Chapter: Federalism
Subject: Political Science (Democratic Politics – II)
Grade: CBSE Class 10
Format: MCQs (1 mark each)
Years Covered: 2010–2024
✅ 20 MCQs from CBSE Board & Sample Papers
1. What is federalism? (CBSE 2014)
A. One level of government
B. Rule by the central government
C. Power divided between central and state governments
D. Dictatorship
✔️ Answer: C. Power divided between central and state governments
2. Which of the following countries has a federal system? (CBSE 2012)
A. Sri Lanka
B. India
C. China
D. Pakistan
✔️ Answer: B. India
3. Which of the following is not a feature of federalism? (CBSE 2015)
A. Two or more levels of government
B. Constitutionally guaranteed powers
C. Unitary judicial system
D. Power centralised in one authority
✔️ Answer: D. Power centralised in one authority
4. What is the significance of the 1992 constitutional amendment? (CBSE 2017)
A. Abolished state government
B. Strengthened central government
C. Gave constitutional status to local self-governments
D. Removed federalism
✔️ Answer: C. Gave constitutional status to local self-governments
5. Which subject is in the Concurrent List? (CBSE 2018)
A. Police
B. Trade
C. Education
D. Defence
✔️ Answer: C. Education
6. Residuary subjects are under the control of the: (CBSE 2019)
A. State Government
B. Local Government
C. Union Government
D. Panchayats
✔️ Answer: C. Union Government
7. In India, the three-tier government includes: (CBSE 2020)
A. Union, District, Panchayat
B. State, Zilla, Village
C. Union, State, Local
D. Prime Minister, CM, Sarpanch
✔️ Answer: C. Union, State, Local
8. How are disputes between different levels of government resolved in a federal system? (CBSE 2013)
A. By the police
B. By the President
C. Through the judiciary
D. Through Parliament
✔️ Answer: C. Through the judiciary
9. When was the third tier of government added to the Indian federal structure? (CBSE 2014)
A. 1990
B. 1991
C. 1992
D. 1995
✔️ Answer: C. 1992
10. Which country has a unitary system of government? (CBSE 2015)
A. India
B. Belgium
C. Sri Lanka
D. USA
✔️ Answer: C. Sri Lanka
11. Which list contains subjects like law, marriage, and education? (CBSE 2021)
A. Union List
B. State List
C. Concurrent List
D. Residuary List
✔️ Answer: C. Concurrent List
12. The constitution of India has divided power into how many lists? (CBSE 2022)
A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. One
✔️ Answer: B. Three
13. The idea of decentralization strengthens: (CBSE Sample Paper 2023)
A. Dictatorship
B. Federalism
C. Central control
D. Emergency rule
✔️ Answer: B. Federalism
14. Who can make laws on subjects in the Concurrent List? (CBSE 2020)
A. Only Union
B. Only State
C. Both Union and State
D. Neither
✔️ Answer: C. Both Union and State
15. What makes Indian federalism unique? (CBSE 2023)
A. No written constitution
B. Supreme Court’s absence
C. It has a strong central government but power is divided
D. Only one level of government
✔️ Answer: C. It has a strong central government but power is divided
16. The system of Panchayati Raj involves: (CBSE 2016)
A. Only state-level governance
B. A two-tier system
C. A three-tier system of decentralization
D. Central government control
✔️ Answer: C. A three-tier system of decentralization
17. Which of the following is a feature of federalism? (CBSE 2011)
A. Centralization
B. Single judiciary
C. Power-sharing between levels
D. Power with President only
✔️ Answer: C. Power-sharing between levels
18. What was the main basis for the creation of linguistic states in India? (CBSE 2022)
A. Religion
B. Population
C. Culture
D. Language
✔️ Answer: D. Language
19. Which language is not included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution? (CBSE 2023)
A. Hindi
B. English
C. Sanskrit
D. Tamil
✔️ Answer: B. English
20. What ensures the constitutional status of the third tier of government? (CBSE 2016)
A. Supreme Court
B. 73rd and 74th Amendments
C. Election Commission
D. President
✔️ Answer: B. 73rd and 74th Amendments
25 MCQs with their answers:
CBSE Class 10 Social Science: Federalism – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) (Based on NCERT Syllabus 2024-25, Reflecting Past Board Patterns)
Instructions: Choose the correct option for each question.
- Which of the following is NOT a key feature of federalism?
a) Two or more levels (tiers) of government.
b) Different tiers of government govern the same citizens, but each tier has its own jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation, and administration.
c) The central government can order the state or local governments to do anything.
d) The fundamental provisions of the constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by one level of government.
