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.
It asks 2 things — 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 · Article 1 calls India a 'Union of States', and its federalism has worked through cooperation in shared forums, competition among States and confrontation over money, agencies and turf.
Cover
- Cooperation: Inter-State Council (Article 263), Zonal Councils, NITI Aayog's Governing Council, and the GST Council (Article 279A) with one-third of the weighted vote for the Centre.
- Fiscal cooperation: 42% devolution (14th Finance Commission); the COVID-19 response from March 2020 ran through State administrations.
- Competition: NITI Aayog's indices rank States; the 15th Finance Commission rewards demographic performance and tax effort.
- Confrontation over money: the 2020 GST compensation shortfall, when several Opposition-ruled States objected to the Centre's borrowing options.
- Confrontation over law and agencies: Kerala's Article 131 suit against the CAA and Maharashtra's withdrawal of general consent to the CBI (2020); farm laws (2020) contested as State subjects.
- Way forward: use the Inter-State Council under Article 263 to settle disputes, and act on the Sarkaria (1988) and Punchhi (2007) reviews of Union–State relations.
Close with · Cooperation remains the norm and confrontation the exception; S. R. Bommai (1994) made federalism part of the basic structure, and trust-building forums 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”
- Article 1(1) of the Constitution describes India as a Union of States.The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2024) - Legislative Department ↗“India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.”
- Article 263 lets the President set up an Inter-State Council to inquire into and advise upon disputes between States.The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2024) - Legislative Department ↗“inquiring into and advising upon disputes which may have arisen between States”
- The Sarkaria Commission, set up in 1983 to review Union–State arrangements, reported in January 1988 with 247 recommendations.Sarkaria Commission - Inter-State Council Secretariat, Ministry of Home Affairs ↗“submitted its 1600-page report in January 1988. The report contains 247 recommendations”
- The Punchhi Commission was constituted on 27 April 2007 to look into new issues of Centre–State relations.Punchhi Commission - Inter-State Council Secretariat, Ministry of Home Affairs ↗“under the chairmanship of Justice Madan Mohan Punchhi, former Chief Justice of India on 27th April 2007 to look into the new issues of Centre-State relations”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2020, GS Paper II — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 3 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 225words · Minimalist IAS
Article 1 calls India 'a Union of States'. Its federalism works through three modes: cooperation in shared forums, competition among States, and confrontation over money, agencies and turf. All shape it, unequally.
Cooperation: the dominant mode
- Institutions: the Inter-State Council (Article 263), Zonal Councils and NITI Aayog's Governing Council.
- Pooled sovereignty: in the GST Council (Article 279A) the Centre has one-third of the weighted vote, States two-thirds.
- Fiscal and crisis trust: 42% devolution (14th Finance Commission); the COVID-19 response (March 2020) ran through State administrations.
Competition: the newer driver
- Rankings and rewards: NITI Aayog's indices rank States; the 15th Finance Commission rewards demographic performance and tax effort.
Confrontation: the recurring stress
- Money: the 2020 GST compensation shortfall; several Opposition-ruled States rejected the Centre's borrowing options.
- Law and agencies: Kerala's Article 131 suit against the CAA, and Maharashtra's withdrawal of general consent to the CBI (both 2020).
- Farm Acts 2020: States called agriculture and markets State subjects (since then, repealed in 2021).
Indian federation: Cooperation: GST Council; Competition: NITI indices; Confrontation: GST dues, CBI
Way forward
- Dialogue first: a regular Inter-State Council to settle disputes before court, and action on the Sarkaria (1988) and Punchhi (2007) reviews.
Cooperation remains the norm, confrontation the exception. With federalism part of the basic structure since S. R. Bommai (1994), India needs cooperative, competitive federalism built on trust, not litigation.
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 3 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
