CBSE Class 10 · Federalism

What Makes India a Federal Country Class 10: Lists and Provisions

Updated 14 October 2026 · Fact-checked

India's Constitution calls India a Union of States and, without using the word federation, follows federal principles. It has three tiers (Union, State, local), a three-fold distribution of legislative powers through the Union, State and Concurrent Lists, residuary powers with the Union, special status for some States, a difficult amendment process and courts that settle disputes.

Notice that laws are shared across three lists, and the Union holds residuary powers and wins when laws on the Concurrent List conflict.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand What Makes India a Federal Country

Union of States, built on federal principles. India became independent after a painful partition, and princely states joined soon after. The Constitution declared India a Union of States. It did not use the word 'federation', but the Indian Union is based on the principles of federalism: all the key features of federalism apply to its provisions.

Tiers of government. The Constitution originally provided a two-tier system: the Union (Central) Government and the State Governments. Later a third tier was added: Panchayats and Municipalities. Each tier enjoys separate jurisdiction.

Three-fold distribution of legislative powers.

Union List: subjects of national importance, such as defence, foreign affairs, banking, communications and currency, which need a uniform policy throughout the country. Only the Union Government can make laws on them.
State List: subjects of State and local importance, such as police, trade, commerce, agriculture and irrigation. Only State Governments can make laws on them.
Concurrent List: subjects of common interest to both, such as education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption and succession. Both can make laws; if their laws conflict, the Union law prevails.
Residuary subjects: subjects in none of the lists, or new ones like computer software, fall to the Union Government.

Unequal units, as in a holding-together federation.

Some States have special status: Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram enjoy special powers under Article 371 because of their peculiar social and historical circumstances, especially to protect land rights of indigenous peoples, their culture, and preferential employment in government services. Indians who are not permanent residents cannot buy land or houses there. Similar special provisions exist for some other States.
Union Territories, such as Chandigarh, Lakshadweep and the capital city of Delhi, are too small to be States but could not be merged with existing ones. They do not have the powers of a State; the Central Government has special powers in running them.

Hard to change. Power-sharing between Union and States is basic to the structure of the Constitution. Parliament cannot change it on its own. A change must be passed by both Houses of Parliament with at least a two-thirds majority, and then ratified by the legislatures of at least half of the total States.

Judiciary and revenue. The judiciary oversees constitutional provisions; in disputes over division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court decide. Both Union and State governments can raise resources by levying taxes to carry out their responsibilities.

Provisions are necessary but not sufficient. NCERT stresses that federalism succeeded in India not merely because of these provisions but because democratic politics made the spirit of federalism, respect for diversity and the desire to live together shared ideals. (How this happened, through linguistic States, language policy and Centre-State relations, is the next part of the chapter.)

Thinking questions from NCERT. Could Rajasthan stop nuclear tests at Pokharan? (No: defence is a Union subject.) Must Sikkim seek Union permission for new textbooks? (Education is concurrent, so both can legislate, but the State does not need permission for its own decisions within its powers.) Can the Prime Minister order Chief Ministers on how state police should act? (Police is a State subject.)

What Makes India a Federal Country: key facts

Union of States: Constitution does not use 'federation' but follows federal principles
Three tiers: Union (Central) + State + local (Panchayats, Municipalities, added later)
Union List: Defence, foreign affairs, banking, communications, currency: only Union legislates; Uniform national policy.
State List: Police, trade, commerce, agriculture, irrigation: only States legislate
Concurrent List: Education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption, succession: both legislate; Union law prevails in conflict
Residuary: Subjects in no list, or new (computer software): Union legislates
Special status and UTs: Article 371: Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram; UTs: Chandigarh, Lakshadweep, Delhi (Centre has special powers); Unequal units.
Changing the arrangement: Both Houses with at least 2/3 majority + ratification by at least half the State legislatures; Parliament alone cannot change it.

How to answer What Makes India a Federal Country questions

Questions ask which list a subject belongs to, what residuary powers are, why India is federal, how the arrangement can be changed, or test special status and Union Territories through cases.

1For list questions, classify by importance: national (Union), State and local (State), shared (Concurrent).
2Remember the conflict rule (Union prevails in the Concurrent List) and the residuary rule (Union).
3For 'why India is federal', match Indian provisions to features: tiers, lists, rigid amendment, courts, taxes.
4For 'how to change', give both steps: two-thirds in both Houses, then half the States.
5Use Article 371 States and Union Territories to show that units are unequal.

What Makes India a Federal Country in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Which government decides?

Suppose your state wants to change its school syllabus, a new app-based service raises a legal question not covered by any list, and a dispute arises between the Centre and a State over who can tax a service.

Explain who has the power in each case under India's Constitution.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Education is in the Concurrent List: both can legislate; Union law prevails in a conflict.
A new subject in no list is residuary: the Union legislates.
Disputes over division of powers go to the High Courts and the Supreme Court.

