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.
Approach · directive: “how far / cite examples”
What it asks · Assess how cooperation, competition and confrontation between the Union and the States have shaped Indian federalism, with recent examples of each.
The question has 2 parts — answer each
- How far: assess how cooperation, competition and confrontation have each shaped Indian federalism, with a clear position
- Cite recent examples of each
Open with · Indian federalism works through all three: institutions of cooperation, competition among States for investment and outcomes, and confrontation over money, agencies and powers.
Cover
- Cooperation: Inter-State Council (Article 263), Zonal Councils, the GST Council (Article 279A), NITI Aayog's Governing Council and 42% tax devolution (14th Finance Commission).
- Cooperation in practice: regular meetings with Chief Ministers and State-run implementation shaped the COVID-19 response from March 2020.
- Competition: States compete for investment, NITI Aayog's indices rank them, and the 15th Finance Commission's formula rewards demographic performance and tax effort.
- Confrontation over money: the 2020 GST compensation shortfall, when the Centre offered borrowing options and several Opposition-ruled States objected.
- Confrontation over law and agencies: Kerala's Article 131 suit against the CAA (2020), Maharashtra's withdrawal of general consent to CBI (2020) and disputes over Governors.
- Farm laws (2020): States objected that agriculture and markets are State subjects, and some passed counter-legislation; the Acts were later repealed.
- Courts: federalism is basic structure (S. R. Bommai, 1994); the Supreme Court held GST Council recommendations persuasive, not binding (Mohit Minerals, 2022).
Close with · Cooperation and competition are the norm and confrontation the exception; trust-building forums and predictable rules keep the Union–State balance workable.
Add value (verified)
- The GST Council, a constitutional forum of the Union and the States, is built so that neither side can dominate: the Centre holds one-third of the weighted votes and the States two-thirds. The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2024), Article 279A(9) — Legislative Department ↗“the vote of the Central Government shall have a weightage of one-third of the total votes cast; and (b) the votes of all the State Governments taken together shall have a weightage of two-thirds of the total votes cast”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2020, GS Paper II — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer · 226 words (UPSC limit 150) · Minimalist IAS
Indian federalism works through all three: forums for cooperation, rankings and fiscal formulas that spur competition, and disputes over money, agencies and turf that bring confrontation.
Cooperation: the norm
- Institutions: the Inter-State Council (Article 263), Zonal Councils, NITI Aayog's Governing Council and the GST Council (Article 279A), where the Centre holds one-third of the weighted vote and the States two-thirds.
- Fiscal: 42% devolution of the divisible pool on the 14th Finance Commission's advice.
- Crisis: the COVID-19 response from March 2020 ran through State administrations and Prime Minister–Chief Ministers meetings.
Competition: the newer face
- States compete for investment and are ranked on NITI Aayog's indices; the 15th Finance Commission's formula rewards demographic performance and tax effort.
Confrontation: the exception
- Money: the 2020 GST compensation shortfall, when the Centre offered borrowing options and several Opposition-ruled States objected.
- Agencies and law: Kerala's Article 131 suit against the CAA (2020) and Maharashtra's withdrawal of general consent to the CBI (2020).
- Farm Acts 2020: States objected that agriculture and markets are State subjects and some passed counter-bills (since then, the laws were repealed in 2021).
Cooperation and competition have built the working federation and confrontation has tested it, with courts guarding the balance (federalism is basic structure: S. R. Bommai, 1994); cooperation remains the norm and confrontation the exception, and trust-building forums with predictable fiscal rules keep the Union–State balance workable.
Written by Minimalist IAS from facts checked at source (how we verify) — a little fuller than exam length, so every part of the question is covered; in the hall, keep the structure and trim the detail. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.