Three-tier System (India)
🏛️ Three-tier System (India)
The government is divided into three levels, each with its own jurisdiction. The 73rd & 74th Amendments gave constitutional status to local self-governments (Panchayats & Municipalities).
🇮🇳 Central Government
Whole of India · International affairs
🏞️ State Government
State jurisdiction · Day-to-day state affairs
🏘️ Local Self Government
Panchayats (rural) & Municipalities (urban)
✅ All three are constitutionally recognised levels of governance
⚖️ Not Equal Powers to All Administrative Units
- 🛡️ Some states enjoy special status (e.g., parts of the North-East) to protect culture, language, and customary laws.
- 🚫 In certain areas, land ownership is restricted for non-residents to preserve local interests.
- 🏛️ Union Territories do not have the full powers of a state and are administered under the authority of the Union (President/LG/Administrator).
🧩 Consent of Both Levels for Federal Changes
Basic federal provisions cannot be altered by one level alone.
📜 Amendment rule (illustrative): Changes affecting the federal structure typically need two-thirds support in both Houses of Parliament and ratification by at least half of the states. (e.g., matters relating to the President’s election or Centre–State powers.)
⚖️ Jurisdiction of the Judiciary
- 🔍 Interprets & protects the Constitution
- 🤝 Resolves Centre–State and Inter-State disputes
- 🛡️ Ensures governments act within their constitutional limits
💰 Separate Sources of Income
| Level | Typical Revenues |
|---|---|
| 🇮🇳 Union | Income tax*, Corporation tax, Customs & Excise, GST share, Non-tax receipts |
| 🏞️ States | State GST share, Stamp duty, Land revenue, Motor vehicles tax, Building/property taxes, Fees |
| 🏘️ Local | Property/house tax, Water & sanitation charges, Local fees/cess; plus grants from State/Union |
*Note: Personal income tax is levied by the Union; a share is devolved to States via the Finance Commission.
🧭 How Federalism is Practised in India
🗣️ Linguistic States
- 🗓️ 1956 reorganisation: State boundaries redrawn so speakers of the same language largely live in one state.
- 🧭 Some states also formed for culture, ethnicity, geography (e.g., Nagaland, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand).
- 🎯 Aim: strengthen unity while respecting diversity.
🗂️ Language Policy (Schedule 8)
India has no “national language”. Hindi (with English) works as an official language. The Constitution recognises 22 Scheduled Languages.
📜 Safeguards
Policies protect non-Hindi languages to ensure inclusion across states.
🏛️ Scheduled (8th Schedule)
22 languages recognised for official purposes & representation.
🏅 Classical Languages
Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu (Govt. of India distinction).
💡 Reflect: Why was Hindi chosen as an official language? What considerations limited choosing Bangla/Tamil/Telugu?
🤝 Centre–State Relations & Coalition Culture
Since the 1990s, coalition politics at the Centre increased the role of regional parties and fostered a more cooperative federalism.
| Example | What Happened | Federalism Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 — Vajpayee Govt. | Fell in 16 days due to lack of majority. | Led to pre-poll coalitions and negotiated power-sharing. |
| 1998 — NDA | Broad alliance formed before elections. | Greater respect for state parties’ agendas. |
| 2004 — UPA | Alliance of national & regional parties formed govt. | Strengthened Centre–State consultation. |
🗣️ Debate: Do strong regional parties encourage regionalism, or do they make democracy more representative?
📝 Quick Practice (Class 10)
- Define the three-tier system and name the amendments that empowered local bodies.
- Explain why all units in the Indian federation do not enjoy equal powers.
- What is the role of the judiciary in a federation?
- Why does cooperative federalism often increase during coalition governments?