class 10 MCQ Questions With Answers
Question 1
When was States Reorganisation Commission formed?
(A) In 1951
(B) In 1963
(C) In 1997
(D) In 1953
Answer:
(D) In 1953
Explanation:
State Reorganization Commission was formed in 1953 by the Central Government to recommend the reorganization of state boundaries on the basis of language, culture, ethnicity, or geography.
Question 2.
How many Union Territories are there in the Indian Federation?
(A) 7
(B) 9
(C) 5
(D) 3
Answer:
(B) 9
Explanation:
India has been divided into Union Territories in order to maintain effective administration, maintain law and order, provide citizens their necessities and for overall development.
Question 3.
Which of the following falls under the Concurrent List?
(A) Trade
(B) Adoption
(C) Agriculture
(D) Foreign affairs
Answer:
(B) Adoption
Explanation:
Adoption falls into Concurrent list because the Concurrent List contains subjects of common interest to both the Union as well as the States.
Question 4.
What status has been given to Hindi by the Constitution of India?
(A) Regional language
(B) Official language
(C) National language
(D) Community language
Answer:
(B) Official language
Explanation:
Article 343(1) of the Constitution provides that Hindi in Devanagari script shall be the Official Language of the Union. Article 343(2) also provided for continuing the use of English in official work of the Union for a period of 15 years (i.e. up to 25 January 1965) from the date of commencement of the Constitution.
Question 5.
Who is the head of urban local government?
(A) Sarpanch
(B) Ward Commissioner
(C) Mukhiya
(D) Mayor
Explanation:
Mayors take on a dual role, serving not only as chief executive officer of the municipal administration but also as agents of the Central Government charged with such functions as maintaining public order, security and health.
Question 6.
In which year, a major step was taken towards decentralisation?
(A) In 1994
(B) In 1989
(C) In 1992
(D) In 1997
Answer:
(C) In 1992
Explanation:
The major steps taken towards decentralization after 1992 included :
(i) It was made constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies.
(ii) Seats were reserved for Scheduled Castes jg (SCS) Scheduled Tribes (STs) and OBCs.
(iii) Women were given one-third representation.
Question 7.
Study the given cartoon and answer the following:
Which one of the following leaders is shown in this cartoon?
(A) Rajiv Gandhi
(B) I. K. Gujral
(C) H. D. Deve Gowda
(D) A. B. Vajpayee
Answer:
(D) A. B. Vajpayee
Explanation:
A. B. Vajpayee served three terms as the prime minister of India. He was one of the co-founders and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Question 8.
Study the picture and answer the following:
Which one of the following options best signifies this cartoon?
(A) The State representatives are begging before the Central Government.
(B) The Central Government is undermining the spirit of federalism.
(C) A lady is distributing food to the beggars.
(D) None of the above.
Answer:
(B) The Central Government is undermining the spirit of federalism.
Explanation:
The Central Government often used to misuse the Constitution to dismiss the State government that were controlled by rival parties. This undermined the spirit of federalism.
Question 9.
Analyse the information given below, considering one of the following correct options: It includes subjects of National importance such as defence of the country, foreign affairs, banking, communications and currency. They are included in this list because we need a uniform policy on these matters throughout the country.
(A) State List
(B) Concurrent List
(C) Union List
(D) Enrolment List
Answer:
(C) Union List
Explanation:
Union List is a list of subjects of national importance. All subjects listed in the Union List are financed by the Government of India wholly or in part. The Parliament has exclusive power to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the Union List.
Question 10.
Analyse the information given below, considering one of the following correct options: It includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as the State Governments, such as education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption and succession. Both the Union as well as the State Governments can make laws on the subjects mentioned in this list.
(A) Concurrent List
(B) Union List
(C) State List
(D) Government List
Answer:
(A) Concurrent List
Explanation:
The Concurrent List contains subjects of common interest to both the Union as well as the States. The aim of the concurrent list is to ensure uniformity across the country where independently both Centre and State can legislate.
Question 11.
Which of the following pair is incorrect?
(A) State government – State List
(B) Central government – Union List
(C) Central and State – Concurrent List government List
(D) Local government – Residuary powers
Answer:
(D) Local government – Residuary powers
Explanation:
The Local governments are not empowered to legislate on any matter. They are vested with limited powers. The Constitution of India has vested the ‘residuary powers’ with the Centre. But, the final authority to decide whether a matter falls under the list of residuary powers or not, rests with the Supreme Court because it is the judiciary which decides whether any matter falls under residuary list or not.