Answer: c) The central government can order the state or local governments to do anything. - Which country is an example of a ‘coming together’ federation?
a) India
b) Belgium
c) USA
d) Spain
Answer: c) USA - Which of the following subjects is included in the Union List?
a) Police
b) Agriculture
c) Banking
d) Local Government
Answer: c) Banking - What happens if there is a conflict between the laws made by the Union government and the State government on a subject in the Concurrent List?
a) The State law prevails.
b) The Union law prevails.
c) Both laws prevail within their respective jurisdictions.
d) The Supreme Court has to intervene to decide.
Answer: b) The Union law prevails. - Which of the following countries follows a unitary system of government?
a) India
b) Belgium (initially)
c) USA
d) Switzerland
Answer: b) Belgium (initially) - The system of Panchayati Raj involves:
a) The village, block, and district levels.
b) The village and state levels.
c) The village, district, and state levels.
d) The village, state, and union levels.
Answer: a) The village, block, and district levels. - How many languages are recognized as Scheduled Languages by the Indian Constitution?
a) 15
b) 20
c) 22
d) 25
Answer: c) 22 - The creation of linguistic states in India aimed to:
a) Divide the country on linguistic lines.
b) Make administration easier and promote national unity.
c) Strengthen the power of the Central government.
d) Increase regional disparities.
Answer: b) Make administration easier and promote national unity. - 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
Answer: d) Decentralisation - The head of the Municipal Corporation is known as the:
a) Sarpanch
b) Mayor
c) Commissioner
d) Chief Minister
Answer: b) Mayor - Which of the following subjects falls under the State List?
a) Defence
b) Foreign Affairs
c) Police
d) Railways
Answer: c) Police - The objective of a federal system is to:
a) Safeguard and promote unity of the country.
b) Accommodate regional diversity.
c) Both (a) and (b).
d) Centralize all powers in one hand.
Answer: c) Both (a) and (b). - India is an example of which type of federation?
a) Coming together federation
b) Holding together federation
c) Unitary system
d) Confederacy
Answer: b) Holding together federation - Which body conducts elections for Panchayat and Municipalities in India?
a) Central Election Commission
b) State Election Commission
c) Union Government
d) State Government
Answer: b) State Election Commission - The period after 1990 in India witnessed the rise of:
a) One-party dominance.
b) Coalition governments at the Centre.
c) Military rule.
d) Strong unitary tendencies.
Answer: b) Coalition governments at the Centre. - What is meant by ‘jurisdiction’ in the context of federalism?
a) The area over which someone has legal authority.
b) The power to declare laws unconstitutional.
c) The process of resolving disputes between states.
d) The ability to collect taxes.
Answer: a) The area over which someone has legal authority. - Which of the following provisions ensures financial autonomy for different levels of government in a federal system?
a) States are dependent on the central government for all revenue.
b) Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified.
c) Only the central government can levy taxes.
d) States have no financial powers.
Answer: b) Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified. - The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments in India were significant for:
a) Strengthening the Union government.
b) Decentralization of power to local self-governments.
c) Creation of new states.
d) Providing special status to certain states.
Answer: b) Decentralization of power to local self-governments. - Residuary subjects are those that:
a) Are not included in the Union List.
b) Are not included in the State List.
c) Are not included in any of the three lists (Union, State, Concurrent).
d) Are left for the states to decide.
Answer: c) Are not included in any of the three lists (Union, State, Concurrent). - The role of the Judiciary in a federal system is to:
a) Make laws for the central government.
b) Interpret the Constitution and resolve disputes between different levels of government.
c) Oversee elections.
d) Collect taxes.
Answer: b) Interpret the Constitution and resolve disputes between different levels of government. - Which of the following is true about Union Territories in India?
a) They have their own independent governments.
b) They have the same powers as states.
c) They are areas that are directly administered by the Union Government.
d) They are part of a ‘coming together’ federation.
Answer: c) They are areas that are directly administered by the Union Government. - What does the term ‘Panchayat Samiti’ refer to?
a) A village-level local body.
b) A block-level local body.
c) A district-level local body.
d) An urban local body.
Answer: b) A block-level local body. - Which amendment made it constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies?
a) 42nd Amendment
b) 73rd and 74th Amendments
c) 86th Amendment
d) 92nd Amendment
Answer: b) 73rd and 74th Amendments - A distinguishing feature of a unitary form of government is:
a) Two or more levels of government.
b) Power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units.
c) The sub-units are subordinate to the central government.
d) Each tier of government has its own jurisdiction.
Answer: c) The sub-units are subordinate to the central government. - The Indian Constitution provides for a _________ distribution of legislative powers.
a) Single-fold
b) Two-fold
c) Three-fold
d) Four-fold
Answer: c) Three-fold (Union List, State List, Concurrent List)
