Academic seminar on working of Indian federalism
Source:The Hindu ↗
Why It Matters
Although the article is a short event notification, its core theme—Indian Federalism—is a cornerstone of the UPSC GS2 syllabus. It serves as an excellent prompt for aspirants to revise the constitutional provisions governing Centre-State relations, the quasi-federal nature of the Indian State, and contemporary challenges like fiscal federalism and cooperative vs. competitive federalism.
Summary
The article reports on a two-day national seminar titled 'Working of Indian federalism: Constitutional evolution, governance, dynamics and contemporary challenges,' organized by the Department of Law, Kerala University. Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan will inaugurate the event, which features participation from various legal and academic figures. While brief, the announcement highlights a central UPSC theme regarding the dynamic and frequently debated nature of India's quasi-federal governance model.
Key Points
- The Department of Law at Kerala University is organizing a two-day national seminar on Indian federalism.
- The seminar's theme focuses on 'Working of Indian federalism: Constitutional evolution, governance, dynamics and contemporary challenges'.
- The academic event underscores the continuing relevance and ongoing debates surrounding Centre-State relations and the evolving nature of India's federal structure.
Important Terms
Indian Federalism
A system of governance where power is constitutionally divided between a central authority and constituent state units to balance national unity with regional diversity.
UPSC context
GS Paper 2: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States; challenges pertaining to federal structure.
Quasi-federalism
A term used by K.C. Wheare to describe India's federal structure, which possesses strong unitary features and a centralized bias.
UPSC context
GS Paper 2: Nature of the Indian Constitution; comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with other countries.
Cooperative Federalism
A relationship where the Centre and States act as partners to solve national problems, exemplified by institutions like the GST Council and NITI Aayog.
UPSC context
GS Paper 2: Key pillars of Indian governance; frequently tested in Mains regarding Centre-State synergy.
Centre-State Relations
The legislative, administrative, and financial interactions between the Union and States governed by Articles 245 to 293 of the Constitution.
UPSC context
GS Paper 2: Constitutional provisions and emerging tensions like the role of Governors and fiscal disputes.
S.R. Bommai v. Union of India
A 1994 landmark Supreme Court judgment that declared federalism a "basic structure" and restricted the arbitrary imposition of President’s Rule under Article 356.
UPSC context
GS Paper 2: Basic Structure doctrine; judicial review; emergency provisions under Article 356.
Fiscal Federalism
The constitutional division of financial powers and resources between the central and state governments, primarily managed through Finance Commission recommendations.
UPSC context
GS Paper 2 & 3: Finance Commission; GST; issues related to state borrowing and financial autonomy.
Seventh Schedule
The part of the Constitution that distributes legislative powers between the Union and States through three lists: Union, State, and Concurrent.
UPSC context
GS Paper 2: Power sharing; legislative jurisdiction; issues with items in the Concurrent List.
Prelims Trap
The Indian Constitution explicitly uses the term 'federal' to define the governance structure of the country.
The term 'federation' or 'federal' is nowhere mentioned in the Constitution. Instead, Article 1 describes India as a 'Union of States'.
Static Concepts Connected
What are the key constitutional mechanisms for Centre-State coordination?
- Article 131: Grants the Supreme Court exclusive original jurisdiction in legal disputes between the Centre and one or more States.
- Article 263: Empowers the President to establish an Inter-State Council to investigate, discuss, and advise on disputes between States.
- Article 279A: Establishes the GST Council, operating on cooperative federalism principles where the Centre and States pool sovereignty on indirect taxation.
What are the constitutional limits on State borrowing?
- Article 293(3): States cannot raise fresh loans without the Centre's consent if there is any outstanding loan owed to the Government of India.
- External Borrowing: States cannot borrow directly from foreign governments or international organizations; foreign borrowing must be routed through the Union government.
Cross-Topic Patterns
Fiscal federalism and State borrowing constraints
Disputes over Article 293(3) limits on state borrowing frequently overlap with RBI's Ways and Means Advances (WMA) guidelines and state-level FRBM Act compliance targets.
Article 131 and Basic Structure challenges
States increasingly invoke Article 131 to challenge Central laws (e.g., CAA, farm laws), intertwining legislative competence disputes with the basic structure doctrine of federalism established in the Bommai case.
Expect a 2026 multi-statement question contrasting constitutional (Inter-State Council) vs statutory (Zonal Councils) federal bodies.
Linked PYQs · 5
Linked PYQs · 5
- 2025MainsGS2
Examine the evolving pattern of Centre-State financial relations in the context of planned development in India. How far have the recent reforms impacted the fiscal federalism in India?
- 2020MainsGS2
How far do you think cooperation, competition and confrontation have shaped the nature of federation in India? Cite some recent examples to validate your answer.
- 2014MainsGS2
Though the federal principle is dominant in our Constitution and that principle is one of its basic features, but 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. Discuss.
- 2025PrelimsGS1
With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above were established as per the provisions of the Constitution of India?
- 2017PrelimsGS1
Which one of the following is not a feature of Indian federalism?
