Federalism — Class 10 Political Science (CBSE) explained

What you’ll learn

1. 1

   Lesson 1: Understanding Federalism

   5 min
   • Power Shared Between Levels of Government
   • Independent Powers or Subordinate Governments?
   • The Same Citizens, Different Jurisdictions
   • Protecting Each Level's Authority
   • Unity Without Erasing Diversity
   • Coming Together and Holding Together
   • Which Arguments Actually Describe Federalism?
2. 2

   Lesson 2: India's Constitutional Framework

   6 min
   • A Union of States Built on Federal Principles
   • National Subjects and State Subjects
   • Shared Subjects and Subjects Outside the Lists
   • Not Every Constituent Unit Has Identical Powers
   • The Centre Cannot Change the Arrangement Alone
   • Location Does Not Decide Legislative Authority
   • Federalism Requires Democratic Practice
3. 3

   Lesson 3: How Federalism Works in Practice

   6 min
   • Linguistic States Strengthen Unity
   • Official Language Does Not Mean National Language
   • Flexibility in the Use of Hindi and English
   • Constitutional Rights Need Respect in Practice
   • Regional Parties Change Power-Sharing
   • Reading India's Linguistic DiversityNot assessed
   • Regional and National Identities Can Coexist
4. 4

   Lesson 4: Local Self-Government and Practice

   8 min
   • Why India Needs a Third Tier
   • The 1992 Amendment Strengthens Local Government
   • An Elected Council Under Voters' Supervision
   • From Villages to the District
   • Urban Local Government and Uneven Progress
   • Citizens Participate in Making a City BudgetNot assessed
   • A Large Democratic Experiment, Still Incomplete
   • Locate Named States and Identify Federal Countries
   • Check Lists, Offices and Federal Statements
   • Recap: Constitutional Design, Democratic Practice, Local Power

Key concepts

Federal objectives

Federalism is not restricted to a simple rule about country size. Only twenty-five of the world's one hundred and ninety-three countries have federal political systems, but their citizens make up forty per cent of the world's population.

Applying the definition

Reservation is not the defining feature of federalism. Sarita says a small country does not need federalism.

Unequal constitutional powers

India is a holding together federation, so its constituent units do not all have identical powers.

India's federal safeguards

India's power-sharing arrangement is basic to the structure of the Constitution. Parliament cannot change it on its own.

Language policy

Hindi is identified as the official language.

Flexible language policy

The use of English for official purposes is originally meant to stop in 1965. Many non-Hindi-speaking States demand that it continue.

Village institutions

The gram panchayat is the village's decision-making body. It works under the overall supervision of the gram sabha.

Block and district institutions

A few gram panchayats are grouped into a panchayat samiti, also called a block or mandal. Members of this representative body are elected by the panchayat members in that area.

Exam focus

Board exam

CBSE assesses this chapter in the 2026-27 year-end board examination.

Syllabus

Federalism. Learning outcomes: infer how federalism is being practised in India; analyse the policies and politics that has strengthened federalism in practice.

Not assessed

These parts go beyond the 2026-27 syllabus and are taught for understanding only: Reading India's Linguistic Diversity and Citizens Participate in Making a City Budget.

Exam note

Board-assessed in full. sample paper 5-mark items: provisions of the 1992 constitutional amendments (third tier / decentralisation) or what makes India a federal country.

Paper pattern

Social Science (087): 80 marks, 3 hours, 38 questions, all compulsory, in four sections of 20 marks each (A History, B Geography, C Political Science, D Economics); internal assessment 20. Section C Political Science 20 marks from all five chapters of Democratic Politics - II (Power-sharing, Federalism, Gender Religion and Caste, Political Parties, Outcomes of Democracy). 2026-27 sample paper Section C: 4 MCQs (one assertion-reason, one cartoon-based), 2 VSA (2), 1 SA (3), 1 LA (5), 1 case-based (4). No map items. Word limits: VSA 2 marks <=40 words, SA 3 marks <=60 words, LA 5 marks <=120 words, case-based 4 marks (three sub-questions) <=100 words. Whole-paper type weightage: MCQs 20x1 (inclusive of assertion-reason, differentiation and stem), 2-mark 4x2, 3-mark 5x3, case study 3x4, 5-mark 4x5, map pointing 5. Internal choice in a few questions only.

Question style

Weightage to competency levels (whole paper): Remembering and Understanding 24 marks (30%); Applying 11 (13.25%); Analysing, Evaluating and Creating 40 (50%); Map skill 5 (6.25%).

Practice in the app

95 board-pattern questions with marking schemes: 27 multiple choice (1 mark), 14 assertion–reason (1 mark), 20 very short answer (2 marks), 19 short answer (3 marks), 5 long answer (5 marks) and 10 case-based (4 marks).

Sample questions with marking points

Board-pattern questions from the AI Lessons practice set for this chapter. The marking points show what an examiner looks for; full model answers are in the app.

1. Very short answer2 marks

   A student claims that transferring some State powers to local bodies ends India's federal character. Give two reasons to reject this claim.

   Marking points

   • Union and State governments retain their constitutionally defined jurisdictions.1
   • Devolution extends power-sharing to a local tier rather than abolishing the federal arrangement.1

2. Short answer3 marks

   A student argues that disputes between linguistic States prove that their creation weakened Indian unity. Assess this argument using three points.

   Marking points

   • Linguistic States have strengthened unity through accommodation of linguistic identities.1
   • Regional and national identities can coexist, supported by a relevant example such as Bengali and Indian or Kannadiga and Indian.1
   • Although disputes occur, ignoring linguistic identities could have produced worse divisions; disputes alone do not establish failure.1

3. Long answer5 marks

   A political analyst argues that creating several levels of government is not enough to establish federalism. Explain five features that enable these levels to exercise and protect their own authority.

   Marking points

   • Each tier has its own jurisdiction in legislation, taxation and administration while governing the same citizens.1
   • The constitution specifies jurisdictions and guarantees the existence and authority of each tier.1
   • Fundamental constitutional changes cannot be made unilaterally and require the consent of both levels.1
   • Courts interpret constitutional powers, and the highest court acts as an umpire in disputes between levels.1
   • Clearly specified revenue sources ensure financial autonomy.1

Frequently asked questions

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