Answer: Education is a Concurrent List subject, so the State can make laws on its syllabus, but if they conflict with a Union law, the Union law prevails. A new subject not in any list is residuary, so the Union Government can legislate on it, as with computer software. The tax dispute would be decided by the High Courts and the Supreme Court, which settle disputes about the division of powers.

Memory hook: Shared subject: both; new subject: Union; dispute: courts.

Tricks to remember What Makes India a Federal Country

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

Union = D-F-B-C-C
Defence, Foreign affairs, Banking, Communications, Currency: 'Don't Forget Big Central Concerns'.
Use it when: Union List.
State = P-T-C-A-I
Police, Trade, Commerce, Agriculture, Irrigation: 'Please Take Care Around India'.
Use it when: State List.
Concurrent = E-F-T-M-A-S
Education, Forest, Trade unions, Marriage, Adoption, Succession: family and future matters shared by both.
Use it when: Concurrent List.
2/3 + 1/2
Two-thirds in both Houses, then half the States.
Use it when: Amendment procedure.

What Makes India a Federal Country: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Concurrent List subject · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

Which one of the following subjects is in the Concurrent List?
(a) Defence
(b) Police
(c) Education
(d) Banking

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Defence and banking are Union subjects and police a State subject; education is concurrent (1 mark).

Answer: (c) Education

Example 2: Residuary powers (2 marks) · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

What are residuary subjects? Who makes laws on them in India? (2 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Subjects that do not fall in any of the three lists, or that came up after the Constitution was made, like computer software (1 mark).
The Union Government has the power to legislate on them (1 mark).

Answer: Residuary subjects are those not in the Union, State or Concurrent Lists, or new ones like computer software. Under India's Constitution, the Union Government makes laws on them.

Example 3: Assertion-reason: changing the arrangement · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

Assertion (A): Parliament cannot on its own change the power-sharing arrangement between the Union and the States.
Reason (R): Such a change needs a two-thirds majority in both Houses and ratification by at least half of the State legislatures.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The need for State ratification is exactly why Parliament alone cannot change it (1 mark).

Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Example 4: Why India is federal (5 marks) · 5 marks · Long answerHarder board level

'The Indian Union is based on the principles of federalism.' Justify the statement with five provisions of the Constitution. (5 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Tiers: Union and State governments, later a third tier of Panchayats and Municipalities, each with separate jurisdiction (1 mark).
Three-fold distribution of legislative powers: Union, State and Concurrent Lists; residuary powers with the Union (1 mark).
The arrangement is basic to the Constitution: change needs two-thirds of both Houses and ratification by half the States (1 mark).
Judiciary: High Courts and Supreme Court settle disputes over division of powers (1 mark).
Both levels can levy taxes to raise resources; and, as a holding-together federation, some States have special status (Article 371) while Union Territories have fewer powers (1 mark).

Answer: The Constitution created a Union Government and State Governments, and later added Panchayats and Municipalities, each with its own jurisdiction. It distributes legislative powers three ways: the Union List (defence, banking, currency), the State List (police, agriculture, irrigation) and the Concurrent List (education, forest, marriage), with residuary subjects going to the Union. This arrangement is basic to the Constitution: changing it needs a two-thirds majority in both Houses and ratification by at least half the State legislatures. The High Courts and Supreme Court settle disputes over powers. Both levels can levy taxes. As a holding-together federation, India also gives special status to States like Nagaland under Article 371.

Example 5: Case: special status · 4 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

Read the case and answer the questions.

NCERT notes that States such as Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram enjoy special powers under Article 371 of the Constitution because of their peculiar social and historical circumstances. These powers are mainly about protecting the land rights of indigenous peoples, their culture, and preferential employment in government services. Indians who are not permanent residents of such a State cannot buy land or a house there.

(i) Under which Article do these States enjoy special powers? (1)
(ii) Name one area protected by these special powers. (1)
(iii) How does this provision reflect India's nature as a 'holding together' federation? (2)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

(i) Article 371 (1 mark).
(ii) Land rights of indigenous peoples, their culture, or preferential government employment (1 mark).
(iii) Holding-together federations do not give equal powers to all units (1 mark).
(iii) Giving some States special powers accommodates regional diversity while keeping the country united, the dual aim of federalism (1 mark).

Answer: (i) Article 371. (ii) Land rights of indigenous peoples (also their culture and preferential employment). (iii) In holding-together federations, units need not have equal powers, and some get special powers. By giving these States special protections suited to their history and society, India accommodates regional diversity while keeping the Union together.

Example 6: Thinking like the Constitution (3 marks) · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

Using the lists, answer: (a) Could Rajasthan's government prevent the Union from conducting nuclear tests at Pokharan? (b) Can the Prime Minister order all Chief Ministers on how their state police should act? Justify. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

(a) No: defence is in the Union List, so only the Union Government decides on it (1 mark).
(b) No: police is in the State List, so State Governments make those decisions (1 mark).
In a federation, each level has its own jurisdiction and the Centre cannot order States in matters within their powers (1 mark).

