Understanding Federalism for GS2: Beyond the Textbook
Beyond Textbook Federalism
When aspirants study federalism for GS Paper 2, they usually memorize the 7th Schedule and the relevant constitutional articles. While necessary, this is insufficient for scoring well in Mains. You need to understand the dynamic nature of Indian federalism.
The Asymmetric Nature
India is not a textbook federation like the USA. Our constitution contains significant unitary features.
Article 1 describes India as a "Union of States." The word 'federation' is not used anywhere in the Constitution. This was a deliberate choice by the drafting committee to reflect the indestructible nature of the Union compared to the destructible nature of the states.
Recent Trends in Federalism
The most important aspect for your exam is how federalism is playing out right now.
- Fiscal Federalism: The role of the Finance Commission vs the role of the GST Council. States often argue that their fiscal autonomy has been curtailed post-GST.
- Cooperative vs Competitive Federalism: While NITI Aayog pushes for competitive federalism through various indices (Health, Water), cooperative federalism is tested during crises like the pandemic.
The Governor's Role
The office of the Governor remains a constant friction point. You must be able to cite specific Supreme Court judgments (like S.R. Bommai case, Nabam Rebia case) to add weight to your answers regarding the misuse of Article 356 or the discretionary powers of the Governor.