Polity · X-Factor Notes
Centre-State Relations revision notes for UPPCS Prelims.
High-Yield Revision| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Basis | The Constitution is Federal in structure, dividing powers (legislative, executive, and financial) between the Centre and the States. | |
| Legislative Relations | Dealt with in Articles 245 to 255 under Part XI of the Constitution. | U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2012, UPPCS (Spl) (Mains) 2004, U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2014 |
| Administrative Relations | Dealt with in Articles 256 to 263 under Part XI of the Constitution. | |
| Financial Relations | Dealt with in Articles 264 to 293 under Part XII of the Constitution. | U.P. B.E.O. (Pre) 2019 |
| Division of Powers (Schedules) | The 7th Schedule contains a three-fold distribution of legislative subjects: List I (Union), List II (State), List III (Concurrent). Articles 245 and 246 regulate this distribution. | UPPCS (Pre) 1993, U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2008, U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2001, UPPCS (Pre) 1993 |
| Union List (List I) | Originally 97 subjects (presently 98). Parliament has exclusive power to legislate. Examples include Banking, Census, Radio and Television. | UPPCS (Pre) 1997, UPPCS (Pre) 2019 |
| State List (List II) | Originally 66 subjects (presently 59). State Legislatures have exclusive power. Examples include Police, Public health, and Gas. | UPPCS (Pre) 1997, UPPCS (Pre) 2019 |
| Concurrent List (List III) | Originally 47 subjects (presently 52). Both Centre and States can legislate, but the Union law prevails in case of conflict. Examples include Criminal Procedure, Population Control, Education, and Economic Planning. | UPPCS (Mains) 2016, UPPCS (Mains) 2005, U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2006 |
| Residuary Powers | The power to make laws on subjects not listed in any of the three lists (Article 248) is vested in the Parliament. | UPPCS (Pre) 1991, UPPCS (Pre) 1995 |
| Federal System Classification | The Indian system is termed 'Quasi-Federal' by critics like K.C. Wheare. G. Austin termed it 'Cooperative Federalism'. | U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010, UPPCS (Pre) 2017 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Legislation in National Interest | Article 249 empowers Parliament to legislate on a State List subject if the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution (supported by 2/3rd majority) declaring it necessary in the national interest. | U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2017, UPPCS (Mains) 2012 |
| Duration of Article 249 Resolution | A law enacted under Article 249 remains in force for a period not exceeding one year (renewable). | UPPCS (Pre) 2017, UPPCS (Pre) 2016 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| State Obligation (Art 256) | The executive power of every State must be exercised to ensure compliance with laws made by Parliament. | U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2016 |
| Union Control (Art 257) | The State executive power must not impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive power of the Union. The Union can give necessary directions to the States. | |
| Inter-State Council |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Sarkaria Commission | Appointed in 1983 (June 9) under the Chairmanship of Justice R.S. Sarkaria to review Centre-State Relations. The final report was submitted in January 1988. | UPPCS (Mains) 2006, UPPCS (Pre) 2008, U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2014, UPPCS (Pre) 2018 |
| Sarkaria Commission Membership | Other members included B. Shivraman and S.R. Sen |
| Legislation During Emergency |
|---|
| Article 250(1) allows Parliament to legislate on State List matters when a Proclamation of Emergency is in force. |
| UPPCS (Mains) 2005 |
| Legislation by Consent | Article 252 allows Parliament to legislate for two or more states if they pass resolutions consenting to it. | UPPCS (Mains) 2005 |
|---|
| International Agreements | Article 253 empowers Parliament to make laws on any matter (even in the State List) for the implementation of international treaties, agreements, or conventions. | UPPCS (Pre) 2016, UPPCS (Mains) 2016, UPPCS (Mains) 2005 |
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| The President may establish an Inter-State Council (Article 263) to investigate and discuss subjects of common interest between the Centre and States. Such a council was set up in 1990. |
| U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2016 |
| Inter-State Water Disputes | Article 262(1) deals with the Adjudication of disputes relating to the waters of inter-State rivers or river valleys. |
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| Taxes Levied/Collected by Centre but Distributed | Taxes on income (other than agricultural income) are levied and collected by the Union but are distributed between the Union and the States (Article 270). |
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| Suspension of Financial Provisions | Provisions relating to the division of taxes between the Union and States (Articles 268 to 279) can be suspended during a National Emergency by President's order (Article 354(1)). |
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| UPPCS (Pre) 2017 |
| Sarkaria Recommendation (Art 356) | Recommended that Article 356 (President's Rule) should be used sparingly because it was often misused. |
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| Finance Commission (FC) Composition | A quasi-judicial body constituted by the President every five years (Article 280). It consists of a Chairman and four other members. | U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2002, UPPCS (Mains) 2011, UPPCS (Spl) (Mains) 2008, UPPCS (Mains) 2010 |
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| FC Function: Revenue Sharing | Recommends the distribution of the net proceeds of taxes between the Union and the States. This forms the basis for financial distribution. | U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013, UPPCS (Pre) 1993, UPPCS (Pre) 2006 |
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| FC Function: Grants-in-aid | Recommends the principles governing the grants-in-aid to the States from the Consolidated Fund of India (Article 275). |
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| NITI Aayog/Planning Commission | The Planning Commission (replaced by NITI Aayog) is an extra-Constitutional body. The NDC, established in 1952, also finds no mention in the Constitution. | U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015, UPPCS (Pre) 2013, U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2004, U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2013 |
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| NITI Aayog Governing Council | The Governors of States are generally not part of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog; Chief Ministers of States and LG of UTs (like A&N Islands, Delhi, Puducherry) are included. | UPPCS RO-ARO 2023 Prelims Re-Exam |
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| Inter-governmental Relations | Centre-State relations are influenced by Constitutional provisions, conventions/practices, judicial interpretations, and mechanisms for dialogue (all four factors). The planning process and political conflicts also influence these relations. | UPPCS (Pre) 2009 |
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