Questions from Class 11 Political Science Chapter 7 Federalism come up often in the CBSE Class 11 exam. These class 11 political-science handwritten notes chapter 7 Federalism follow the 2026-27 NCERT and cover what federalism means and its key features, two levels of government and two identities, the union, state and concurrent lists. This page hosts the notes.
- CBSE Class 11 Weightage: a scoring chapter in the Political Science paper, asked in short and long answers.
- What the notes cover: what federalism means and its key features, two levels of government and two identities, the union, state and concurrent lists, why india has a strong central government.
- Best for: quick revision before Class 11 exams and a base for CUET later.
You can read the complete class 11 political-science handwritten notes for Federalism, with key terms, boxed definitions, and quick revision points, in the PDF below.
These handwritten notes are written by subject teachers, mapped to the 2026-27 NCERT, and checked against the last five years of CBSE Class 11 Political Science papers.
What the Federalism Handwritten Notes Cover
Federalism is the sharing of power between the centre and the States. India chose a federal system with a strong centre to hold a large and diverse country together. This chapter covers the federal features, the division of powers and the tensions in India's federal working.
- What federalism means and its key features
- Two levels of government and two identities
- The Union, State and Concurrent Lists
- Why India has a strong central government
- Emergency, financial and Governor powers
- Demands for autonomy and Article 356
- New States, interstate disputes, Article 370
Federalism Topic-wise Weightage for CBSE Class 11 Political Science
Some parts of this chapter are asked more often than others. The table below shows which sub-topics to revise first, based on recent CBSE Class 11 question trends.
| Sub-topic | Weightage | CBSE Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Features of Indian federalism | High | asked most years |
| Division of powers and three lists | High | asked most years |
| Strong centre provisions | Medium | frequent |
| Demands for autonomy and Article 356 | Medium | frequent |
| Special provisions and Article 370 | Low | occasional |
Key Terms and Ideas in Federalism
These are the terms and ideas the exam asks about most. Learn each one so you can define it and use it in your answers.
| Term / Idea | What it means |
|---|---|
| Federalism | power shared between a centre and the States |
| Union of States | Article 1 avoids the word federation |
| Three lists | Union, State and Concurrent subjects |
| Residuary powers | new subjects go to the Union alone |
| Strong centre | Parliament can reshape any State |
| Article 356 | provides for President's rule in a State |
| Autonomy | States demand more powers and money |
| Article 370 | old special status of J&K, ended in 2019 |
How Collegedunia's Handwritten Notes Help You Revise Federalism
These notes are made for the night before the exam. They keep the facts short and easy to scan. Collegedunia maps every point to the 2026-27 NCERT.
- Clear handwriting: each topic is written in neat, easy-to-read handwriting.
- Boxed key terms: the main terms and definitions are boxed by hand for fast recall.
- Diagrams and tables: simple hand-drawn tables and charts make ideas clear.
- Colour-coded headings: new sub-topics stand out, so you find any section in seconds.
Federalism Self-Assessment Quiz
Try these quick questions after you read the notes. Tap each question to check your answer. They cover the points CBSE asks most often.
Which word does Article 1 use for India?
(a) Federation (b) Union of States (c) Confederation (d) Federal Republic
Answer: (b) Union of States correct - the Constitution avoids the word federation to stress unity.
Who can make laws on residuary subjects?
(a) States only (b) Both levels (c) Parliament only (d) The Governor
Answer: (c) Parliament only correct - residuary powers rest with the Union.
Article 356 provides for what?
(a) Emergency (b) President's rule in a State (c) New States (d) Autonomy
Answer: (b) President's rule correct - it applies when a State cannot be run as per the Constitution.
When did Article 370 status for J&K end?
(a) 2014 (b) 2016 (c) 2019 (d) 2020
Answer: (c) 2019 correct - the J&K Reorganisation Act took effect on 31 October 2019.
On a Concurrent List clash, which law wins?
(a) State law (b) Union law (c) Older law (d) Neither
Answer: (b) Union law correct - the Union law prevails over the State law.
How to Use These Handwritten Notes for Class 11 Political Science Revision
Use these class 11 political-science handwritten notes in two passes. Read them slowly once for the full chapter. Then, near the exam, read only the boxes and key terms for a fast recall.
- Read the notes once with the NCERT chapter open beside you.
- Say each key term and idea in your own words.
- Practise one long-answer question from a past paper.
- On the last day, revise only the key terms and the boxes.
Class 11 Political Science Handwritten Notes for All Chapters
The table below links the class 11 political-science handwritten notes for every chapter. Use it to jump to any other chapter's notes.
| Chapter | Resource |
|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Constitution: Why and How Handwritten Notes |
| Chapter 2 | Rights in the Indian Constitution Handwritten Notes |
| Chapter 3 | Election and Representation Handwritten Notes |
| Chapter 4 | Executive Handwritten Notes |
| Chapter 5 | Legislature Handwritten Notes |
| Chapter 6 | Judiciary Handwritten Notes |
| Chapter 7 | Federalism Handwritten Notes |
| Chapter 8 | Local Governments Handwritten Notes |
| Chapter 9 | Constitution as a Living Document Handwritten Notes |
| Chapter 10 | The Philosophy of the Constitution Handwritten Notes |
| Chapter 11 | Political Theory: An Introduction Handwritten Notes |
| Chapter 12 | Freedom Handwritten Notes |
| Chapter 13 | Equality Handwritten Notes |
| Chapter 14 | Social Justice Handwritten Notes |
| Chapter 15 | Rights Handwritten Notes |
| Chapter 16 | Citizenship Handwritten Notes |
| Chapter 17 | Nationalism Handwritten Notes |
| Chapter 18 | Secularism Handwritten Notes |
Federalism Class 11 Political Science Handwritten Notes FAQs
Ques. Where can I download Federalism Class 11 Political Science Handwritten Notes PDF?
Ans. You can download the Federalism Class 11 Political Science Handwritten Notes PDF directly from this page. Both the Normal and HD versions are free.
Ques. Are these handwritten notes aligned with the 2026-27 NCERT?
Ans. Yes. These notes follow the current 2026-27 syllabus for Class 11 Political Science. Students often ask why India is called a Union and not a federation.
Ques. How many pages is the Class 11 Political Science Federalism Handwritten Notes PDF?
Ans. The notes run about 20 pages. They cover the full chapter with key terms, hand-drawn boxes, and a short self-assessment quiz.
Ques. What is the main idea of the 11th standard Political Science chapter Federalism?
Ans. The Constitution uses Union of States because the States did not join by a free agreement and cannot break away. The word Union stresses that India is one indivisible whole with a strong centre.
Ques. Are these Federalism notes enough for the CBSE Class 11 exam?
Ans. Yes, for revision. The Collegedunia handwritten notes cover every key point and exam term. Read them with the NCERT chapter and practise past questions.
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