UPSC Mains 2016 GS Paper 2 Q1: model answer
Discuss the essentials of the 69th Constitutional Amendment Act and anomalies, if any, that have led to recent reported conflicts between the elected representatives and the institution of the Lieutenant Governor in the administration of Delhi. Do you think that this will give rise to a new trend in the functioning of Indian federal politics?
What the question wants
Set out the 69th Amendment's core, the gaps that led to LG–government clashes, and whether this signals a new trend in federal politics.
How to structure it
Discuss ... Do you think: three parts, give each its own heading.
- Essentials of Article 239AA
- Anomalies
- Recent conflicts
- New trend?
- Today's position
How to think it through
Delhi is a Union Territory with a legislature, which is a contradiction in a single line. The Constitution gave it a government but kept the police, land and public order with the Centre. Every Delhi fight lives in that grey zone, and Delhi has produced more court cases per square kilometre of grey zone than anywhere else. Today you must also add 2018, 2023 and the change of government in 2025.
Model answer
The Balakrishnan Committee (1989) said Delhi should stay a Union Territory but get an elected government. The 69th Amendment (1991) did exactly that through Articles 239AA and 239AB.
Essentials
- A Legislative Assembly that can make laws on State and Concurrent List matters, except public order, police and land.
- A Council of Ministers to aid and advise the Lieutenant Governor.
- If the LG and ministers differ 'on any matter', the LG can refer it to the President.
Anomalies
- 'Any matter' let the LG block almost anything.
- Services (bureaucrats) were not clearly assigned.
- The Anti-Corruption Branch sat with the LG by a 2015 notification.
Recent conflicts
After 2015, the AAP government and LG fought over appointments, files and the ACB; the Delhi High Court (2016) held the LG to be the administrative head.
A new trend?
It did raise a new pattern: a territory's elected government using courts and the street to bargain with the Centre. But it is unique to Delhi's hybrid status, not a model for States.
Where it stands now
The Constitution Bench (2018) held the LG bound by aid and advice outside the three reserved subjects; in 2023 it gave services to Delhi. Parliament then passed the GNCTD (Amendment) Act, 2023, creating a services authority. Since one party took both offices in 2025, the friction has gone quiet, which shows how much depended on politics.
Draw: Three circles: Delhi government (most subjects), LG/Centre (police, land, public order), and the overlapping 'any matter' zone.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
Balakrishnan Committee 1989, 69th Amendment 1991, Article 239AA, 239AB, 'any matter' proviso, GNCTD v Union 2018 and 2023, GNCTD (Amendment) Act 2023, NCCSA.
Where most answers lose marks
- Calling Delhi a State. It is a Union Territory with special provisions; the 2018 bench was explicit on this.
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Question text as printed in the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) question paper. The model answer is original Battle IAS work; use it to learn structure, not to memorise.
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