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English · हिन्दी · తెలుగు · தமிழ் · മലയാളം · मराठी · ಕನ್ನಡ

Quick recap: federalism and Centre-State relations on one page

తెలుగులో వివరణ

Federalism and Centre-State Relations · Quick recap · Fact-checked on · how we check

Written with AI from the sources listed at the bottom of this page, then fact-checked by a separate AI.

All three parts condensed for quick revision: the nature of Indian federalism and legislative relations, administrative and financial relations with GST and the Finance Commission, and the three emergencies, with an at-a-glance table and eight mixed questions.

Each idea is explained first in Telugu (తెలుగు), ending with the English and Hindi exam terms, followed by the same point in exam English. UPSC Prelims is in English or Hindi, so understand it in Telugu and revise it in English.

1వ అధికరణం: భారత్ 'రాష్ట్రాల యూనియన్' — రాష్ట్రాల ఒప్పందంతో రాలేదు, ఏ రాష్ట్రమూ విడిపోలేదు. సమాఖ్య లక్షణాలు: రెండు స్థాయిల ప్రభుత్వం, లిఖిత సర్వోన్నత రాజ్యాంగం, అధికార పంపకం, కఠిన సవరణ, స్వతంత్ర న్యాయవ్యవస్థ, రాజ్యసభ. ఏకకేంద్ర లక్షణాలు: ఒకే రాజ్యాంగం, ఒకే పౌరసత్వం, ఏకీకృత న్యాయవ్యవస్థ, అఖిల భారత సర్వీసులు, నియమిత గవర్నర్, 3వ అధికరణం. కె.సి. వేర్: 'అర్ధ-సమాఖ్య'; బొమ్మై (1994): సమాఖ్య విధానం మౌలిక స్వరూపంలో భాగం. ఉమ్మడి కుటుంబంలో వేరు గదులున్నా ఇల్లు ఒక్కటే అన్నట్లు. (→ English: federalism · हिन्दी: संघवाद)

In exam EnglishArticle 1 calls India a 'Union of States': the federation did not arise from an agreement among States, and no State may leave it. India has the main federal features (two levels of government, a written and supreme Constitution, division of powers, rigid amendment of federal provisions, an independent judiciary and a Council of States), but also strong unitary ones: a single Constitution and citizenship, an integrated judiciary, all-India services, a Governor appointed by the President and Parliament's power under Article 3 to redraw States. K.C. Wheare called the Constitution 'quasi-federal', and in S.R. Bommai (1994) the Supreme Court held federalism to be part of the basic structure.

శాసన సంబంధాలు (245–254) ఏడవ షెడ్యూల్ మూడు జాబితాలపై. పార్లమెంట్ దేశమంతటికీ, దేశం బయట కూడా అమలయ్యే చట్టాలు; రాష్ట్ర శాసనసభలు తమ రాష్ట్రానికి. ఘర్షణలో కేంద్ర జాబితా పైచేయి; అవశిష్ట అధికారాలు పార్లమెంట్‌కు (248). 42వ సవరణ (1976): విద్య, అడవులు, తూనికలు-కొలతలు, వన్యప్రాణులు-పక్షులు, న్యాయ పాలన ఉమ్మడి జాబితాకు. ఉమ్మడి విషయాల్లో కేంద్ర చట్టం గెలుస్తుంది (254) — రాష్ట్రపతి ఆమోదం పొందిన రాష్ట్ర చట్టం తప్ప. రాష్ట్ర విషయాలపై పార్లమెంట్: 249, 250, 252, 253. కోర్టులు 'సారాంశం' సూత్రం వాడతాయి, ముసుగు చట్టాలను కొట్టేస్తాయి. ఇంట్లో ఎవరి అల్మారా వారిదే, కానీ పెద్ద అల్మారా తాళం పెద్దాయన దగ్గర అన్నట్లు. (→ English: Union List · हिन्दी: संघ सूची)

