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(iii) The jurisdictions of the respective levels or tiers of government are specified in the, Constitution., , (iv) The fundamental provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by one, level of government., , (v) Courts have the power to interpret the Constitution and the powers of different levels of, government., , (vi) Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to ensure its, financial autonomy., , (vii) The federal system thus has dual objectives: to safeguard and promote the unity of the, country, while at the same time accommodate regional diversities., , (viii) There are two kinds of routes through which federations have been formed., , a) The first route involves independent States coming together on their own to form a bigger, unit so that by pooling sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security., This is ‘coming together’ federations., , b) The second route is where a large country decides to divide its power between the, constituent States and the national government. This is ‘holding together’ federations., , What makes India a federal country?, , 1. The constitution declared India as the Union of States., , 2. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union, Government or what we call the Central Government, representing the Union of India and, the State government., , 3. Later the third tier of federalism was added in the form of Panchayats and municipalities., 4. The Constitution contains three lists:, , I) Union Lists includes subjects of national importance such as defence of the country,, foreign affairs, banking, communications and currency., , II) State Lists contains subjects of States and local importance such as police, trade,, commerce, agriculture and irrigation., , II) Concurrent List includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Governments,, , such as education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption and succession., How is federalism practiced?, , 1. Constitutional provisions are necessary for the success of federalism but these are not