Federal system and linguistic states
The principal sets the school rules, but each class teacher runs the daily work of the class. The country too divides work between the Centre and the states.
India is a Union of States. The Constitution divides powers between the Centre and the states, and each state has its own government. States have been formed mainly on the basis of language.
Key idea 1 : Division of powers — Defence, foreign affairs and currency are with the Centre; police, agriculture and local government are with the states. So local needs can be met locally.
Key idea 2 : Linguistic states — When people speaking one language live in one state, administration and education can run in their own language. So states were reorganised on the basis of language.
Key idea 3 : States and Vidhan Sabhas — Today there are 28 states and 8 Union Territories. But there are 31 Vidhan Sabhas: the 28 states plus Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir.
- Easy : Whose area are the police in? — The state’s.
- Medium : Who handles currency? — The Centre.
- Exam-type : Which is the state of Marathi speakers? — Maharashtra.
In the figure: Division of powers between the Centre and state governments.
On 1 May 1960 the Bombay State was divided into the two states of Maharashtra and Gujarat; that is why 1 May is Maharashtra Day.
States are based on language; today 28 states and 8 Union Territories.
The textbook mentions 9 Union Territories; today there are 8. In the exam write as your teacher tells you.
28 + 8 = 36; Vidhan Sabhas 31. Memory clue: ‘28 states, 31 assemblies’.
Spot the difference
| Subject | Centre | State |
|---|---|---|
| Example | Defence, currency | Police, agriculture |
| Government | Parliament and Union government | Legislature and state government |
Practice questions
- 1Why is India called a ‘Union of States’?
- 2On what basis were states reorganised?
- 3When is Maharashtra Day?
- 4Name two works of the state government.
- 5Why are powers divided between the Centre and the states?
- 6Why 28 states but 31 Vidhan Sabhas?
- 7Write one benefit of linguistic states.
- 8What problem might arise if the Centre did all the work? Write your opinion.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Because states have their own governments and powers are divided by the Constitution.
- 2On the basis of language.
- 31 May.
- 4Police and agriculture.
- 5So that local issues can be solved locally.
- 6Because Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir, which are Union Territories, also have a Vidhan Sabha.
- 7Administration and education happen in the people’s language.
- 8Local needs would be understood late and decisions would have to be taken from afar.
State legislature: Vidhan Sabha and Vidhan Parishad
In a school council students elect representatives who speak on school decisions. In the state this is done by the legislature.
The body that makes the laws of a state is the legislature. Maharashtra’s legislature has two houses: the Vidhan Sabha (lower house) and the Vidhan Parishad (upper house).
Key idea 1 : Vidhan Sabha — The Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha has 288 members directly elected by the people. The term is 5 years; it can be extended in an emergency or dissolved earlier. A candidate must be at least 25. Earlier one Anglo-Indian member was nominated; that provision ended in 2020.
Key idea 2 : Vidhan Parishad — In Maharashtra the Vidhan Parishad has 78 members; 12 are nominated by the Governor and the rest are elected by MLAs, local bodies, graduates and teachers. It is permanent; about one-third of members retire every 2 years. A candidate must be at least 30.
Key idea 3 : Sessions — The budget and monsoon sessions are held in Mumbai, the winter session in Nagpur. The Speaker presides over the Vidhan Sabha.
- Easy : How many members does the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha have? — 288.
- Medium : How many members does the Governor nominate to the Parishad? — 12.
- Exam-type : Where is the winter session held? — Nagpur.
In the figure: Vidhan Sabha 288 and Vidhan Parishad 78 members.
The Nagpur Agreement of 28 September 1953 gave Vidarbha assurances on development. As per it, one session of the legislature is held in Nagpur every year.
The Vidhan Sabha is directly elected; the Parishad is indirectly elected and permanent.
The textbook gives 7 bicameral states; today there are 6 (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh). The J&K exception no longer applies.
288 direct, 78 indirect; 12 nominated. Memory clue: ‘Sabha 288 – Parishad 78’.