Question 12.
Major steps towards decentralization taken in 1992 were:
(A) To hold regular elections of local government bodies.
(B) At least one-third of all positions are reserved for men.
(C) State Election Commission has been created in each state.
(D) The state governments are required to share some powers and revenue with local government bodies.
Answer:
(B) At least one-third of all positions are reserved for men.
Explanation:
According to the 73rd amendment act, l/3rd seats are reserved for women apart from the total number of seats in order to uplift and empower them.
Question 13.
| Column A | Column B |
| (i) Union of India | (A) Prime Minister |
| (ii) State | (B) Sarpanch |
| (iii) Municipal Corpo-ration | (C) Governor |
| (iv) Gram Panchayat | (D) Mayor |
(A) (i)-(B), (ii)-(A),(iii)-(D),(iv)-(D)
(B) (i)-(A),(ii)-(C), (iii)-(D),(iv)-(D)
(C) (i)-(D),(ii)-(A),(iii)-(C),(iv)-(B)
(D) (i)-(D),(ii)-(C),(iii)-(A),(iv)-(B)
Answer:
(B) (i)-(A),(ii)-(C), (iii)-(D),(iv)-(D)
Explanation:
The power at each stage has been decentralized starting from the Union of India to the Gram Panchayat with each having its own head. This involved range of powers and responsibilities at each step makes them accountable to the people for each and every policy made and action taken.
Question 14.
| Column A | Column B |
| (i) Union List | (A) Education |
| (ii) State List | (B) Computer Software |
| (iii) Concurrent List | (C) Foreign Affairs |
| (iv) Residuary Sub-jects | (D) Agriculture |
(A) (i)–(C), (ii)-(D), (iii)-(A), (iv)-(B)
(B) (i) -(A), (ii) -(B), (iii) -(C), (iv)-(D)
(C) (i)-(D), (ii) -(C), (iii)-(A), (iv)-(B)
(D) (i)-(B), (ii) -(A), (iii)-(C), (iv)-(D)
Answer:
(A) (i)–(C), (ii)-(D), (iii)-(A), (iv)-(B)
Explanation:
(i) Foreign Affairs is included in Union List because we need a uniform policy on these matters throughout the country.
(ii) Agriculture is included in State list as states are entirely competent to enact laws on agriculture.
(iii) Education is included in Concurrent List as the Indian constitution has provisions to ensure that the state provides education to all its citizens. Education being a concurrent list subject enables the central government to legislate it in the manner suited to it.
(iv) Computer Software is included in the Residuary Subjects as it was not present at the time when the Constitution was being written. Union Government has the powers to make laws regarding this subject.
Assertuion and Reason Based MCQs
Directions: In the following questions, A statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice as.
(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(B) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
(C) A is true but R is False
(D) A is false and R is True
Question 1.
Assertion (A): When power is taken away from Central and State government and given to local government, it is called decentralization.
Reason (R): The basic idea behind decentralization is that there are a large number of problems and issues which are best settled at the local level.
Answer:
(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
The people belonging to local areas have better knowledge of problems, so can solve easily and the best thing about decentralisation is that people participate directly in decision making.
Question 2.
Assertion (A) : Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country.
Reason (R): Usually, a federation has one level of government.
Answer:
(C) A is true but R is False
Explanation:
Usually, a federation has two levels of government. One is the government for the entire country that is usually responsible for a few subjects of common national interest. The others are governments at the level of provinces or states that look after much of the day-to-day administering of their state.
Question 3.
Assertion (A): India has a federal system.
Reason (R): Under a unitary system, either there is only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to central government.
Answer:
(B) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
India has a federal government. There is a central government for the entire country and state governments for different regions. The reason is also true but does not justify the statement.
Question 4.
Assertion (A): Hindi is identified as the only official language of India.
Reason (R): It helped in creating supremacy of Hindi speaking people over others.
Answer:
(C) A is true but R is False
Explanation:
Hindi is the identified as official language of India. However, it is spoken by only 40 per cent of IndiAnswer:Thus, to safeguard the rights and interest of other linguistic communities, 21 other languages were recognized as Scheduled Languages by the Constitution of India.
Question 5.
Assertion (A): Belgium and Spain have ‘holding together’ federation.
Reason (R): A big country divides power between constituent states and national government.
Answer:
(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
Question 6.
Assertion (A): The subjects which are not included in Union List, State List and Concurrent List are considered as residuary subjects.
