HARD
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Based on the first few articles of the Belgian constitution given below, explain how federalism is visualized in that country. Try and write a similar Article for the Constitution of India.

Title I: On Federal Belgium, its components, and its territory.

  • Article 1: Belgium is a Federal State made up of communities and regions.
  • Article 2: Belgium is made up of three communities: The French Community, the Flemish Community and the German Community.
  • Article 3: Belgium is made up of three regions: The Walloon region, the Flemish region and the Brussels region.
  • Article 4: Belgium has four linguistic regions: The French-speaking region, the Dutch-speaking region, the bilingual region of Brussels Capital and the German-speaking region. Each commune (county borough) of the Kingdom is a part of one of these linguistic regions.
  • Article 5: The Walloon region is made up of the following provinces: The Walloon Brabant, Hainault, Liege, Luxemburg and Namur. The Flemish region is made up of the following provinces: Antwerp, the Flemish Brabant, West Flanders, East Flanders and Limburg.

Important Questions on Federalism

EASY
_____(Monarchy/Federalism/Dictatorship) is a mechanism to accommodate two sets of governments, one at the national level and the other at the regional level.
MEDIUM
How does the Constitution ensure the financial independence of states in India?
HARD
Give two reasons for the claim that our Constitution has a unitary bias.
HARD
The Union government cannot compel the state government to do anything in a federal system.
MEDIUM
The Union List contains topics of national importance such as the country's defence and foreign policy.
MEDIUM
The _____(judiciary/bureaucracy/legislature) plays an important role in overseeing the implementation of constitutional provisions and procedures.
HARD
Think which of the following statements would be correct. State why.

(i) Federalism enhances the possibility of people from different regions to interact without the fear of one's culture being imposed upon them by others.

(ii) Federal system will hinder easier economic transaction between two different regions that have distinct types of resources.

(iii) A federal system will ensure that the powers of those at the centre will remain limited.

MEDIUM
What does Article 356 of the Indian Constitution pertain to?
HARD
From the list of following events which ones would you identify with the functioning of federalism? Why?

The Centre on Tuesday announced Sixth Schedule status to GNLF-led Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, which would ensure greater autonomy to the governing body in the Hill district of West Bengal. A tripartite Memorandum of Settlement was signed in New Delhi between the Centre, West Bengal government and the Subhas Ghising-led Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) after two days of hectic deliberations.

Government for action plan for rain-hit States: Centre has asked the rain-ravaged States to submit detailed plans for reconstruction to enable it to respond to their demands for extra relief expeditiously.

New Commissioner for Delhi: The Capital is getting a new municipal commissioner. Confirming this, present MCD Commissioner Rakesh Mehta said he has received his transfer orders and that he is likely to be replaced by IAS officer Ashok Kumar, who is serving as the Chief Secretary in Arunachal Pradesh. Mehta, a 1975 batch IAS officer, has been heading the MCD for about three-and-a-half years.

CU Status for Manipur University: Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a Bill to convert the Manipur University into a Central University with the Human Resource Development Minister promising such institutions in the North Eastern States of Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Sikkim as well.

Funds released: The Centre has released Rs. 553 lakh to Arunachal Pradesh under its rural water supply scheme. The first instalment was of Rs. 466.81 lakh.

We'll teach the Biharis how to live in Mumbai: Around 100 Shiv Sainiks stormed J. J. Hospital, disrupted daily operations, raised slogans and threatened to take matters into their own hands if no action was taken against non-Maharashtrian students.

Demand for dismissal of Government: The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in a representation submitted to State Governor recently, has demanded dismissal of the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government for its alleged financial mismanagement and embezzlement of public money.

NDA government asks naxalites to surrender arms: Amid a walkout by opposition RUD and its allies Congress and CPI (M), the Bihar government today appealed to the naxalites to shun the path of violence and reaffirmed its pledge to root out unemployment to usher in a new era of development in Bihar.

HARD
The constitutional status of local self-government has helped to deepen democracy in our country.
 
MEDIUM
Apart from Hindi, the Constitution recognises 21 additional languages as Scheduled Languages.
MEDIUM
Which statement about the election method of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha is correct?
HARD
_____ is made up of three communities: The French Community, the Flemish Community and the _____ Community. 
HARD

Imagine that you were to rewrite the provisions regarding federalism. Write an essay of not more than 300 words making your suggestions about: the division of powers among the Center and the States.

MEDIUM
What is the significance of the Union List in Indian federalism?
HARD
Do you think that there is a need for mentioning Residuary powers separately? Why?
HARD
Who decides the powers of the central government in a federation?
HARD
How are conflicts between the central government and the States resolved in a federation?
HARD
President’s rule can be imposed in a State if the government is not being run according to the provisions of the _____.