Different Levels of Government
In a federal system, power is divided between the National and Regional/State governments, both of which operate independently and are safeguarded by the Constitution.
📊 Levels & Responsibilities
🏞️ Regional Level
Responsible for day-to-day administration of the state/region
🇮🇳 National Level
Responsible for subjects of national importance
✅ Both levels have constitutionally protected powers
🧭 Kinds of Federations
Federations can be formed via two main routes — based on mutual trust and agreements:
| Type | Meaning | Power Relation | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🤝 Coming Together | Independent states voluntarily join to form a larger union. | All units share equal power; as strong as the Centre. | USA, Switzerland, Australia |
| 🏛️ Holding Together | A large country decides to divide its power between the Centre & states for administrative convenience. | Centre more powerful than states; some states enjoy special powers. | India, Belgium, Spain |
📚 Division of Powers in India
The Constitution uses a three-fold distribution of legislative powers (Schedule 7):
| List | Scope | Examples | No. of Subjects |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🟣 Union List | National importance; only Parliament can legislate. | Defence, Foreign Affairs, Banking, Currency | 100 |
| 🟢 State List | State importance; only State Legislatures can legislate. | Police, Trade, Agriculture, Irrigation | 61 |
| 🟡 Concurrent List | Shared jurisdiction; Parliament prevails in conflict. | Education, Forests, Marriage, Civil Procedure | 52 |
| 🔵 Residuary Powers | Subjects not in any list; Parliament legislates. | E-commerce, Computer Software | Varies |
📌 Example Q: If agriculture is a State subject, why have a Union Agriculture Minister? Ans: The Centre coordinates national policies, international trade, funding, and inter-state matters even in state subjects.
📝 Quick Practice
- Distinguish between Coming Together and Holding Together federations with examples.
- List the number of subjects in the Union, State, and Concurrent lists.
- Explain why some state subjects still have central ministers in India.