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Indian Polity 3% exam weight

Federalism

Part of the UPPSC PCS study roadmap. Indian Polity topic indian-007 of Indian Polity.

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Federalism

🟢 Lite — Quick Review (1h–1d)

Rapid summary for last-minute revision before your exam.

Federalism — Key Facts for UPPSC PCS

  • India is a quasi-federal state (Strong centre, as held in SRC vs Union of India, 1963)
  • Features: Supremacy of Constitution, Three-fold distribution of powers, Independence of judiciary
  • Types: Symmetrical (equal powers to all states) vs Asymmetrical (special provisions for some states)
  • Important articles: Art. 1 (India is a Union of States), Art. 256-263 (Centre-State financial relations)
  • Sarkaria Commission (1983) and Punchhi Commission (2007) examined Centre-State relations

⚡ Exam tip: UPPSC frequently asks about Centre-State disputes, all-India services, and Governor’s role

🟡 Standard — Regular Study (2d–2mo)

Standard content for students with a few days to months.

Federalism — UPPSC PCS Study Guide

Nature of Indian Federalism

  • Unlike typical federations (USA), India has a strong Centre
  • Supreme Court in State of West Bengal vs Union of India (1963): “Indian federation is not the result of an agreement”
  • Features borrowed from Government of India Act 1935

Three Lists (7th Schedule)

  • Union List (100 subjects): Defence, Foreign Affairs, Currency, Railways, Posts
  • State List (61 subjects): Police, Agriculture, Health, Local govt, Land
  • Concurrent List (52 subjects): Education, Forests, Marriage, Bankruptcy

Centre-State Relations

  • Administrative: Art. 356 (President’s Rule), Art. 365 (failure of constitutional machinery)
  • Financial: Art. 268-293, Finance Commission recommendations, Grants-in-aid
  • Legislative: Art. 245 (territorial extent), Art. 249 (Parliament’s power on state list for national interest)
  • Intergovernmental mechanisms: Zonal Councils (Art. 263), Inter-State Council

Recent Trends

  • GST implementation (101st Amendment, 2016) changed indirect tax federalism
  • NITI Aayog replaced Planning Commission (2015) — less central control over state plans
  • States demanding more fiscal autonomy

Key Cases: Kesavananda Bharati (1973), Minerva Mills (1980), SP Gupta (1982), Ram Jung (1975)

🔴 Extended — Deep Study (3mo+)

Comprehensive coverage for students on a longer study timeline.

Federalism — Comprehensive UPPSC PCS Notes

Constitutional Provisions for Federal Balance

Historical Context

  • 1935 Act: Provincial autonomy introduced, but Governor had overriding powers
  • 1946 Cabinet Mission Plan: Proposed grouping of provinces
  • Constituent Assembly debates: Strong Centre vs State sovereignty debate

Structural Features

  • Preamble declares India a “SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC”
  • Federal structure is “Union of States” not “Federation of States”
  • Inherent flexibility: Single Constitution, single citizenship, integrated judiciary

Emergency Provisions (Part XVIII)

  • Art. 352: National Emergency (war/armed rebellion) — Centre takes over state subjects
  • Art. 356: President’s Rule (state govt suspended) — 44 times invoked
  • Art. 360: Financial Emergency (rare, never invoked)

All-India Services

  • Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS)
  • Joint cadres, controlled by Centre though stationed in states
  • Ashok Chanda’s classification: Federal, Unitary, and Plasmodial federalism

Sarkaria Commission Recommendations (1983)

  • Centre should consult states before deploying central forces
  • Inter-State Council to resolve disputes
  • Finance Commission to be more state-friendly
  • Regional councils for specific regions

Punchhi Commission (2007)

  • Division of services: Subjects divided not just between Centre and states but also between panchayats and municipalities
  • Recommendations on Governor’s role and removal
  • Symmetric federalism recommended for better Centre-State relations

NITI Aayog vs Planning Commission

  • Planning Commission: Plan funds allocated to states from Centre
  • NITI Aayog: Cooperative federalism, states as partners
  • Varied geometry approach for different state categories

GST Council (Art. 279A)

  • 101st Amendment inserted Art. 279A
  • Chairman: Vice President of India (who is also Chairman of Rajya Sabha)
  • Composition: Centre + all states representatives
  • Decisions require 3/4 of weighted votes (75%) of present and voting + 50% of total states
  • Model GST Acts are recommended to states

Issues and Challenges

  • Pendulum of power swings between Centre and states
  • One-party dominance at Centre affects federalism
  • Interstate water disputes (Kaveri, Krishna, Indus waters)
  • Border disputes between states
  • Language policy and cultural federalism

Pyarelal Bhargava’s Classification of Federalism in India

  • Category A states: Full federal autonomy
  • Category B states: Special provisions (NE states, J&K)
  • Category C states: Standard federal arrangement

Recent Judgments on Federalism

  • 2017: SC upheld 100% OBC reservation in NEBC (affects cooperative federalism)
  • 2020: Agriculture laws controversy — Centre vs states on subjects in List II
  • 2023: Supreme Court’s肘ection amendments affecting state autonomy debates

Answer Writing Tips for UPPSC

  • Differentiate between “Federal” and “Unitary” features of Indian Constitution
  • Link federalism with Governor’s role and President in states
  • Mention 73rd/74th Amendments as vertical federalism (Centre-States-Local bodies)
  • Current affairs connection: GST Council disputes, water sharing

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