In exam EnglishLegislative relations (Articles 245 to 254) rest on the Seventh Schedule's three lists. Parliament legislates for the whole or any part of India, and its laws may operate outside India; State legislatures legislate for their own State. The Union List prevails over the other two in case of overlap, and residuary powers lie with Parliament (Article 248). The 42nd Amendment (1976) moved education, forests, weights and measures, wild animals and birds, and administration of justice to the Concurrent List. On Concurrent subjects a Union law prevails (Article 254), unless an earlier Union law is overridden by a State law that received the President's assent. Parliament may legislate on State subjects through Articles 249 (Rajya Sabha resolution), 250 (emergency), 252 (consent of two or more States) and 253 (treaties). Courts read the lists using pith and substance and strike down colourable legislation.

పరిపాలనా సంబంధాలూ అలాగే. రాష్ట్రాలు కేంద్ర చట్టాలు అమలు చేయాలి, అడ్డు రాకూడదు (256–257); కేంద్ర ఆదేశం పాటించకపోతే రాజ్యాంగ యంత్రాంగం విఫలమైనట్లు భావించవచ్చు (365). పనుల అప్పగింత రెండు వైపులా (258, 258A); అఖిల భారత సర్వీసులు (312) రెండు స్థాయిలను కలుపుతాయి. నీటి వివాదాలు 262, 1956 చట్టం కింద ట్రైబ్యునళ్ళకు, కోర్టులకు కాదు. అంతర్రాష్ట్ర మండలి (263) సర్కారియా సలహాతో 1990లో, అధ్యక్షుడు ప్రధాని; ఐదు జోనల్ మండళ్ళు 1956 చట్టం. 301–307: దేశమంతా ఒకే మార్కెట్ — బయటి సరుకుపై వివక్ష వద్దు, వ్యాపార ఆంక్షలకు రాష్ట్రపతి ముందస్తు అనుమతి. ఒకే రైలులో వేర్వేరు బోగీలు, కానీ ఇంజిన్ ఒక్కటే అన్నట్లు. (→ English: Inter-State Council · हिन्दी: अंतरराज्य परिषद)

In exam EnglishAdministrative relations follow the same pattern. States must carry out Union laws and not obstruct the Union (Articles 256–257), and ignoring a Union direction can be treated as a breakdown of constitutional machinery (Article 365). Functions can be delegated both ways (Articles 258, 258A), and the all-India services under Article 312 link the two levels. Water disputes go to tribunals under Article 262 and the 1956 Act, with courts barred. The Inter-State Council under Article 263 was set up in 1990 on the Sarkaria Commission's advice and is chaired by the Prime Minister; the five Zonal Councils come from the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. Articles 301 to 307 keep India one market: a State may not discriminate against goods from other States, and its restrictions on trade need the President's previous sanction.

ఆర్థిక సంబంధాల్లో ఆదాయం ఎక్కువ కేంద్రం వసూలు చేసి పంచుతుంది. 270 (80వ సవరణ, 2000): కేంద్ర పన్నులన్నీ ఉమ్మడి కుండ — సెస్సులు, సర్‌చార్జీలు (271) తప్ప. గ్రాంట్లు: 275 (ఆర్థిక సంఘం సలహాతో), 282 (విచక్షణ). రాష్ట్రం దేశంలోనే అప్పు; కేంద్రానికి బాకీ ఉంటే కేంద్రం అనుమతితోనే (293). ఆర్థిక సంఘం (280: అధ్యక్షుడు + నలుగురు, ఐదేళ్లకోసారి) నిలువు, అడ్డం పంపకం సిఫార్సు; 15వ సంఘం 2021–26కు 41%. 101వ సవరణ (2016) జీఎస్టీ: 246A రెండు స్థాయిలకూ అధికారం; జీఎస్టీ మండలి (279A) బరువు ఓట్లలో 3/4తో నిర్ణయం; మోహిత్ మినరల్స్ (2022): సిఫార్సులు బంధించవు. ఊరి పండుగ చందా పెద్దలు వసూలు చేసి, ప్రతి వీధికి వాటా ఇచ్చినట్లు. (→ English: Finance Commission · हिन्दी: वित्त आयोग)

