Explain the effectiveness of vertical distribution of 'power sharing' in the context of India.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 06:58 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Vertical distribution of power in India is effective through a three-tier federal structure:
- Union Government handles national subjects.
- State Governments handle state subjects.
- Local Governments (Panchayati Raj and Municipalities) handle local issues after the 1992 Constitutional amendment.
This decentralisation ensures people's direct participation in governance and promotes local self-government.
Source: Federalism, Chapter 2 (Decentralisation in India)
---
Explanation
- The examiner wants you to link vertical power sharing → federalism → three tiers explicitly.
- Mention the 1992 amendment as the key step that made the third tier constitutionally effective — this earns a dedicated mark.
- Avoid writing about Belgium/Sri Lanka here; this question is India-specific.
- Two marks = two clear points (the three-tier structure + its effectiveness/outcome like decentralisation and participation).