Federalism

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Q.1. Which form of power sharing is most commonly referred to as federalism?

(a) Horizontal division of power

(b) Vertical division of power

(c) Division of power among various communities

(d) Sharing of power among political parties

Ans. (b)

Q.2. Choose the incorrect statement.

(a) Usually a federation has two levels of governments

(b) Both the levels of governments enjoy theirs powers independent of one another

(c) In a federal system, a state government has powers of its own

(d) In a federal system, the state government is answerable to the central government

Ans. (c)

Q.3. Which are the basic objectives of a federal system?

(a) To safeguard and promote unity of the country

(b) To accommodate regional diversity

(c) To share powers among different communities

(d) Both (a) and (b)

Ans. (d)

Q.4. There are two kinds of routes through which federations have been formed. Which are

they?

(a) One route involves independent states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit

(b) Second route is where a large country decides to divide its powers between the states and the national government

(c) Both the above (d) None of the above

Ans. (c)

Q.5. Choose the incorrect statement.

(a) Belgium shifted from a unitary to a federal form in 1993

(b) Belgium shifted from a federal form to a unitary form of government in 1993

(c) Sri Lanka countinues to be a unitary system

(d) Tamil leaders want Sri Lanka to become a federal system

Ans. (b)

Q.6. Which of the following is incorrect regarding a unitary government?

(a) There is either only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the central government

(b) The central government can pass on orders to the provincial government

(c) A state government is answerable to central government

(d) The powers of state governments are guaranteed by the Constitution

Ans. (d)

Q.7. Which of the following is not one of the key features of federalism?

(a) There are two or more levels of governments

(b) Each tier has its own jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administation

(c) The existence and authority of each tier of government is constitutionally guaranteed

(d) The Constitution can be unilaterally changed by any one level of government

Ans. (d)

Q.8. What is true regarding sources of revenue in a federal system?

(a) States have no financial powers or independent sources of revenue.

(b) States are dependent for revenue or funds on the central government.

(c) Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to ensure its financial autonomy.

(d) States have no financial autonomy.

Ans. (c)

Q.9. When was the report of the States Reorganisation Commission implemented?

(a) 1956 (b) 1958 (c) 1960 (d) 1965

Ans. (a)

Q.10. What is the third tier of government known as?

(a) Village Panchayats (b) State government

(c) Local self-government (d) Zila Parishad

Ans. (c)

Q.11. The Constitution of India originally provided for :

(a) a two-tier system of government. (b) a three-tier system of government.

(b) a single-tier system of government. (d) a four-tier system of government.

Ans. (a)

Q.12. Which level of government in India has the power to legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?

(a) Union government (b) State governments

(c) Local self-government (d) Both (a) and (b)

Ans. (a)

Q.13. Which of the following is not an example of ‘coming together’ federations?

(a) India (b) USA (c) Switzerland (d) Australia

Ans. (a)

Q.14. Which of the following is not an example of ‘holding together’ federations?

(a) India (b) Spain (c) Belgium (d) Switzerland

Ans. (d)

Q.15. How many of the world’s 192 countries have federal political systems?

(a) Only 50 (b) Only 25 (c) Only 60 (d) Only 100

Ans. (b)

Q.16. Which of the following subjects is not included in the Union list?

(a) Defence (b) Foreign affairs (c) Police (d) Banking

Ans. (c)

Q.17. Who makes laws on the subjects contained in the Concurrent List?

(a) Union government (b) State governments

(c) Both Union and state governments (d) None of these

Ans. (c)

Q.18. Which state of India enjoys a special status and has its own Constitution?

(a) Bihar (b) Uttar Pradesh

(c) Kerala (d) Jammu and Kashmir

Ans. (d)

Q.19. Which is not true regarding changes in power-sharing arrangement between the centre

and the states?

(a) The Parliament cannot on its own change this arrangement.

(b) Any change to it has to be first passed by both the Houses with at least two-thirds majority.

(c) Then, it has to be ratified by the legislatures of at least half of the total states.

(d) The Parliament alone has the power to amend the provisions regarding power-sharing.

Ans. (d)

Q.20. Which language was recognised as the national language by the Constitution of India?

(a) Hindi (b) English (c) Tamil (d) None of these

Ans. (d)

Q.21. In which Schedule of the Indian Constitution are the 22 scheduled languages included?

(a) Tenth schedule (b) Eighth schedule

(c) Twelfth schedule (d) Ninth schedule

Ans. (b)

Q.22. Which period saw the rise of regional political parties in many states of the country?

(a) Period after 1990 (b) Period after 2000

(c) Period after 1980 (d) Period after 1970

Ans. (a)

Q.23. Which body conducts the elections to panchayats and municipalities?

(a) Election Commission (b) State Election Commission

(c) State High Court (d) Parliament

Ans. (b)

Q.24. Rural local government is popularly known as :

(a) Zila Parishad (b) Panchayat Samiti

(c) Panchayati Raj (d) None of the above

Ans. (c)

Q.25. Which of these is incorrect, based on the Consitutional Amendment, 1992?

(a) One-fourth of positions are reserved for women.

