Official Question UPSC 2025
Solution & Analysis
Answer:
Easy Factual Recall
Political System Typologies
Deconstruct Political System Typologies through logical deduction.
Quick Recall
Federalism is a governance system that divides power between a central authority and constituent units, requiring a minimum of two independent levels of government. It should not be confused with Bicameralism (two legislative houses) or a Republic (an elected head of state).
Concept Flow Mapping
Federalism
divides power between
divides power between
Central and Constituent Units
Federation
requires
requires
Minimum Two Levels of Government
Republic
features
features
Elected Head of State
Concept Question
What specific political term defines a system that has an elected, non-hereditary Head of the State?
Key Takeaway
A Republic.
Examiner's Trap
Examiners rely on term conflation. Because federations often have two legislative houses (to represent states), students confuse 'Federalism' with 'Bicameralism'. They also throw in 'Dual Citizenship' as a distractor since the US has it, even though it isn't the definition of federalism itself.
Core Insight
Federalism is strictly defined by vertical decentralization (layers of government) rather than horizontal structural divisions (like bicameralism or separation of powers).