Reason (R): The subjects included those that came after constitution was made and thus could not be classified.
Answer:
(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
Question 7.
Assertion (A): Zilla Parishad Chairperson is the political head of the zilla parishad.
Reason (R): Mayor is the head of municipalities.
Answer:
(B) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
All the Panchayat Samitis or mandals in a district together constitute the ZilaParishad. Its chairperson is the head of the Zilla Parishad. Whereas, municipalities are set up in towns and Mayor is the head of the city municipalities.
Question 8.
Assertion (A): Third-tier of government is local government.
Reason (R): It made democracy stumble.
Answer:
(C) A is true but R is False
Explanation:
The third tier of government is done through decentralisation. It helped in making democracy stronger by involving itself to the grass root level.
Case-Based MCQs
I. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follows:
A second test for Indian federation is the language policy. Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any one language. Hindi was identified as the official language. But Hindi is the mother tongue of only about 40 per cent of IndiAnswer:Therefore, there were many safeguards to protect other languages. Besides Hindi, there are 21 other languages recognised as Scheduled Languages by the Constitution. A candidate in an examination conducted for the Central Government positions may opt to take the examination in any of these languages. States too have their own official languages. Much of the government work takes place in the official language of the concerned State. Unlike Sri Lanka, the leaders of our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi. According to the Constitution, the use of English for official purposes was stopped in 1965. However, many non- Hindi speaking States demanded that the use of English should continue. In Tamil Nadu, this movement took a violent form. The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English along with Hindi for official purposes. Many critics think that this solution favoured the English-speaking elites. Promotion of Hindi continues to be the official policy of the Government of India. Promotion does not mean that the Central Government can impose Hindi on States where people speak a different language. The flexibility shown by Indian political leaders helped our country avoid the kind of situation that Sri Lanka finds itself in.
Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option.
Question 1.
What was the first and major test for democratic politics in our country?
(A) The creation of linguistic states
(B) The creatiomof the language policy
(C) The creation of new federal states
(D) The creation of new federal territories
Answer:
(A) The creation of linguistic states
Explanation:
The creation of Linguistic States was the first and a major test for democratic politics in our country. In 1947, the boundaries of several old States were changed in order to create new States so that people who spoke the same language lived in the same State.
Question 2.
A candidate in an examination conducted for the Central Government positions has to opt for which language?
(A) Hindi
(B) English
(C) Both Hindi and English
(D) Any of the 21 languages recognised as Scheduled Languages by the Constitution.
Answer:
(D) Any of the 21 languages recognised as Scheduled Languages by the Constitution.
Explanation:
Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any one language. There were many safeguards to protect other languages.
A candidate in an examination conducted for the Central Government positions may opt to take the examination in any of these languages.
Question 3.
Which non- Hindi speaking State demanded that the use of English should continue after 1965?
(A) Hyderabad
(B) Chennai
(C) Tamil Nadu
(D) Kerala
Answer:
(C) Tamil Nadu
Explanation:
In Tamil Nadu, the movement took a violent form. The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English along with Hindi for official purposes.
Question 4.
How many languages are included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution?
(A) 21 languages
(B) 20 languages
(C) 25 languages
(D) 22 languages
Answer:
(D) 22 languages
II. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follows:
Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between a Central authority and various constituent units of the country. Usually, a federation has two levels of government. One is the government for the entire country that is usually responsible for a few subjects of common national interest. The others are governments at the level of provinces or states that look after much of the day-to-day administering of their state. Both these levels of governments enjoy their power independent of the other. In this sense, federations are contrasted with unitary governments. Under the unitary system, either there is only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the Central Government. The Central Government can pass on orders to the Provincial or the Local government. But in a federal system, the Central Government cannot order the State Government to do something. State government has powers of its own for which it is not answerable to the Central Government. Both these governments are separately answerable to the people.
Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:
Question 1.
Usually, a federation has………….. levels of government.
(A) three
(B) four
(C) two
(D) five
Answer:
(C) two
Question 2.
Which of the following types of government is responsible for the whole country?
(A) State government
(B) Central government
(C) Local government
(D) Community government
Answer:
(B) Central government
Explanation:
A Central Government is the government that is a controlling power over a unitary state. Essentially, the Central government has the power to make laws for the whole country, in contrast with local governments.
Question 3.
Central and State governments are separately answerable to the .