(b) Regular elections should be held to the local government bodies.

(c) Seats are reserved for SCs, STs and OBCs.

(d) State Election Commission looks after these elections.

Ans. (a)

Q.26. Who administers the whole district?

(a) Sarpanch (b) Mayor

(c) District Magistrate or Collector (d) Sessions Judge

Ans. (c)

 

PREVIOUS YEARS’ QUESTIONS

 

Q.1. The system of Panchayat Raj involves :

(a) Village, block and district levels (b) Village and state levels

(c) Vilalge, district and state levels (d) Village, state and union levels

Ans. (a)

Q.2. Which one is not the part of 3 tier system of Panchayat Raj?

(a) Muncipalities (b) Village Panchayat

(c) Block Samiti (d) Zila Parishad

Ans. (a)

Q.3. Which one of the following countries is good examples of ‘holding together federations’?

 (a) USA (b) Switzerland (c) Australia (d) India

Ans. (d)

Q.4. Which one of the following lists includes subject of common interest to both the union government and the state government?

(a) Union list (b) Concurrent list (c) State list (d) None of these

Ans. (b)

Q.5. Which among the following states in India has a special status?

(a) Punjab (b) Jharkhand

(c) Jammu and Kashmir (d) Himachal Pradesh

Ans. (c)

Q.6. When power is taken away from central and state governments and given to local government, it is called :

(a) Distribution (b) Centralisation (c) Reorganisation (d) Decentralisation

Ans. (d)

Q.7. Which of the following was not a provision of the Act of 1956 passed in Sri Lanka?

(a) Sinhala was recognised as the only official language

(b) Buddhism was to be protected by the state

(c) Provinces were given autonomy

(d) Sinhalas were favoured in government jobs

Ans. (c)

Q.8. Which of the following country is not an example of ‘holding together’ federations?

(a) USA (b) Spain (c) India (d) Belgium

Ans. (a)

Q.9. Both the union and the state government can make laws on the subjects mentioned in the :

(a) Union list (b) State list (c) Concurrent list (d) None of the above

Ans. (c)

Q.10. Which of the following countries is an example of ‘coming together’ federation?

(a) India (b) Pakistan (c) USA (d) Sri Lanka

Ans. (c)

Q.11. Which of the following is not a subject of the Union List?

(a) Foreign affairs (b) Currency (c) Banking (d) Law and order

Ans. (d)

Q.12. Choose the correct statement regarding language policy of the Indian Government.

(a) English is our national language

(b) Citizens are free to choose any language as national language

(c) Hindi is our national language

(d) Constitution of India did not declare any language as national language

Ans. (d)

Q.13. As per language policy of Indian Government, which one of the following statements is

true regarding the status of Hindi language?

(a) Only Hindi is our national language (b) Hindi is the official language

(c) Hindi has been accepted as the mother tongue of all the Indians

(d) None of the above

Ans. (b)

Q.14. Which one of the following countries has the federal form of government?

(a) Egypt (b) Sri Lanka (c) Australia (d) England

Ans. (c)

Q.15. Which of the following countries has coming a Together Federation?

(a) The U.S.A (b) India (c) Spain (d) Belgium

Ans. (a)

Q.16. Who among the following is called head of the state at the state level?

(a) Chief Minister (b) Speaker of Vidhan Sabha

(c) Governor (d) Mayor

Ans. (a)

Q.17. Who among the following is the head of a Municipal Corporation?

(a) Home Minister (b) Sarpanch (c) Governor (d) Mayor

Ans. (d)

Q.18. Which one of the following subjects is included in the state list?

(a) Agriculture (b) Foreign affairs (c) Banking (d) Currency

Ans. (a)

Q.19. Which one of the following subjects is included in the concurrent list?

(a) Banking (b) Trade (c) Police (d) Education

Ans. (d)

Q.20. Which one of the following countries has not adopted the holding together federation?

(a) India (b) Spain (c) Belgium (d) Japan

Ans. (d)

Q.21. Which one of the following is not a feature of federalism?

(a) Two or more levels of government

(b) Different tiers of government govern the same citizens

(c) Courts have the power to interpret the constitution

(d) The centre government can order the state government

Ans. (d)

Q.22. How many other languages are recognised as Scheduled Languages by the constitution, besides Hindi?

(a) 20 (b) 21 (c) 18 (d) 19

Ans. (b)

Q.23. Which one of the following countries is an example of holding together federation?

 (a) India (b) U.S.A (c) Australia (d) Switzerland

Ans. (a)

Q.24. In local self-government institutions at least one-third of all positions are reserved for

 (a) men (b) women (c) children (d) scheduled tribes

Ans. (b)

Q.25. Which of the following governments has two or more levels?

(a) Community Government (b) Coalition Government

(c) Federal Government (d) Unitary Government

Ans. (c)

Q.26. Which of the following subjects falls under the Concurrent list?

(a) Defence (b) Agriculture (c) Marriage (d) Currency

Ans. (c)

Q.27. Rural local government is popularly known as :

(a) Panchayati Raj (b) Zila Parishad (c) State Government (d) Gram Panchayat

Ans. (a)