Federalism

Contemporary India
Unit II
Neha Pande
Federalism- Meaning
• Political system in which the power is divided and shared between
the national/central government and the states
• This arrangement limits the power of the government
• The Constitution of India provides a dual polity with a clear division of
powers between the Union and the States, each being supreme
within the sphere allotted to it
• The Indian federation is not a result of any agreement between
independent units, and the units of Indian federation cannot leave
the federation
Relations between Centre and States

Legislative Relations

Administrative Relations

Financial Relations
Centre States Legislative Relations
• Article 245 to Article 255 in Part XI of the Constitution deal with the
legislative relations between the Centre and the State
• Extent of laws made by Parliament and by the legislatures of States
• The Parliament can make laws for the whole or any part of the
territory of India.
• Territory of India includes the states, UTs and any other area for the
time being included in the territory of India. Whereas the State
legislatures can make laws for the whole or any part of state.
• The Parliament can alone make ‘extra territorial legislation’ thus he
laws of the Parliament are applicable to the Indian citizens and heir
property in any part of the world.
• The Constitution divides legislative authority between the union and
the States in three lists:
• The Union List- Consists of 99 articles
• The State List
• The Concurrent List
• The Union list consists of 99 items. The Union Parliament has exclusive
authority to frame laws on subjects enumerated in the list.
• These include foreign affairs, defence, armed forces, communications, posts
and telegraphs, foreign trade etc.
• The State list consists of 61 subjects on which ordinarily the states alone can
make laws. These include public order, police, administration of justice,
prison, local governments, agriculture etc.
• The Concurrent list comprise of 52 items including civil and criminal
procedure, marriage and divorce, economic and social planning, trade
unions, electricity, newspapers, books, education, family planning etc.
• Both the Parliament and the State legislatures can make laws on subjects
given in the concurrent list but the Centre has prior and supreme claim to
legislate on concurrent subjects.
• In case of conflict between the law of the States and the Union law on a
subject in the concurrent list, the law of the parliament prevails.
Residuary Powers of Legislation
• The Constitution also vests the residuary powers (subjects not
enumerated on any of the three lists) with the Union Parliament.
• The residuary powers have been granted to he Union contrary to the
convention in other federations in the world, where the residuary
powers given to the States.
• However, in case of conflict, whether a particular matter falls under
the residuary power or not is to be decided by the court.
Parliament’s Power to Legislate on State List
• Though under ordinary circumstances the central government does
not possess power to legislate on subjects enumerated in the State
List, but under certain special conditions the Union Parliament can
make laws on these subjects:
a. In the National Interest (Article 249)
b. Under proclamation of national emergency (Article 250)
c. By agreement between states (Article 252)
d. To implement treaties (Article 253)
e. Under proclamation of president’s rule (Article 356)
 Center State Administrative Relations

• The administrative jurisdiction of the Union and the State Governments

extends to the subjects in the Union list and State list respectively. The
Constitution thus defines the clauses that deal with the administrative
relations between the Center and the States
Center State Relations During Normal Ties
• Executive Powers of State be exercised in compliance with Union Laws
Article 256 lays down that the executive power of every State shall be so exercised as
to ensure compliance with the laws made by Parliament and any existing laws which
apply in that State, and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of
such directions to a state as may appear to the Government of India to be necessary
for that purpose.
• Executive Powers of State not to interfere with Executive Power of Union
Article 257 of the Constitution provides that the executive power of every state shall
be so exercised as not to impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive power of
the Union, and the executive power of the Union shall extend to giving of such
directions to a state as may appear to the Government of India to be necessary for
that purpose. In short, the Union Government can issue directions to the state
Government even with regard to the subjects enumerated in the state list.
• Maintain means of communication of National or Military importance
The Union Government can give directions to the state with regard to
construction and maintenance of the means of communication declared to
be of national or military importance.

• Protection of the Railways

Union can issue State Governments necessary directions regarding the
measures to be taken for the protection of the railways within the
jurisdiction of the State. It may be noted that the expenses incurred by the
State Governments for the discharge of these functions have to be
reimbursed by the Union Government.
• To ensure welfare of Scheduled Tribes in the States
Union can direct the State Governments to ensure execution of schemes
essential for the welfare of the Scheduled Tribes in the States.

