Q30. The system of federalism in India divides power between:
[SSC Stenographer, 8 August 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Centre and States
(B) Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
(C) President and Governors
(D) Executive and Judiciary
Answer: (A) Centre and States
Explanation: The key territorial division in Indian federalism is between the Union and State governments. The Seventh Schedule distributes legislative subjects through three lists. Divisions between the executive, legislature and judiciary instead concern separation of powers, a different constitutional principle.
Q29. Considering the idea of Indian federalism and associated thinkers, which of the following is INCORRECT?
[DSSSB PGT Political Science, 13 July 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Co-operative Federalism – Granville Austin
(B) Competitive Federalism – Paul Appleby
(C) Bargaining Federalism – Morris Jones
(D) Quasi-Federal – K. C. Wheare
Answer: (B) Competitive Federalism – Paul Appleby
Explanation: Granville Austin is associated with cooperative federalism, Morris Jones with bargaining federalism and K. C. Wheare with the quasi-federal character of India. The stated pairing of competitive federalism with Paul Appleby is not the accepted attribution in this question.
Q28. The Government of India Act, 1935 provided for how many lists of divisions of power between the federation (central government) and provinces?
[SSC GD Constable, 25 February 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Three lists
(B) Two lists
(C) Four lists
(D) One list
Answer: (A) Three lists
Explanation: The Government of India Act, 1935 envisaged three legislative lists: Federal, Provincial and Concurrent. The proposed All-India Federation never fully materialised, but this method of allocating subjects strongly influenced the later Union, State and Concurrent Lists under India’s Constitution.
Q27. Which of the following is the federal feature of the Indian Constitution?
[SSC MTS, 11 November 2024, Shift 2]
(A) Bicameralism
(B) Integrated Judiciary
(C) Single Citizenship
(D) None of the above
Answer: (A) Bicameralism
Explanation: Bicameralism at the Union level creates two parliamentary chambers, including the Rajya Sabha representing States. This supports federal representation. An integrated judiciary and single citizenship, by contrast, are commonly classified as unitary characteristics of India’s otherwise federal constitutional arrangement.
Q26. Federalism in the Indian constitutional context means:
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 4 July 2024, Shift 3]
(A) The existence of more than one level of government in the country
(B) The existence of only one level of government in the country
(C) The existence of states in the country
(D) The existence of one nation, one government in the country
Answer: (A) The existence of more than one level of government in the country
Explanation: Federalism involves constitutionally recognised levels of government governing the same country within their respective spheres. In India, Union and State governments possess distinct powers, and local authorities operate through decentralisation. Merely having States is insufficient without genuine distribution of governing authority.
Q25. The establishment of Union Public Service Commission, State Public Service Commissions and Joint Public Service Commission falls under which of the following features of the Constitution of India?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 3 July 2024, Shift 4]
(A) Fundamental Rights
(B) Parliamentary Government
(C) Federalism
(D) Directive Principles of State Policy
Answer: (C) Federalism
Explanation: Part XIV of the Constitution provides for public service commissions at Union and State levels, including joint commissions. Their differentiated constitutional roles support the federal administrative structure while ensuring merit-based recruitment within the spheres assigned to the respective governments.
Q24. Which of the following statement(s) is/are INCORRECT vis-à-vis features of the Indian Constitution?
1. Though India has a federal system, the Constitution does not mention the word “federation”.
2. Article 5 says Parliament can create a new State.
3. Each State Legislature can enact laws on Union List subjects.
4. Both Parliament and State Legislatures can legislate on Concurrent List subjects.
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 3 July 2024, Shift 2]
(A) Only 1
(B) 1 and 3
(C) 2 and 3
(D) 1 and 4
Answer: (C) 2 and 3
Explanation: Article 3, not Article 5, concerns the creation and reorganisation of States. Union List legislation is ordinarily within Parliament’s exclusive competence. Statements 1 and 4 are accurate: India is termed a Union of States, and both legislatures address Concurrent List subjects.
Q23. The Indian political system is often described as a federal system with a strong unitary bias. Which feature gives it this unitary bias?
[SSC GD Constable, 27 February 2024, Shift 3]
(A) Dual citizenship
(B) Single citizenship
(C) Concurrent List
(D) State List
Answer: (B) Single citizenship
Explanation: India recognises a single Indian citizenship rather than separate Union and State citizenships. This encourages a common national identity and is treated as a unitary feature. The Constitution nevertheless distributes substantial law-making responsibilities between Union and State governments.
Q22. Which of the following articles of the Indian Constitution is related to the Finance Commission of India?
[SSC GD Constable, 21 February 2024, Shift 1]
(A) Article 280
(B) Article 290
(C) Article 260
(D) Article 270
Answer: (A) Article 280
Explanation: Article 280 provides for a Finance Commission appointed by the President, ordinarily every five years. Its recommendations concern tax distribution and grants-in-aid between Union and States. This institution is central to managing financial imbalances within the Indian federal system.
Q21. In India, which Act divided the powers between the Central and units in terms of three lists?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 9 August 2023, Shift 3]
(A) 1862
(B) 1919
(C) 1909
(D) 1935
Answer: (D) 1935
Explanation: The Government of India Act, 1935 divided legislative authority through Federal, Provincial and Concurrent Lists. Although its contemplated federation was not fully established, its distribution-of-powers design influenced the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution adopted after independence.
