What changes has the Union Government recently introduced in the domain of Centre-State relations ? Suggest measures to be adopted to build the trust between the Centre and the States and for strengthening federalism.
Approach · directive: “what / suggest”
What it asks · Identify recent Union-level changes (fiscal, institutional, legislative, administrative) in Centre–state relations, then suggest trust-building measures.
It asks 2 things — answer each
- What changes: recent Union-level changes in Centre–state relations — fiscal, institutional, legislative and administrative
- Suggest measures: specific steps to build Centre–state trust and strengthen federalism
Open with · India is an 'indestructible Union of destructible States'; under Article 279A the GST Council gives the Centre's vote one-third of the total votes cast — a decade of Union changes has reshaped the balance and strained trust.
Cover
- Fiscal: GST (101st Amendment, 2016) and the GST Council (Article 279A); Finance Commissions set devolution at 42% and then 41%.
- Fiscal friction: growing cesses and surcharges outside the divisible pool; end of GST compensation in 2022; tighter limits on state borrowing.
- Institutional: NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission (1 January 2015), promoting cooperative and competitive federalism.
- Legislative and administrative: J&K reorganised into Union Territories (2019); GNCTD amendments; BSF jurisdiction widened in border states (2021); Governors delaying Bills; CBI consent withdrawn.
- Measures: Inter-State Council (Article 263) on a fixed calendar; Governors outside active politics (Sarkaria, Punchhi); time-bound assent under Article 200.
- Fiscal and legislative trust: share or cap cesses, predictable untied transfers, consultation on Concurrent List Bills, consensus in the GST Council.
Close with · Acting on Sarkaria's and Punchhi's unfinished agenda through a living Inter-State Council would turn 'cooperative and competitive federalism' from a slogan into a working convention of consultation.
Add value (verified)
- Article 263 already provides a standing forum for Centre–state dialogue that can be used far more.The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2024), Article 263 — Legislative Department ↗“If at any time it appears to the President that the public interests would be served by the establishment of a Council”
- Article 279A(9): the Centre's vote in the GST Council carries one-third weight, the States' two-thirds.The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2024), Article 279A — 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 200's proviso asks the Governor to act 'as soon as possible' when returning a Bill — the textual basis for time-bound assent.The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2024), Article 200 — Legislative Department ↗“Provided that the Governor may, as soon as possible after the presentation to him of the Bill for assent, return the Bill if it is not a Money Bill”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2024, GS Paper II — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 3 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 369words · Minimalist IAS
India is an 'indestructible Union of destructible States', yet the last decade has made the two levels more interdependent: under Article 279A the GST Council gives the Centre's vote 'one-third of the total votes cast' and the States together two-thirds. Several Union changes have reshaped this balance, and some have strained trust.
Changes the Union has introduced
- Pooled tax sovereignty: the 101st Amendment (2016) created GST and the GST Council, where neither level can decide alone.
- Higher devolution: the 14th and 15th Finance Commissions set the States' share of central taxes at 42% and then 41%.
- Fiscal friction: cesses and surcharges outside the divisible pool have grown, GST compensation ended in 2022, and State borrowing faces tighter limits.
- Planning to policy think tank: NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission on 1 January 2015, promoting 'cooperative and competitive federalism' through indices and rankings.
- Territorial and legislative change: Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised into Union Territories (2019); GNCTD amendments enlarged the Lieutenant Governor's role in Delhi; BSF jurisdiction was widened in border States (2021).
- Flashpoints: Governors delaying assent to State Bills, and States withdrawing general consent to the CBI.
Measures to build trust and strengthen federalism
- Institutional dialogue: convene the Inter-State Council under Article 263 on a fixed calendar, with a standing secretariat.
- Non-partisan Governors: the Sarkaria Commission wanted Governors to be detached figures without recent political roles, and the Punchhi Commission also sought reform; read Article 200's 'as soon as possible' as a time-bound duty on Bills.
- Fiscal trust: cap cesses or share their revenue, keep transfers predictable, and widen untied funds to States.
- Consultation before law: consult States on Concurrent List Bills and respect their domain over police, land and local government.
- Consensus institutions: decide by consensus in the GST Council, and agree a protocol for central agencies operating in States.
| Friction point | Trust-building fix |
|---|---|
| Cesses outside the divisible pool | Cap them or share the revenue |
| Delays on State Bills | Time-bound assent under Article 200 |
| Central agencies in States | Agreed protocol via the Inter-State Council |
Federalism lives less in constitutional text than in conventions of consultation; acting on Sarkaria's and Punchhi's unfinished agenda through a living Inter-State Council would turn 'cooperative and competitive federalism' from a slogan into practice.
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.