• To secure instruction in the mother-tongue at the primary stage of

education
Union can direct the State Governments to secure the provision of
adequate facilities for instruction in the mother-tongue at the primary
stage of education to children belonging to linguistic minority groups.
• To ensure development of the Hindi language
Union can direct the State Governments to ensure the development of
the Hindi language.
• To ensure government of a State is carried on in accordance with the
provision of the Constitution
Union can direct the State Governments to ensure that the government
of a State is carried on in accordance with the provision of the
Constitution. If any State failed to comply with any directions given by
the Union in exercise of its executive power, then President may hold
that, a situation has arisen in which the Government of the State cannot
be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. Thus
he may proclaim President’s Rule in that State.
• Delegation of Union’s function to State
The President of India can entrust to the officers of the State certain
functions of the Union Government. However, before doing so the
President has to take the consent of the state Government. But the
Parliament can enact law authorizing the Central Government to delegate
its function to the State Governments or its officers irrespective of the
consent of such State Government. On the other hand, a State may confer
administrative functions upon the Union, with the consent of the Union
only.
• Appointment of High Dignitaries
Union has major say in appointment and removal of Governor and
appointment of Judges of High Court and Members of State Public Service
Commission.
• All India Services
The presence of the All India Services - the Indian Administrative Services,
Indian police Services - further accords a predominant position to the
Union Government.

• Union to adjudicate Inter-State River Water Dispute

The Parliament has been vested with power to adjudicate any dispute or
complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of,
or in any inter-state river or river-valley. In this regard, the Parliament also
reserves the right to exclude such disputes from the jurisdiction of the
Supreme Court or other Courts.
Center States Relations During Emergency
• Under President’s Rule
The State Governments cannot ignore the directions of the Union
Government, otherwise the President can take the action against the
Government of the State stating that the administration cannot be
carried on the accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and
thus can impose President's rule on the State.
In such an eventuality the President shall assume to himself all or any
of the functions of the state Government.
• Under Proclamation of National Emergency
During a Proclamation of National Emergency, the power of the Union to
give directions extends to the giving of directions as to the manner in with
the executive power of the State is to be exercised relating to any matter.

• Under Proclamation of Financial Emergency

During a Proclamation of Financial Emergency, Union can direct the State
Governments to observe certain canons of financial propriety and to reduce
the salaries and allowances of all or any class of person serving in connection
with the affairs of the Union including the Judges of the Supreme Court and
High Courts. Union also requires all Money Bills or Financial Bills to be
reserved for the consideration of the President after they are passed by the
Legislature of the State.
 Centre States Financial Relations
• Indian Constitution has made elaborate provisions, relating to the distribution of the
taxes as well as non-tax revenues and the power of borrowing, supplemented by
provisions for grants-in-aid by the Union to the States. Article 268 to 293 deals with
the provisions of financial relations between Centre and States.
• The Constitution divides the taxing powers between the Centre and the states as
follows:
The Parliament has exclusive power to levy taxes on subjects enumerated in the
Union List,
The state legislature has exclusive power to levy taxes on subjects enumerated in the
State List
Both can levy taxes on the subjects enumerated in Concurrent List whereas residuary
power of taxation lies with Parliament only.
 Distribution of the Tax Revenue
1. Duties Levied by the Union but Collected and Appropriated by the States:
Stamp duties on bills of Exchange, etc., and Excise duties on medical and
toilet preparations containing alcohol. These taxes don’t form the part of
the Consolidated Fund of India, but are assigned to that state only.
2. Service Tax are Levied by the Centre but Collected and Appropriated by the
Centre and the States.
3. Taxes Levied as Well as Collected by the Union, but Assigned to the States:
These include taxes on the sale and purchase of goods in the course of
inter-state trade or commerce or the taxes on the consignment of goods in
the course of inter-state trade or commerce.
• Taxes Levied and Collected by the Union and Distributed between Union
and the States: Certain taxes shall be levied as well as collected by the
Union, but their proceeds shall be divided between the Union and the
States in a certain proportion, in order to effect on equitable division of the
financial resources. This category includes all taxes referred in Union List
except the duties and taxes referred to in Article 268, 268-A and 269;
surcharge on taxes and duties mentioned in Article 271 or any Cess levied
for specific purposes.

