Federalism in India

Flashcards for vocabulary terms related to Federalism and Decentralization in India, based on the provided lecture notes.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country.

Unitary System

A system where there is only one level of government or sub-units are subordinate to the central government.

Jurisdiction

The area over which someone has legal authority, defined geographically or by subject.

Union List

Subjects of national importance on which the Union Government alone can make laws (e.g., defense, foreign affairs, banking).

State List

Subjects of State and local importance on which State Governments alone can make laws (e.g., police, trade, agriculture).

Concurrent List

Subjects of common interest to both the Union and State Governments, on which both can make laws (e.g., education, forests).

Residuary Subjects

Subjects that do not fall in any of the three legislative lists; the Union Government has the power to legislate on these.

Union Territories

Areas that are too small to become independent states and cannot be merged with existing States; the Central Government has special powers in running these.

Linguistic States

States created on the basis of language to ensure that people who speak the same language live in the same state.

Scheduled Languages

The 22 languages recognized by the Indian Constitution in its Eighth Schedule.

Coalition Government

A government formed by at least two political parties, typically adopting a common program.

Decentralisation

The process where power is taken away from Central and State governments and given to local governments.

Gram Panchayat

A council consisting of several ward members (panch) and a president (sarpanch), directly elected by the adult population of a village, serving as the decision-making body for the entire village.

Gram Sabha

All the voters in the village, which meets at least twice or thrice a year to approve the annual budget and review the performance of the Gram Panchayat.

Panchayat Samiti

A grouping of a few Gram Panchayats together to form a block or mandal.

Zilla Parishad

The district level body constituted by all the Panchayat Samitis or Mandals in a district.

Municipalities

Local government bodies set up in towns, controlled by elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.

Municipal Corporations

Local government bodies constituted in big cities, controlled by elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.

Mayor

The political head of a municipal corporation.