GS 2 Mains Practice Questions: Federal System | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Question 1: Discuss the constitutional provisions that define India’s federal system and their role in ensuring national unity. (150 words)

Answer:

Introduction

India’s federal structure uniquely blends unitary and federal features, balancing regional autonomy with national unity. Constitutional provisions define this framework, ensuring cohesion in a diverse nation. These provisions promote cooperative governance while addressing diversity.

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Constitutional Provisions

• Division of Powers: The Seventh Schedule (Articles 246 and 248) delineates Union, State, and Concurrent Lists, enabling clear jurisdiction while allowing central oversight.

• Supremacy of Constitution: Article 1 defines India as a Union of States, emphasizing national unity over fragmentation.

• Judicial Oversight: The Supreme Court, under Article 131, resolves Centre-State disputes, reinforcing federal harmony.

Role in National Unity

• Cooperative Federalism: Institutions like the Inter-State Council (Article 263) foster collaboration, ensuring unified policy-making.

• Emergency Provisions: Articles 356 and 356 allow central intervention during crises, preserving national stability.

Conclusion

India’s federal provisions, blending unitary control with regional autonomy, ensure national unity by fostering cooperation and resolving conflicts, maintaining a cohesive democratic framework.

Question 2: Critically analyze the role of the Seventh Schedule in maintaining federal balance, with reference to recent controversies. (250 words)

Answer:

Introduction

The Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, under Article 246, defines the distribution of legislative powers between the Centre and States through Union, State, and Concurrent Lists. It is central to India’s federal balance, but recent controversies highlight challenges in its implementation. This analysis evaluates its role and limitations.

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Role of the Seventh Schedule

• Clear Division of Powers: The Union List (e.g., defense, foreign affairs), State List (e.g., agriculture, law and order), and Concurrent List (e.g., education, marriage) ensure clarity in legislative authority, promoting federal harmony.

• Flexibility: The Concurrent List allows shared governance, enabling coordinated policies on issues like health and education.

• Central Oversight: Residuary powers (Article 248) with the Centre ensure national priorities are addressed, maintaining unity.

Recent Controversies

• Farm Laws (2020): The Centre’s agricultural laws, under the Concurrent List, sparked protests as States argued they encroached on their domain (agriculture, State List), highlighting federal tensions.

• GST Implementation: The Goods and Services Tax (GST), under the Concurrent List, reduced States’ fiscal autonomy, leading to disputes over compensation delays, straining Centre-State relations.

• Education Policy: The National Education Policy (2020) raised concerns about central overreach in a Concurrent List subject, with States like Tamil Nadu resisting uniform policies.

Critical Analysis

• Strengths: The Seventh Schedule provides a structured framework, preventing legislative overlaps and fostering cooperative federalism, as seen in GST Council decisions.

• Challenges: Central dominance in Concurrent and residuary powers often undermines State autonomy, fueling disputes. Ambiguities in list boundaries require judicial clarification, as in State of West Bengal v. Union of India (1963).

Conclusion

The Seventh Schedule is vital for maintaining federal balance by clearly distributing powers, but controversies like farm laws reveal central overreach challenges. Strengthening cooperative mechanisms and respecting State autonomy are essential for a balanced federal system.

Question 3: Evaluate the role of the Finance Commission in strengthening India’s federal system and promoting equitable development. (250 words)

Answer:

Introduction

The Finance Commission, established under Article 280, plays a pivotal role in India’s fiscal federalism by recommending the distribution of financial resources between the Centre and States. It strengthens the federal system by addressing economic disparities and promoting equitable development. This evaluation examines its contributions and challenges.

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Role in Federal System

• Resource Allocation: The Finance Commission recommends the share of Union taxes for States (e.g., 41% under the 15th Finance Commission), ensuring fiscal equity.

• Grants-in-Aid: It provides grants to States with revenue deficits, supporting underdeveloped regions like Bihar and Northeast States.

• Policy Guidance: It suggests fiscal discipline measures, strengthening cooperative federalism through balanced resource sharing.

Promoting Equitable Development

• Addressing Disparities: By allocating higher grants to economically weaker States, it reduces regional imbalances, fostering inclusive growth.

• Infrastructure Support: Recommendations for local body grants (e.g., Panchayats) enhance grassroots development, aligning with the Preamble’s economic justice vision.

• Special Provisions: The 15th Finance Commission (2020–26) emphasized disaster management and health funding, addressing contemporary needs.

Challenges

• State Grievances: Southern States, like Tamil Nadu, argue that higher tax contributions receive inadequate returns, creating perceptions of unfairness.

• Implementation Gaps: Delays in fund disbursal and conditional grants limit States’ fiscal autonomy, straining federal relations.

• Central Bias: Over-reliance on centrally sponsored schemes reduces the Finance Commission’s role in ensuring equitable resource flow.