In exam EnglishIn financial relations the Union collects most revenue and shares it. Under Article 270, as rewritten by the 80th Amendment (2000), all Union taxes form a divisible pool, except cesses for specific purposes and surcharges kept by the Union under Article 271. Grants come under Article 275 (statutory, on the Finance Commission's advice) and Article 282 (discretionary). A State may borrow only within India and, while it owes the Union money, only with the Union's consent (Article 293). The Finance Commission (Article 280: a chairman and four members, every five years) recommends vertical and horizontal sharing; the Fifteenth recommended 41 per cent for the States for 2021–26. The 101st Amendment (2016) brought GST: Article 246A gives both levels concurrent power, and the GST Council (Article 279A) decides by three-fourths of weighted votes; Mohit Minerals (2022) held its recommendations persuasive, not binding.

అత్యవసర పరిస్థితిలో త్రాసు కేంద్రం వైపు బాగా వాలుతుంది. జాతీయ (352): యుద్ధం, దురాక్రమణ, సాయుధ తిరుగుబాటు; కేబినెట్ రాతపూర్వక నిర్ణయం; నెలలో ప్రత్యేక మెజారిటీ; ప్రతి ఆరు నెలలకు; లోక్‌సభ తీర్మానంతో ముగింపు. రాష్ట్ర విషయాలపై చట్టాలు, ఆదేశాలు; యుద్ధం/దురాక్రమణ అయితే 19 నిలుపుదల (358); 359 కింద ఇతర హక్కులు — 20, 21 ఎప్పుడూ కాదు. 1962, 1971, 1975. రాష్ట్రపతి పాలన (356): రెండు నెలల్లో సాధారణ మెజారిటీ, గరిష్ఠం మూడేళ్ళు; బొమ్మై (1994) తర్వాత న్యాయ సమీక్ష, అసెంబ్లీలో బలపరీక్ష. ఆర్థిక (360): ఎప్పుడూ ప్రకటించలేదు. తుఫాను వస్తే పడవ కెప్టెన్ మాటే చెల్లుతుంది, కానీ తీరం చేరాక మళ్ళీ అందరి మాట. (→ English: Emergency · हिन्दी: आपात)

In exam EnglishIn an Emergency the balance tilts sharply to the Union. A national emergency (Article 352) needs war, external aggression or armed rebellion, the Cabinet's written decision and approval by a special majority within one month; it renews every six months and can be ended by a Lok Sabha resolution. It lets the Union direct States and legislate on State subjects, suspends Article 19 when declared for war or external aggression (Article 358), and allows other rights to be suspended under Article 359, but never Articles 20 and 21. It was proclaimed in 1962, 1971 and 1975. President's Rule (Article 356) needs approval within two months by a simple majority and is capped at three years; after S.R. Bommai (1994) it is open to judicial review and majority is tested in the assembly. A financial emergency (Article 360) has never been proclaimed.
Federalism at a glance
AreaKey ArticlesRemember
Nature1, 3, 368(2) proviso'Union of States'; quasi-federal; federalism is basic structure (Bommai, 1994)
Legislative relations245–254, Seventh ScheduleUnion List prevails; residuary with Parliament (248); 42nd Amendment moved five subjects to Concurrent List
Administrative relations256–263, 312, 365Union directions binding; water tribunals bar courts; Inter-State Council 1990
Financial relations264–293, 280Divisible pool excludes cesses and surcharges; Finance Commission every five years
GST246A, 269A, 279A101st Amendment 2016; three-fourths weighted vote; recommendations not binding (2022)
Emergencies352–360National: special majority in one month; President's Rule: maximum three years; financial: never used

Exam traps

Recap

Practice questions

Q1. Consider the following statements:
1. Article 1 describes India as a 'Union of States'.
2. Under Article 3, Parliament can change the boundaries of a State only with the consent of that State's legislature.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer

Answer: A. 1 only

Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: Article 3 requires only that the State's views be sought; Parliament is not bound by them and acts by ordinary law. So '2 only', 'both' and 'neither' are wrong.

