UPSC Mains 2014 GS Paper 2 Q2: model answer
Though the federal principle is dominant in our Constitution and that principle is one of its basic features, it is equally true that federalism under the Indian Constitution leans in favour of a strong Centre, a feature that militates against the concept of strong federalism.
What the question wants
Discuss whether India's federalism, though a basic feature, is tilted toward the Centre in a way that weakens it.
How to structure it
Discuss: accept both halves of the statement, then judge.
- Federal features
- Unitary tilt
- Why the framers chose it
- Has it weakened federalism?
- Balance
How to think it through
Ambedkar called India a 'Union of States', not a league. The States did not sign a treaty to create India, as American States did; India created its States. So a strong Centre is design, not accident. The question is whether the design is being stretched.
Model answer
In S.R. Bommai (1994) the Supreme Court called federalism part of the basic structure. Yet Ambedkar told the Assembly that India is a 'Union' because the States have no right to secede. Both are true.
The federal principle
- Two levels of government, each with its own list (Schedule Seven).
- A written, rigid Constitution; federal provisions amended only with half the States' ratification (Article 368(2)).
- An independent judiciary to settle disputes (Article 131).
- A Rajya Sabha representing the States.
The lean toward the Centre
- Article 3: Parliament can change a State's boundaries without its consent.
- Residuary powers with the Union (Article 248); Union law prevails in conflict (Article 254).
- Emergency provisions (Articles 352, 356, 360).
- Governors appointed by the Centre; All India Services.
- Most elastic taxes with the Union; States depend on transfers.
Why the framers chose it
Partition, princely States and poverty demanded a Centre that could hold the country together. K.C. Wheare called India 'quasi-federal'.
Has it militated against federalism?
Partly. Misuse of Article 356 before 1994 did harm. But Bommai, the Finance Commission's rising devolution (now 41%) and the GST Council show that the system can correct itself.
Way forward
Sarkaria and Punchhi suggestions: an active Inter-State Council, Governors chosen in consultation, and fewer centrally sponsored schemes.
Strong Centre, strong States: the Constitution wanted both, and the courts have kept the balance between the two whenever politics tilted it.
Draw: A see-saw with federal features on one side and unitary features on the other, tilted toward the Centre, with Bommai as the counterweight.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
Union of States, Article 1, Article 3, 248, 254, 356, quasi-federal (K.C. Wheare), S.R. Bommai, Sarkaria 1988, Punchhi 2010, Inter-State Council.
Where most answers lose marks
- Calling India 'unitary'. It is federal with a unitary bias; the question itself says federalism is basic structure.
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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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