Spot the difference
| Point | Vidhan Sabha | Vidhan Parishad |
|---|---|---|
| Members (Maharashtra) | 288 | 78 |
| Selection | Directly by people | Indirect + 12 nominated |
| Nature | New after 5 years | Permanent |
| Candidate age | 25 years | 30 years |
Practice questions
- 1What is a legislature?
- 2How many members does the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha have?
- 3Why is the Vidhan Parishad called permanent?
- 4State two differences between the Vidhan Sabha and the Vidhan Parishad.
- 5What was the Nagpur Agreement?
- 6How are members of the Vidhan Sabha chosen?
- 7Maharashtra has a Parishad but not all states do; how many states have it today?
- 8In your words write the benefit of having two houses.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1The body that makes laws of the state.
- 2288.
- 3Because it is not dissolved; members retire in stages.
- 4The Sabha is directly elected and has a 5-year term; the Parishad is indirect and permanent.
- 5An agreement of 1953 for Vidarbha’s development; as per it a session is held in Nagpur.
- 6The people elect them directly by voting.
- 76.
- 8A law is considered twice and errors are reduced.
Governor, Chief Minister and Council of Ministers
At a school function the chief guest is the formal head while organisers do the real planning. In a state too the Governor is the formal head and the Chief Minister runs the real government.
The executive of a state means the Governor, the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers. The Governor is the formal head; the Chief Minister is the real head of government.
Key idea 1 : Governor — The President appoints the Governor; term about 5 years; minimum age 35. The Governor appoints the leader of the majority party as Chief Minister and acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
Key idea 2 : Chief Minister — The Chief Minister heads the Council of Ministers. The CM distributes portfolios, chairs cabinet meetings and presents government policy in the legislature. The CM is the link between the Governor and the Council.
Key idea 3 : Council of Ministers — The Council has Cabinet ministers and Ministers of State. The total number of ministers must not exceed 15% of the Vidhan Sabha’s strength; in Maharashtra 15% of 288 is a maximum of 43. The Council is responsible to the Vidhan Sabha.
- Easy : Who appoints the Governor? — The President.
- Medium : Who is made Chief Minister? — The leader of the majority party.
- Exam-type : What is 15% of 288? — 43.2, i.e. at most 43 ministers.
In the figure: President → Governor → Chief Minister → Council of Ministers.
What happened before the Bommai case? In April 1989 the Governor dismissed the S. R. Bommai government in Karnataka, saying it had lost its majority, without letting it prove its strength in the Assembly. President’s Rule was imposed.
What happened after the Bommai case? In 1994 the Supreme Court said a government’s majority must be tested on the floor of the House, not decided by the Governor’s opinion, and that the use of Article 356 can be reviewed by the courts.
The Governor is the formal head; the Chief Minister is the real head.
The Governor is not elected by the people; the President appoints. The Chief Minister comes from the majority.
Governor = appointed by the President; CM = leader of the majority. Memory clue: ‘Governor appointed, CM chosen’.
Spot the difference
| Post | Who appoints/chooses | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Governor | Appointed by the President | Formal head |
| Chief Minister | Governor appoints (majority leader) | Real head of government |
| Council of Ministers | On the CM’s advice | Implementing policy |
Practice questions
- 1Who appoints the Governor?
- 2How is the Chief Minister decided?
- 3What kind of head is the Governor of the state?
- 4To whom is the Council of Ministers responsible?
- 5State two functions of the Chief Minister.
- 6What is the maximum number of ministers in Maharashtra? Show the calculation.
- 7Write three differences between the Governor and the Chief Minister.
- 8Why is the number of ministers limited? Write your opinion.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1The President.
- 2The leader of the party with majority in the Vidhan Sabha; the Governor appoints.
- 3The formal head.
- 4To the Vidhan Sabha.
- 5Distributing portfolios; chairing cabinet meetings; presenting policy — any two.
- 6288 × 15 ÷ 100 = 43.2; so the maximum is 43.
- 7Appointment — President and Governor; role — formal and real; accountability — to the President (formal) and the Vidhan Sabha (council).
- 8A very large council raises expense and slows work; a limit keeps work efficient.