(A) people
(B) none
(C) each other
(D) president
Answer:
(A) people
Explanation:
The Central government cannot order the State government to do something. State government has powers of its own for which ‘ it is not answerable to the Central government. Both these governments are separately answerable to the people.
Question 4.
Under which of the following systems, the Central government can pass on orders to the provincial government?
(A) Federal system
(B) Monarchy
(C) Unitary system
(D) Dictatorship
Answer:
(C) Unitary system
Explanation:
In a Unitary system, there is no list of distribution of powers in the constitution. All powers belong to the Central Government.
III. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follows:
What about subjects that do not fall in any of the three lists? Or subjects like computer software that came up after the constitution was made? According to our Constitution, the Union Government has the power to legislate on these ‘residuary’ subjects. We noted above that most federations that are formed by ‘holding together’ do not give equal power to its constituent units. Thus, all states in the Indian Union do not have identical powers. Some states enjoy a special status. Jammu and Kashmir has its own Constitution. Many provisions of the Indian Constitution are not applicable to this state without the approval of the State Assembly. Indians who are not permanent residents of this State cannot buy land or house here. Similar special provisions exist for some other states of India as well.
Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:
Question 1.
Which of the following subjects comes under ‘Residuary’ subjects?
(A) Education
(B) Trade
(C) Banking
(D) Computer software
Answer:
(D) Computer software
Explanation:
Union Government has the powers to make laws on Residuary Subjects. Subjects like Computer came into being after the constitution was created, hence it was included in the Residuary list.
Question 2.
Which of the following states has its own Constitution?
(A) Uttar Pradesh
(B) Jammu and Kashmir
(C) Andhra Pradesh
(D) Kerala
Answer:
(B) Jammu and Kashmir
Explanation:
The Constitution of India granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir among Indian states, and it was the only state in India to have a separate constitution.
Question 3.
Who has the power to legislate on ‘Residuary’ subjects?
(A) Central government
(B) State government
(C) Community government
(D) Local government
Answer:
(A) Central government
Explanation:
The Central Government has the power to legislate on ‘Residuary’ subjects and the parliament has the power to amend laws on the subjects mentioned in it.
Question 4.
Indians who are not permanent residents of………….. cannot buy land or house here.
(A) Kerala
(B) Assam
(C) Jammu & Kashmir
(D) Bihar
Answer:
(C) Jammu & Kashmir
Explanation:
Non-Resident Indians could not buy property in Jammu and Kashmir because of the special status given to the state.
IV. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follows:
How many languages do we have in India? The answer depends on how one counts it. The latest information that we have is from the Census of India held in 2001. This census recorded more than 1500 distinct languages which people mentioned as their mother tongues. These languages were grouped together under some major languages. For example, languages like Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Bundelkhandi, Chhattisgarhi, Rajasthani, Bhili and many others were grouped together under ‘Hindi’. Even after this grouping, the Census found 114 major languages. Of these 22 languages are now included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and are therefore, called ‘Scheduled Languages’. Others are called ‘Non-Scheduled Languages’. In terms of languages, India is perhaps the most diverse country in the world.
Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:
Question 1.
How many languages are spoken in India?
(A) More than 1200
(B) More than 1100
(C) More than 1400
(D) More than 1300
Answer:
(D) More than 1300
Explanation:
India is a land of vast cultural and linguistic diversity. India has about linguistic diversity as that of a continent leading to linguistic diversity. Each State has its own language.
Question 2.
Bhojpuri, Magadhi,…………… , Rajasthani and many others were grouped under ‘Hindi’.
(A) Bundelkhandi
(B) Urdu
(C) Kashmiri
(D) Bengali
Answer:
(A) Bundelkhandi
Explanation:
Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Bundelkhandi, Rajasthani and many other were grouped under Hindi as they are all considered to be the dialect of the same language of which Hindi is now the standard form.
Question 3.
How many languages are included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution?
(A) 18
(B) 20
(C) 21
(D) 22
Answer:
(D) 22
Explanation:
Scheduled languages are one that is included in the 8th schedule of the constitution of India. States have the freedom to use whatever language they decide to use for official purposes. English is not a scheduled language.
Question 4.
In terms of …………… , India is perhaps the most diverse country in the world.
(A) population
(B) languages
(C) forests
(D) religions
Answer:
(B) languages
Explanation:
While a number of people speak various languages, they remain geographically segregated. India is a diverse country in terms of languages is well known. The 2011 census lists 121 different mothertongues spoken by IndiAnswer:Fourteen of these languages have at least 10 million speakers.