Constitutional Framework
- Federal Features
- Written Constitution with a well-defined amendment procedure providing a foundational governance structure for India.
- Dual Polity: ga overnment system at both the Union and State levels ensuring decentralised administration.
- Bicameralism: Rajya Sabha (Council of States) representing state interests; checks potential majoritarianism in Lok Sabha.
- Division of Powers: legislative powers through three lists in Schedule VII between Union and States.
- Unitary Features
- Strong Centre: division of powers tilted toward the central government; primacy to Parliamentary legislation on the Concurrent List.
- Single Constitution and Citizenship: uniform laws and rights apply to all citizens across the country.
- Parliamentary Authority: Article 3 empowers Parliament to change state territories, areas, and boundaries without state consent.
- Others: Integrated Judiciary, All India Services, Emergency powers, Parliament makes laws for international treaty obligations.
Contemporary Challenges
- Fiscal Centralisation: GST implementation is impacting the financial autonomy of States, reducing revenue control significantly.
- Administrative and Political Centralisation: The Disaster Management Act during COVID-19 imposed nationwide lockdowns with minimal state consultation.
- Other issues: Reservation of bills by Governors for Presidential Assent, devolution of taxes by the Finance Commission.
Addressing Challenges
- NITI Aayog embodies the ‘Team India’ spirit, bringing the Centre and States as equal partners in nation-building.
- GST Council provides platforms for dialogue, reinforcing the “self-rule with shared-rule” principle for democracy.
- Institutions foster Centre-State cooperation for balanced development, evolvinga dynamic balance between unity and regional autonomy.
Q- What do you understand by the term ‘Quasi-Federal’ structure of the Indian Constitution? Discuss how it differs from classical federalism. (10 marks, 150 words)