Answer: (a) No. Defence is a Union List subject, so the Union alone decides, even for tests in Rajasthan. (b) No. Police is a State List subject, so each State decides how its police act. In a federation each level has its own jurisdiction, and the Centre cannot order States on their subjects.

Where students lose marks in What Makes India a Federal Country

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

Mistake: Putting education in the State List
Schools seem a State matter.
Wrong working
Education is a State subject.
Right working
Education is in the Concurrent List.
Do this: E-F-T-M-A-S.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Giving residuary powers to States
Assumed like the USA.
Wrong working
States make laws on residuary subjects.
Right working
In India, the Union legislates on residuary subjects.
Do this: New subject = Union.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Half the amendment procedure
Ratification is forgotten.
Wrong working
Parliament can change Centre-State powers by a two-thirds majority.
Right working
Also needs ratification by at least half the State legislatures.
Do this: 2/3 + 1/2.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Calling all States equal
Ignoring Article 371 and UTs.
Wrong working
Every unit has the same powers.
Right working
Some States have special status; UTs have fewer powers.
Do this: Holding together = unequal units.
Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

Learn five subjects of each list; classification questions are quick marks.
Quote the amendment procedure in full whenever asked how federalism is protected.
Use Article 371 States and Union Territories to show unequal units.
Political Science word limits: 40 (2 marks), 60 (3 marks), 120 (5 marks).

Practice questions on What Makes India a Federal Country

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level
In case of a conflict between Union and State laws on a Concurrent List subject:
(a) the State law prevails
(b) the Union law prevails
(c) the President decides
(d) both laws are cancelled
Hint
NCERT's conflict rule.
Answer
(b) the Union law prevails
Q2 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level
What are Union Territories? Give two examples. (2 marks)
Hint
Too small to be States.
Answer
Union Territories are areas too small to be independent States that could not be merged with existing States; they lack State powers and the Centre has special powers in running them. Examples: Chandigarh and Lakshadweep (also Delhi).
Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Classify into Union, State and Concurrent Lists: defence, police, agriculture, education, banking, forests, communications, trade, marriages. (3 marks)
Hint
NCERT exercise.
Answer
Union: defence, banking, communications. State: police, agriculture, trade. Concurrent: education, forests, marriages.
Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency
Suppose a classmate says, 'India is not a federation because the Constitution never uses the word.' Evaluate this claim. (3 marks)
Hint
Word vs principles.
Answer
The claim is wrong. The Constitution calls India a Union of States and does not use the word federation, but all key federal features apply: separate tiers with their own jurisdictions, three lists of subjects, a rigid amendment process needing States' consent, courts as umpire, and taxing powers for both levels. So India is federal in principle and practice.
Q5 · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level
Assertion (A): All States in the Indian Union have identical powers.
Reason (R): India is a 'holding together' federation.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
Hint
Article 371.
Answer
(d) A is false, but R is true. As a holding-together federation, India gives some States special status.
Q6 · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency
'Constitutional provisions are necessary for the success of federalism but they are not sufficient.' Explain the provisions that make India federal, and why NCERT says they are not enough. (5 marks)
Hint
Provisions first; then democratic politics and shared ideals.
Answer
India's Constitution sets up three tiers of government, each with its own jurisdiction. It divides legislative powers into the Union, State and Concurrent Lists, gives residuary powers to the Union, and lets both levels levy taxes. The arrangement cannot be changed by Parliament alone: amendments need two-thirds of both Houses and ratification by half the States, and courts settle disputes. Yet NCERT argues these rules alone do not guarantee success. Federalism has worked in India because democratic politics made the spirit of federalism, respect for diversity and the desire to live together shared ideals. Rules give the framework; political practice and mutual trust make it work.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1.What did the Constitution declare India to be?Show answer
A Union of States.
2.Name two Union List subjects.Show answer
Any two of defence, foreign affairs, banking, communications, currency.
3.Name two State List subjects.Show answer
Any two of police, trade, commerce, agriculture, irrigation.
4.Who settles disputes over division of powers?Show answer
The High Courts and the Supreme Court.
5.Name two Union Territories mentioned in NCERT.Show answer
Chandigarh and Lakshadweep (also Delhi).

What Makes India a Federal Country: frequently asked questions

What makes India a federal country?

Separate tiers of government, the three-fold distribution of powers through the Union, State and Concurrent Lists, a rigid amendment process needing States' consent, courts as umpire, and taxing powers for both levels.

What are the Union, State and Concurrent Lists?

Union List: national subjects like defence; State List: local subjects like police; Concurrent List: shared subjects like education, where Union law prevails in conflict.

What are residuary powers?

Powers over subjects not in any list, such as computer software; in India they belong to the Union Government.

How can the Centre-State power-sharing arrangement be changed?

Only by a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament followed by ratification by at least half of the State legislatures.