Q2. Which one of the following subjects was NOT moved from the State List to the Concurrent List by the 42nd Amendment?

  1. Education
  2. Forests
  3. Police
  4. Weights and measures
Show answer

Answer: C. Police

Police remains in the State List. Education, forests and weights and measures were among the five subjects the 42nd Amendment (1976) moved to the Concurrent List, along with wild animals and birds and administration of justice.

Q3. Under Article 249, Parliament may legislate on a State List subject in the national interest if:

  1. The Rajya Sabha so resolves by two-thirds of members present and voting
  2. The Lok Sabha so resolves by a special majority
  3. Two or more State legislatures request it
  4. The Inter-State Council recommends it
Show answer

Answer: A. The Rajya Sabha so resolves by two-thirds of members present and voting

Article 249 depends on a Rajya Sabha resolution by two-thirds of members present and voting. The Lok Sabha has no role in it; a request by two or more States is the route under Article 252; and the Inter-State Council has no such power.

Q4. Consider the following statements:
1. Surcharges under Article 271 are shared with the States on the Finance Commission's recommendation.
2. A State that owes money to the Union needs the Union's consent to raise a new loan.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer

Answer: B. 2 only

Statement 1 is wrong: surcharges under Article 271 go wholly to the Union and are outside the divisible pool. Statement 2 is correct under Article 293(3). So '1 only', 'both' and 'neither' are wrong.

Q5. Match List I with List II:
List I (Body)
A. Finance Commission
B. GST Council
C. Inter-State Council
D. Zonal Councils
List II (Basis)
1. Article 279A
2. Article 263
3. States Reorganisation Act, 1956
4. Article 280
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3
  2. A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
  3. A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2
  4. A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
Show answer

Answer: A. A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3

The Finance Commission comes from Article 280, the GST Council from Article 279A, the Inter-State Council from Article 263 and the Zonal Councils from the 1956 Act. The second code swaps A and B, the third swaps C and D, and the fourth swaps B and C.

Q6. Consider the following statements about a national emergency:
1. It can be proclaimed only on the written decision of the Union Cabinet.
2. It ends automatically after one year unless renewed by a constitutional amendment.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer

Answer: A. 1 only

Statement 1 is correct after the 44th Amendment. Statement 2 is wrong: an approved proclamation runs for six months at a time and can be renewed indefinitely by fresh resolutions of both Houses, with no amendment needed. So '2 only', 'both' and 'neither' are wrong.

Q7. In S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994), the Supreme Court held that:

  1. A proclamation under Article 356 is open to judicial review
  2. The President's satisfaction under Article 356 is final and cannot be questioned
  3. The Governor's report is conclusive proof of loss of majority
  4. GST Council recommendations bind the States
Show answer

Answer: A. A proclamation under Article 356 is open to judicial review

Bommai held Article 356 proclamations reviewable and said majority must be tested in the assembly. It rejected the idea that the President's satisfaction is beyond question and that the Governor's report settles majority; the GST point concerns Mohit Minerals (2022), which held the recommendations not binding.

Q8. Which one of the following emergencies has never been proclaimed in India?

  1. National emergency on the ground of external aggression
  2. National emergency on the ground of internal disturbance
  3. President's Rule in a State
  4. Financial emergency
Show answer

Answer: D. Financial emergency

Article 360 has never been invoked. External aggression was the ground in 1962 and 1971, internal disturbance in 1975, and President's Rule has been used many times since Punjab in 1951.

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