Some Nepalese citizens were discussing the proposals on the adoption of federalism in their new constitution. This is what some of them said:
Khag Raj: I don’t like federalism. It would lead to reservation of seats for different caste groups as in India.
Sarita: Ours in not a very big country. We don’t need federalism.
Babu Lal: I am hopeful that the Terai areas will get more autonomy if they get their own state government.
Ram Ganesh: I like federalism because it will mean that powers that were earlier enjoyed by the king will now be exercised by our elected representatives.
If you were participating in this conversation, what would be your response to each of these? Which of these reflect a wrong understanding of what federalism is? What makes India a federal country?

Question

Some Nepalese citizens were discussing the proposals on the adoption of federalism in their new constitution. This is what some of them said:
Khag Raj: I don’t like federalism. It would lead to reservation of seats for different caste groups as in India.
Sarita: Ours in not a very big country. We don’t need federalism.
Babu Lal: I am hopeful that the Terai areas will get more autonomy if they get their own state government.
Ram Ganesh: I like federalism because it will mean that powers that were earlier enjoyed by the king will now be exercised by our elected representatives.
If you were participating in this conversation, what would be your response to each of these? Which of these reflect a wrong understanding of what federalism is? What makes India a federal country?

KnowledgeBoat · Accepted Answer

Khag Raj: I don’t like federalism. It would lead to reservation of seats for different caste groups as in India.

Response: Reservations are not mandatory in a federal form of government. They are provided in Indian constitution in order to develop and promote deprived classes of the society.

Sarita: Ours in not a very big country. We don’t need federalism.

Response: Small countries also need federalism as it helps to avoid clashes between different regions, religions etc. It helps to avoid all powers in a single hand.

Babu Lal: I am hopeful that the Terai areas will get more autonomy if they get their own state government.

Response: Yes, I agree that they will get more autonomy if they get their own state government and this will help in their development as well.

Ram Ganesh: I like federalism because it will mean that powers that were earlier enjoyed by the king will now be exercised by our elected representatives.

Response: Yes, I agree. Power should not get concentrated in one hand, it is harmful for the country. Sharing of power will give a stable government and mutual trust will take the country on tract of development.

Thoughts of Khag Raj and Sarita reflect a wrong understanding of what federalism is.

Sharing of power at three levels i.e Center, State and Local level, makes India a federal country.

Civics

Federalism

Answer

Related Questions

Prime Minister runs the country. Chief Minister runs the state. Logically, then, the chairperson of Zilla Parishad should run the district. Why does the D.M. or Collector administer the district?

What do these newspaper clippings have to say about efforts of decentralisation in India?

Pokharan, the place where India conducted its nuclear tests, lies in Rajasthan. Suppose the Government of Rajasthan was opposed to the Central Government’s nuclear policy, could it prevent the Government of India from conducting the nuclear tests?

Suppose the Government of Sikkim plans to introduce new textbooks in its schools. But the Union Government does not like the style and content of the new textbooks. In that case, does the state government need to take permission from the Union Government before these textbooks can be launched?