Chapter 19
State Governments 19
India is the seventh largest nation of the world extending over 3.28 million
sq. km.
For the administrative convenience, it has been divided into 29 States
and 7 Union Territories. Each Stare has
its own government which is run on the lines of the Central Government. The Union Territories are administered by the
President of India through a lieutenant Governor or the Chief Commissioner both
the Central Government and the State Governments are independent in their
working the division of powers between the Center and the State is on the basis
of three lists, i the Union List (97
subjects), the State List (66 subjects) and the Concurrent List (47
subjects). The Central Government is
more powerful as it has more power, more resources and more finances, still the
State Governments have an independent identity and a very important role to
play in the Indian federal system. The
STATE LEGISLATURE in most states, the legislature has only one House
Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha).
Only six states i.e. Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh,
have two Houses i.e. the Legislative
Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and the Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad). The number of members in an assembly depends
on the population of the state. However
the minimum strength is 60 and the maximum cannot be more than 500. Its members
are directly elected by the people. The
minimum age to be a member of the Legislative Assembly is 25 years some seats
are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. For example, Uttar Pradesh has 404 members in
its Legislative Assembly and Mizoram has 40 only. The term of a Legislative Assembly is five
years. In case, it is not functioning
according to the Constitution, it can be dissolved earlier also. In such a situation, the President's Rule is
imposed in that state. Do you know? Like the Lok Sabha, the Legislative
Legislature consisting of only one House Assembly has a Speaker and a Deputy
Speaker is known as Unicameral legislature and the Speaker presides over the
meetings of the legislature consisting of two houses is known Assembly and
conducts its business. as Bicameral
legislature. 158
SAU INDIA States and Union Territories PAKISTAN MACHAG
PRADESH Con A POMAR Del CHINA WAYANA GITARARIO On Now Bell RAJASTHAN UTTA PRADESH
Luch Wor Gandhinagar Grad OHUTAN OLDALAND BAR MGA W Pain BANGLADESH MANJUR
JALAND BENGAL NORAM Ko GUJARAT hop MADHYA PRADESH MWEATS QALAN AS Route MYANMAR
DADRA AS On But UN NAGAR HAVEL M
MAHARASHTRA BAY N had ARABIAN SEA Pona GOA TELANGANA DENGAL wy ANDHRA KARNATAKA
PRADESH Bengalur Chennai MA PUDUCHERRY Pancham Picha TAMIL NADU Puducho Kavarat
LEGEND international Boundary State Boundary County Capital • State / UT
Capital Thiruvananthapuram ARI LANKA ALOIVES INDIAN OCEAN * Amaravati is the capital of Andhra Pradesh. India with all its States, Capitals and Union
Territories The Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) is a permanent house
which cannot be dissolved. The term of
its members is six years. But one -
third of its members retire after every two years. They are replaced by newly elected
members. The Vidhan Parishad elects its
Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson from among its members, the minimum number
of members in a Legislative Council is 40 and it cannot exceed one - third of
the membership of the Assembly of that state.
The minimum age to be a member of the Council is 30 years. 159
It makes laws for the state on the subjects mentioned in the
state list and concurrent is passes the annual budget of the state. It keeps a check on the Council of Ministers
of the State The money bills can only be introduced in the Legislative
Assembly. When a bill is passed by the
State Legislature, it is sent to the Governor for consent. The elected members of Legislative Assembly
Functions of the State Legislature take part in the election of the President
of India along with the elected members of Parliament THE GOVERNOR The
Governor, i.e. Rajyapal is appointed by
the President of India for five years.
Normally, the s not belong to the state where he is appointed. The state administration is carried out in
the name of the Governor whereas the real power lies with the Chief Minister
and his Council of Governor Ministers. Like
the President of India at the center, the Governor also performs many functions
on the advice of the Chief Minister. The
Powers of the Governor The Governor appoints the leader of the majority party
or the coalition as the Chief Minister.
The Council of Ministers is also appointed by him on the advice of the
Chief Minister. All appointments to high
offices in the state are made by the Governor.
He can address, summon and dissolve the Legislative Assembly. Every bill, which passes the State Legislative
Assembly, becomes a law only after the consent of the Governor. Like the President of India, the Governor can
also issue an ordinance when the State Legislature is not in session. The Governor can reduce or pardon the
punishment awarded to a criminal under the state rules. The Governor also has some discretionary
powers, which he / she can exercise on his / her own without the advice of
Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, for example, the recommendation Do You
Know? for the President's Rule in a
state. The Union Territories of Andaman
and Nicobar, Delhi C. Rajgopalachari was the last Governor General of free
India for 20 months. After him and
Puducherry have Lieutenant Governors.
The title of Governor General was abolished Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar
Haveli, Daman and replaced by the President of India. and Diu and Lakshadweep have
Administrators. THE CHIEF MINISTER AND
HIS COUNCIL OF MINISTERS The Chief Minister is the most important functionary
of the State Government. He enjoys the
real executive powers. He acts as a link
between the Governor and his Council of Ministers. 160
functions of the Council of Ministers following are the main
functions: Administrators and maintains law and order in the state. Executes laws and decisions made by the
Legislative Assembly as well as the Union Government. • Formulates policies for the state
activities. • Gives advice to the
Governor Makes laws with the help of the State Legislature based on State List
and the Concurrent List. Do you know? There are 610 districts in India which are
administered by their respective State / UT Governments. UNION TERRITORIES The areas directly
administered by the Union Government are called Union Territories. They are - (i) Andaman and Nicobar islands
(1) Lakhsadweep (iii) Puducherry (iv) Dadra and Nagar Haveli (v) Daman and Diu
(vi) Chandigarh (vii) Delhi Such areas are small in size and population with
the exception of Delhi, the capital of
India. It is now called National Capital
Territory of Delhi (NCT Delhi). It
enjoys a special status unlike other Union Territories where the administration
is under a Lieutenant Governor or a Chief Commissioner only. Delhi has an elected assembly and a council
of a ministers headed by the Chief Minister as well as a Lieutenant Governor. Do you know?
The President may appoint the Governor of a State as the administrator
of an adjoining Union Territory 161
LET US UNDERSTAND THE WORKING OF INDIAN FEDERATION WITH THE
HELP OF FOLLOWING India is a Federation with a Strong Center FLOW CHART Central
Government (For the whole Nation) State Governments (For the States) District
Administration (Each State is divided into Districts) Village
Administration Panchayats Keywords bill:
a proposed law. budget: the statement of
income and carefully for a particular period.
discretionary: something that depends on one's own will / choice. law: certain rules or regulations to be
followed whose violation will result in punishment. ordinance: a temporary law enforced by the
Executive when the Legislature is not in session. 162
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