Critical Evaluation

• Strengths: The Commission fosters fiscal equity and cooperative federalism, enabling States to address developmental needs, as seen in increased health allocations post-COVID.

• Limitations: Political influences and central dominance in fiscal policy challenge its impartiality, requiring greater transparency.

Conclusion

The Finance Commission strengthens India’s federal system by promoting equitable resource distribution and development. However, addressing State grievances and enhancing fiscal autonomy are crucial to fully realize its potential in fostering cooperative federalism.

Question 4: Discuss the significance and challenges of the Inter-State Council in fostering cooperative federalism. (150 words)

Answer:

Introduction

The Inter-State Council, established under Article 263, is crucial for fostering cooperative federalism in India. It facilitates dialogue to resolve Centre-State and inter-State disputes, promoting national unity. Its significance and challenges highlight its role in India’s federal framework.

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Significance

• Dispute Resolution: The Council addresses conflicts, such as water disputes (e.g., Cauvery), ensuring cooperative solutions over litigation.

• Policy Coordination: It fosters consensus on national issues like GST implementation, aligning Centre-State priorities.

• Strengthening Federalism: By providing a platform for dialogue, it upholds the Preamble’s democratic and cooperative ethos.

Challenges

• Limited Authority: The Council’s advisory role lacks binding power, reducing its effectiveness in resolving contentious issues.

• Infrequent Meetings: Irregular sessions limit its ability to address urgent disputes promptly.

• Central Dominance: Perceived central bias undermines States’ trust, as seen in debates over GST compensation.

Conclusion

The Inter-State Council is vital for cooperative federalism, promoting dialogue and dispute resolution. Strengthening its authority and ensuring regular meetings are essential to enhance its role in India’s federal system.

Question 5: Examine the statement that increasing centralization challenges the spirit of federalism in India, with reference to recent policy measures. (250 words)

Answer:

Introduction

India’s federal system balances central authority with State autonomy, but increasing centralization threatens this spirit. Recent policy measures highlight tensions in Centre-State relations, challenging the constitutional ethos of cooperative federalism. This analysis examines these trends and their implications.

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Centralization Trends

• GST Implementation: The Goods and Services Tax (2017), under Article 246A, centralized taxation, reducing States’ fiscal autonomy. Delays in compensation payments sparked disputes, as seen with States like Kerala.

• Farm Laws (2020): Central agricultural laws encroached on the State List (agriculture), leading to protests and accusations of undermining federal principles.

• National Education Policy (2020): Uniform education policies faced resistance from States like Tamil Nadu, citing central overreach in a Concurrent List subject.

Impact on Federalism

• Erosion of Autonomy: Central policies limit States’ legislative and fiscal powers, weakening the Seventh Schedule’s federal balance.

• Strained Relations: Central dominance fuels mistrust, as seen in States’ opposition to centrally sponsored schemes with rigid conditions.

• Judicial Intervention: In S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994), the Supreme Court emphasized federal balance, cautioning against misuse of Article 356, yet centralizing trends persist.

Critical Evaluation

• Centralization Needs: National priorities like economic integration (GST) justify some central control, ensuring uniformity and efficiency.

• Challenges to Federalism: Over-centralization undermines the Preamble’s democratic ethos, risking regional discontent and weakening cooperative federalism.

• Balancing Measures: Institutions like the GST Council and Finance Commission attempt to restore balance, but their effectiveness is limited by central dominance.

Conclusion

Increasing centralization through policies like GST and farm laws challenges India’s federal spirit, straining Centre-State relations. Strengthening cooperative mechanisms, respecting State autonomy, and ensuring judicial oversight are essential to uphold the constitutional vision of federalism.

Question 6: Analyze how constitutional mechanisms like asymmetric federalism address regional aspirations and diversity, with examples from the Sixth Schedule. (150 words)

Answer:

Introduction

India’s federal system accommodates regional aspirations and diversity through constitutional mechanisms like asymmetric federalism. The Sixth Schedule exemplifies this approach, addressing unique regional needs. This analysis explores its role in fostering unity amid diversity.

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Asymmetric Federalism

• Tailored Governance: Asymmetric federalism grants special provisions to certain regions, recognizing their distinct cultural and historical identities.

• Sixth Schedule: It provides autonomy to tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram through Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), managing land, culture, and local governance.

Addressing Regional Aspirations

• Cultural Preservation: ADCs protect tribal customs and languages, addressing demands for cultural autonomy, as seen in Meghalaya’s Khasi Hills.

• Political Empowerment: The Sixth Schedule ensures local self-governance, reducing separatist sentiments in Northeast India.

Challenges

• Implementation Gaps: Limited funding and central oversight restrict ADC autonomy.

• Conflicts: Overlapping jurisdictions with State governments create tensions, as in Assam.

Conclusion

Asymmetric federalism, through mechanisms like the Sixth Schedule, addresses regional diversity by empowering local governance. Strengthening implementation is key to balancing autonomy with national unity.