Centre–State Relations in India – Powers & Emergencies
Delhi Police Exams – GK Section
Introduction
India is a federal system with a unitary bias, meaning that Centre and States have their own powers, but during emergencies, the Centre becomes much stronger.
Articles 245–263 (Part XI), 264–293 (Part XII – Finance, Property, Contracts)
Distribution of Powers
The Seventh Schedule divides subjects between Union and State to avoid conflicts.
| List | Number of Subjects | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Union List | 97 | Defence, Foreign Affairs, Atomic Energy, Railways, Banking |
| State List | 66 | Police, Public Health, Agriculture, Local Government |
| Concurrent List | 47 | Education, Forests, Trade Unions, Marriage, Electricity |
| Residuary Powers | Centre (Parliament) | Matters not listed (e.g., Cyber laws) |
Distribution Rules
- Union List → Centre makes laws.
- State List → States make laws.
- Concurrent List → Both can make laws; but Central law prevails in case of conflict (Article 254).
- Residuary Power → Vested in Parliament (Article 248).
Legislative Relations (Articles 245–255)
Key Features
- Territorial Jurisdiction:
- Parliament – All India
- State Legislature – Own territory (exceptions in emergency)
- Parliamentary Supremacy in Some Cases:
- During Emergency (Art. 352): Parliament can legislate on State subjects.
- By Consent of States (Art. 252): Two or more States can request Parliament to make a law.
- International Agreements (Art. 253): Parliament can make laws even on State subjects to implement treaties.
Administrative Relations (Articles 256–263)
Centre’s Control Over States
| Area | Control |
|---|---|
| Executive Direction | States must follow Union laws (Art. 256) |
| Delegation | Parliament may confer powers to States (Art. 258) |
| All India Services | Created under Art. 312 for uniformity |
| Appointment of Governors | By Centre; acts as link |
| During Emergency | Centre takes direct control |
Inter-State Coordination Mechanisms
| Council | Features |
|---|---|
| Inter-State Council (Art. 263) |
PM as Chairman CMs of States + UTs with legislatures, Central Ministers Coordinates, resolves disputes, discusses common policies |
| Zonal Councils |
5 zones Set up under States Reorganisation Act, 1956 |
Financial Relations (Articles 268–293)
| Type of Revenue | Collected By | Used By |
|---|---|---|
| Union Taxes | Centre | Shared with States |
| State Taxes | States | States |
| Concurrent Revenue | Both | Shared by both |
Key Financial Provisions
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| 268–270 | Division of tax revenue between Centre & States |
| 280 | Establishment of Finance Commission (5 years) |
| 275 | Grants-in-aid to States |
| 282 | Discretionary grants |
| 293 | State borrowing powers |
Finance Commission (Article 280)
| Constituted By | Head | Recommends |
|---|---|---|
| President (every 5 yrs) | Chairman + 4 Members | Distribution of tax, grants, measures for State finances |
Emergency Provisions & Impact
A. National Emergency (Article 352)
- Declared during war, external aggression, or armed rebellion.
- Centre controls law-making and administration of States.
- Parliament legislates on State List.
B. President’s Rule (Article 356)
- If State govt fails, President assumes control (Governor acts on behalf)
- State Legislature suspended or dissolved
C. Financial Emergency (Article 360)
- Declared when India’s financial stability threatened
- Centre controls State expenditure & salaries
PYQs (Delhi Police, SSC & State Exams)
Q1. The distribution of powers between Centre and States is based on —
A) Single Constitution B) Government of India Act, 1935 C) U.S. Constitution D) None
Answer
B) Government of India Act, 1935
Q2. The Union List contains how many subjects?
A) 47 B) 66 C) 97 D) 100
Answer
C) 97
Q3. The State List contains —
A) 47 subjects B) 66 subjects C) 97 subjects D) 86 subjects
Answer
B) 66 subjects
Q4. Which Article provides for the creation of Inter-State Council?
A) 261 B) 262 C) 263 D) 264
Answer
C) 263
Q5. The Finance Commission is constituted under Article —
A) 280 B) 282 C) 275 D) 293
Answer
A) 280
Q6. Residuary powers in India rest with —
A) States B) Centre C) Both D) Judiciary
Answer
B) Centre
Q7. During a National Emergency, India becomes —
A) Federal B) Unitary C) Parliamentary D) Presidential
Answer
B) Unitary
Q8. The Inter-State Council is headed by —
A) President B) Prime Minister C) Home Minister D) Chief Justice of India
Answer
B) Prime Minister
Q9. The division of powers is given in —
A) Article 370 B) Seventh Schedule C) Fifth Schedule D) Eighth Schedule
Answer
B) Seventh Schedule
Q10. Financial Emergency can be declared under —
A) Article 350 B) Article 356 C) Article 360 D) Article 365
Answer
C) Article 360
Summary Table – Centre–State Relations at a Glance
| Type of Relation | Articles | Main Focus | Key Bodies/Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legislative | 245–255 | Law-making powers | Union, State, Concurrent Lists |
| Administrative | 256–263 | Implementation & coordination | Inter-State Council (Art. 263), All India Services |
| Financial | 268–293 | Revenue sharing | Finance Commission (Art. 280) |
| Emergency | 352–360 | Control in crisis | National, State, Financial Emergencies |
Final Concept Recap
- Seventh Schedule → Union (97), State (66), Concurrent (47)
- Residuary Powers → Centre (Art. 248)
- Inter-State Council (Art. 263) → Headed by PM
- Finance Commission (Art. 280) → Revenue sharing
- During Emergencies → Unitary tilt strengthens Centre
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