NCERT Political Science (Civics) Class 10 Chapter 2 | Decentralisation In India
Topic & sub-topics covered: “Explain decentralisation in India class 10” and MCQs Questions: Federalism (All single detail notes are exam-oriented).
We have discussed in-depth and exam-oriented pointers that can be asked in the board exam of class 10th about “Explain decentralisation in India class 10” from the NCERT Political Science (Civics) notes for class 10th chapter 2 “Federalism“.
Download the NCERT Political Science (Civics) for Class 10 Chapter 2 Federalism PDF Notes
NCERT Civics (Political Science) Class 10th Chapter 2 – Federalism Notes & MCQ’s Question-Answer
Explore the key concept of federalism in Chapter 2 of Class 10 Civics (Political Science). This chapter discusses power-sharing between the central government and states in India, highlighting its role in maintaining unity and promoting regional autonomy, What is Federalism?, What Makes India a Federal Country?, How is Federalism Practised?, Explain decentralisation in India class 10. Understand Indian federalism’s theory, practices, and its newest tier – local government. These CBSE/NCERT notes simplify the topic with clear explanations and with the help of examples. Make your understanding of democracy and governance strong with comprehensive notes on federalism’s structure and significance.
Explain Decentralisation In India Class 10
Need for Decentralisation and Third-Tier Government
1. Federal Power Sharing in India:
- India’s vastness and internal diversity necessitate power-sharing within States, leading to the creation of a third tier of government, local government.
2. Decentralisation:
- Decentralisation involves transferring power from Central and State governments to local government bodies, ensuring decisions are made at the local level.
- The basic idea behind decentralisation is that local people have better knowledge of the problems in their localities and can manage resources more efficiently.
3. Benefits of Local Government:
- Local government fosters democratic participation, as people can directly participate in decision-making.
- It helps realise the principle of local self-government and strengthens democracy at the grassroots level.
Decentralisation in India’s Constitution
1. Constitutional Recognition:
- The Indian Constitution recognised the need for decentralisation, leading to the establishment of local governments in villages and towns.
2. Challenges Before 1992:
- Before 1992, local governments were under State control, had no regular elections, and lacked powers or resources.
3. 1992 Constitutional Amendment:
- A major step towards decentralisation was the 1992 Constitutional amendment, which empowered local governments and made them more effective.
- Regular elections to local government bodies became constitutionally mandatory.
Key Features of Local Government Post-1992
1. Reservation of Seats:
- Seats in local bodies are reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and women (at least one-third of positions).
2. State Election Commission:
- An independent institution, the State Election Commission, was created in each State to oversee panchayat and municipal elections.
3. Power and Revenue Sharing:
- State governments are required to share powers and revenue with local government bodies, though the extent of sharing varies across States.
Structure of Rural Local Government: Panchayati Raj
1. Gram Panchayat:
- A Gram Panchayat exists for each village or group of villages and is the decision-making body for the village.
- Ward members (panch) and the sarpanch are directly elected by the adult population of the village.
2. Role of Gram Sabha:
- The Gram Sabha, composed of all voters in the village, supervises the work of the gram panchayat and meets to approve budgets and review performance.
3. Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad:
- Panchayat Samiti or Block/Mandal is formed by grouping gram panchayats. Its members are elected by panchayat members from the area.
- The Zilla Parishad at the district level consists of representatives from the Panchayat Samitis and includes elected members, Lok Sabha members, MLAs, and officials. The Zilla Parishad chairperson is its political head.
Urban Local Government: Municipalities and Municipal Corporations
1. Municipalities and Municipal Corporations:
- Municipalities exist in towns, while municipal corporations are set up for big cities.
- Both are controlled by elected bodies, with a chairperson in municipalities and a mayor in municipal corporations.
Impact of Local Government System
1. Largest Democratic Experiment:
- India’s system of local government is the largest experiment in democracy in the world, with 36 lakh elected representatives in panchayats and municipalities.
2. Impact on Women’s Representation:
- The system has increased women’s representation in politics, making their voices stronger in the democratic process.
3. Challenges in Decentralisation:
- Despite regular elections, gram sabhas are not always held regularly, and many State governments have not transferred significant powers to local governments.
- Resources for local governments remain inadequate, and the goal of realising self-government is still far from complete.
An Experiment in Brazil
Decentralisation and Participative Democracy in Porto Alegre (Brazil)
1. Porto Alegre’s Experiment:
- Porto Alegre, a city in Brazil, implemented an extraordinary experiment combining decentralisation with participative democracy.
- A parallel organisation was created alongside the municipal council, allowing local inhabitants to make real decisions for their city.
2. Citizen Participation in City Budgeting:
- 13 lakh citizens in Porto Alegre participate in making decisions related to the city budget.
- The city is divided into sectors (wards), with each sector holding meetings similar to the gram sabha where any citizen can participate.
3. City-wide Decision Making:
- There are special meetings to discuss issues that affect the entire city, where any citizen can participate.
- Budget proposals are discussed and then submitted to the municipality for a final decision.
4. High Participation Rate:
- About 20,000 people participate in this decision-making process annually, ensuring that diverse voices are heard.
5. Inclusive Budgeting:
- The participatory budgeting system ensures that money is not spent solely in wealthy areas but also benefits poor colonies, including services like public transportation and the protection of slum-dwellers.
Similar Experiment in Kerala (India)
1. Participative Planning in Kerala:
- A similar experiment of participative planning took place in some areas of Kerala, where ordinary people contributed to planning the development of their locality.
