Federalism | Class 11 Political Science Notes

INTRODUCTION

The chapter opens by drawing attention to the dramatic changes in the political maps of India between 1947 and 2017. At the time of independence in 1947, India was divided into provinces created by the British primarily for administrative convenience. Alongside these provinces, there were numerous princely states which had their own rulers. After independence, these princely states merged with the Indian Union, joining the existing provinces. Over the years, the boundaries and names of states have changed multiple times to reflect the aspirations and identities of their people. For example, Mysore was renamed Karnataka, and Madras became Tamil Nadu. The number of states also increased due to reorganisation, often on linguistic or cultural grounds. These changes in political boundaries and state identities illustrate the dynamic nature of federalism in India. The maps of India from 1947 and 2017 visually narrate the story of how federalism has functioned and evolved in the country. Through this chapter, students will understand the concept of federalism, how it is embedded in the Indian Constitution, the nature of centre-state relations, and the special provisions made for certain states with unique historical and social contexts.

📊 Diagram: Figure 11102CH07: Cover image of Chapter 7 titled 'FEDERALISM' showing the political map of India.

🔗 Connection: Leads to the section 'WHAT IS FEDERALISM?' which defines federalism and explains its significance through global and Indian contexts.