Social Science · Class 10

Active learning ideas

Forms of Power Sharing: Horizontal and Vertical

In this topic, power sharing looks abstract until students see how it plays out in real governance. Active learning works because federalism involves layered relationships between institutions, and hands-on tasks help students map these layers. When students collaborate on lists or debates, they move from memorising definitions to understanding how power structures actually function in India.

• CBSE Learning Outcomes
• CBSE: Power Sharing - Class 10

• 15–45 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Inquiry Circle
• 40 min · Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The Three Lists

Groups are given a list of subjects (e.g., Education, Defence, Police, Forests). They must use the Constitution to categorise them into the Union, State, or Concurrent lists and explain why they belong there.

Explain how the system of 'checks and balances' ensures accountability in a democracy.

Facilitation Tip

During 'The Three Lists', circulate and gently ask groups to justify why they placed each function under Union, State, or Concurrent to keep discussions focused on the Constitution's structure.

What to look for

Provide students with three scenarios: 1) A new law is proposed on environmental protection. 2) The President vetoes a bill passed by Parliament. 3) The Chief Minister of a state disagrees with a central government policy. Ask students to identify which form of power sharing (horizontal or vertical) is primarily involved in each scenario and briefly explain why.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Activity 02

• Formal Debate
• 45 min · Whole Class

Formal Debate: Coming Together vs. Holding Together

Students debate the merits of the two types of federations. One side argues for the strength of 'Coming Together' for security, while the other argues for the necessity of 'Holding Together' for large, diverse nations.

Differentiate between horizontal and vertical forms of power sharing.

Facilitation Tip

Before the 'Coming Together vs. Holding Together' debate, provide a simple pro-con table so students structure their arguments around federalism’s goals, not just opinions.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'Is it more important for power to be shared horizontally among government branches or vertically between different levels of government?' Facilitate a class discussion where students present arguments for both sides, citing examples of accountability and efficiency.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

Activity 03

• Think-Pair-Share
• 15 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Residuary Powers

Students discuss what happens to subjects that didn't exist when the Constitution was written (like Cyber Law). They pair up to explain why the Union Government was given these 'residuary' powers.

Analyze the prudential and moral reasons for power sharing in a democracy.

Facilitation Tip

For 'Residuary Powers', give pairs a short reading on the Sarkaria Commission report so they can connect theory to real policy debates.

What to look for

Present students with a list of government functions (e.g., declaring war, managing railways, primary education, issuing passports, local policing). Ask them to classify each function under the appropriate Indian constitutional list (Union, State, or Concurrent) and briefly justify their choice.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers often start by asking students to list government functions they see daily, like school maintenance or traffic rules, to ground abstract concepts in lived experience. It’s important to avoid presenting federalism as merely a legal division; instead, highlight how it resolves conflicts and builds trust. Research shows that when students role-play Chief Ministers or Supreme Court judges, they grasp the checks and balances more deeply than with lectures alone.

By the end of these activities, students should be able to explain the difference between horizontal and vertical power sharing with examples from the Constitution. They should also confidently discuss why federalism is a strength, not a weakness, for large and diverse countries like India. Teachers will notice clarity when students use constitutional terms like 'residuary powers' or 'concurrent list' in their own words.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During 'The Three Lists' activity, watch for students assuming the Centre can override state powers whenever it chooses.

  Use the 'Basic Structure' reading in this activity to ask groups to identify which features cannot be altered, then have them mark these on their lists. Ask, 'If the Centre changes this power, is the Constitution’s basic structure still intact?'

• During 'Coming Together vs. Holding Together' debate, listen for statements that federalism weakens national unity.

  Provide the debate prompt table and ask teams to find one example from India’s federal experience (e.g., GST, linguistic states) where power sharing strengthened stability, not division. Have them present this during rebuttals.

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Methods used in this brief

• Inquiry Circle
• Formal Debate
• Think-Pair-Share