Next & Previous Topics of NCERT/CBSE Political Science (Civics) Class 10 Chapter 2: Federalism
| Topics No. | Topics Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | What Is Federalism? |
| 2 | What Makes India a Federal Country? |
| 3 | How Is Federalism Practised? |
| 5 | Decentralisation in India |
MCQs on NCERT Civics Class 10 Chapter 2 Tpoic – Decentralisation In India
Here are top exam oriented mcq’s type questions on “Decentralisation In India” that you should prepare for your CBSE or state board exams:
Question 1. What is decentralisation in the context of government?
a) Transfer of power from the local government to the central government
b) Transfer of power from the state government to the local government
c) The government being ruled by a single political party
d) The power is solely held by the central government
Answer: b) Transfer of power from the state government to the local government
Question 2. What is the primary purpose of decentralisation?
a) To increase the control of the central government
b) To allow people at the local level to manage problems and resources efficiently
c) To reduce the involvement of citizens in decision-making
d) To centralize control over all government decisions
Answer: b) To allow people at the local level to manage problems and resources efficiently
Question 3. Which of the following is NOT a feature of decentralisation in India?
a) Giving powers to local governments
b) Regular elections to local government bodies
c) Local governments having full control over resources
d) Regular participation of local people in decision-making
Answer: c) Local governments having full control over resources
Question 4. Which amendment in 1992 played a crucial role in decentralisation in India?
a) 42nd Amendment
b) 44th Amendment
c) 73rd and 74th Amendments
d) 52nd Amendment
Answer: c) 73rd and 74th Amendments
Question 5. Which of the following is a key feature of the Panchayati Raj system?
a) Central government’s control over local affairs
b) Regular elections to local government bodies
c) No involvement of women in local governance
d) No reserved seats for Scheduled Castes, Tribes, and Other Backward Classes
Answer: b) Regular elections to local government bodies
Question 6. Which of the following is NOT a level of the Panchayati Raj system?
a) Gram Panchayat
b) Panchayat Samiti
c) Zilla Parishad
d) Rajya Sabha
Answer: d) Rajya Sabha
Question 7. What is the minimum percentage of seats reserved for women in local government bodies under the 73rd and 74th Amendments?
a) 10%
b) 20%
c) 30%
d) 40%
Answer: c) 30%
Question 8. Which of the following local government bodies is the political head of a municipality?
a) Sarpanch
b) Mayor
c) Zilla Parishad Chairperson
d) Panchayat Samiti President
Answer: b) Mayor
Question 9. What is the primary responsibility of the Gram Sabha in rural local government?
a) Approve the annual budget of the gram panchayat
b) Elect the members of the panchayat
c) Review the performance of the state government
d) Decide on the national budget
Answer: a) Approve the annual budget of the gram panchayat
Question 10. How many elected representatives are there in the panchayats and municipalities across India?
a) 1 lakh
b) 5 lakh
c) 10 lakh
d) 36 lakh
Answer: d) 36 lakh
Question 11. Which of the following is an important effect of decentralisation on democracy in India?
a) It has reduced the number of elections held in the country
b) It has decreased women’s participation in politics
c) It has helped deepen democracy by increasing local participation
d) It has made the central government more powerful
Answer: c) It has helped deepen democracy by increasing local participation
Question 12. In the Panchayati Raj system, which body is directly elected by all the adult population living in a village or ward?
a) Zilla Parishad
b) Panchayat Samiti
c) Gram Panchayat
d) Lok Sabha
Answer: c) Gram Panchayat
Question 13. Which of the following is true about the Zilla Parishad?
a) It is the decision-making body at the village level
b) It is made up only of elected members from urban areas
c) It is formed at the district level by grouping Panchayat Samitis
d) It has no connection to the local government
Answer: c) It is formed at the district level by grouping Panchayat Samitis
Question 14. Which of the following describes Porto Alegre’s experiment in Brazil?
a) A city-wide decentralised system where citizens directly make decisions on the budget
b) A dictatorship where citizens have no say in government decisions
c) A country-wide decentralised system for rural areas only
d) A system where the government makes all decisions without citizen participation
Answer: a) A city-wide decentralised system where citizens directly make decisions on the budget
Question 15. Which Indian state is mentioned as having experimented with participatory democracy at the local level?
a) Maharashtra
b) Kerala
c) Uttar Pradesh
d) West Bengal
Answer: b) Kerala
Question 16. Which of the following is a challenge faced by local governments in India?
a) Regular holding of gram sabhas
b) Sufficient transfer of powers and resources by state governments
c) Lack of participation from the youth
d) Overrepresentation of women in local bodies
Answer: b) Sufficient transfer of powers and resources by state governments
Question 17. Which of the following is the role of the State Election Commission in India?
a) To conduct elections for the central government
b) To conduct elections for state legislative assemblies
c) To conduct elections for Panchayats and Municipalities
d) To appoint the members of local government bodies
Answer: c) To conduct elections for Panchayats and Municipalities
Question 18. What is the name of the rural local government system in India?
a) Gram Sabha
b) Panchayati Raj
c) Municipal Corporation
d) Zilla Parishad
Answer: b) Panchayati Raj
Question 19. Which of the following does NOT directly participate in the local government structure in India?
a) Elected representatives
b) Local citizens
c) The President of India
d) State governments
Answer: c) The President of India
Question 20. What was one of the main objectives of the 1992 Constitutional Amendment regarding local government?
a) To increase the power of the central government
b) To decentralise power to local government bodies
c) To centralise resources in urban areas
d) To limit women’s participation in local elections
Answer: b) To decentralise power to local government bodies