• Surcharge on certain duties and taxes for purposes of the Union:

Parliament may at any time increase any of the duties or taxes referred in
those articles by a surcharge for purposes of the Union and the whole
proceeds of any such surcharge shall form part the Consolidated Fund of
India.
Grants in Aid
1. Statutory Grants: These grants are given by the Parliament out of the
Consolidated Fund of India to such States which are in need of assistance.
Different States may be granted different sums. Specific grants are also given
to promote the welfare of scheduled tribes in a state or to raise the level of
administration of the Scheduled areas therein (Art.275).

2. Discretionary Grants: Center provides certain grants to the states on the

recommendations of the Planning Commission which are at the discretion of
the Union Government. These are given to help the state financially to fulfill
plan targets (Art.282).
Effects of Emergency on Centre-State Financial
Relations
1. During National Emergency: The President by order can direct that all
provisions regarding division of taxes between Union and States and
grants-in-aids remain suspended. However, such suspension shall not go
beyond the expiration of the financial year in which the Proclamation
ceases to operate.
2. During Financial Emergency: Union can give directions to the States:-
a. To observe such canons of financial propriety as specified in the direction.
b. To reduce the salaries and allowances of all people serving in connection
with the affairs of the State, including High Courts judges.
c. To reserve for the consideration of the President all money and financial
Bills, after they are passed by the Legislature of the State.
 Finance Commission
• Although the Constitution has made an effort to allocate every possible source
of revenue either to the Union or the States, but this allocation is quite broad
based.
• For the purpose of allocation of certain sources of revenue, between the Union
and the State Governments, the Constitution provides for the establishment of
a Finance Commission under Article 280.
• According to the Constitution, the President of India is authorized to set up a
Finance Commission every five years to make recommendation regarding
distribution of financial resources between the Union and the States.
 Constitution of the Finance Commission
• Finance Commission is to be constituted by the President every 5 years. The
Chairman must be a person having ‘experience in public affairs’
• Other four members must be appointed from amongst the following:-
a. A High Court Judge or one qualified to be appointed as High Court Judge;
b. A person having knowledge of the finances and accounts of the
Government;
c. A person having work experience in financial matters and administration;
d. A person having special knowledge of economics.
Functions
The Finance Commission recommends to the President as to:-
1. The distribution between the Union and the States of the net proceeds
of taxes to be divided between them and the allocation between the
States of respective shares of such proceeds;
2. The principles which should govern the grants-in-aid of the revenue of
the States out of the Consolidated Fund of India;
3. The measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of a State to
supplement the resources of the Panchayats and Municipalities in the
State;
4. Any other matter referred to the Commission by the President in the
interest of sound finance
 Parliamentary and
Presidential Democracy
Neha Pande
Unit II
Parliamentary Democracy
• In this form of government there are two executives
• The president is the nominal executive and the head of the state
• The role of the president is primarily ceremonial
• The prime minister is the real executive and the head of the government, who along with
the cabinet has the maximum powers. So, it is known as, the “cabinet form of
government”
• Since the parliament is directly responsible to the people, it is also called the “responsible
government”
• The executive is responsible to the legislature. Hence, there is no clear separation of
powers as in the presidential form of government
• Some of the countries which have a parliamentary system of government are Germany,
Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, India, Portugal etc
• In the constitution of India, articles 74 and 75 provisions for a parliamentary form of
government at the union level, and articles 163 and 164 deal with provisions for the same
at the state level
Presidential Form of Government
• There is only one executive in this form of government, which is the president.
Hence it is also called the single executive system.
• The president is the head/chief executive of the state as well as the government
and is chosen by the people directly.
• The legislature is completely independent of the executive, in the presidential form
of government.
• The three organs of the government: the legislative, executive and the judiciary
are all independent of each other. The legislature is responsible for formulating
laws, the executive, headed by the president enforces those laws and the judiciary
carries out judicial tasks.
• Some of the countries with a presidential form of government are the United
States, Brazil, South Korea, Turkey, the Philippines, Indonesia etc
Context Parliamentary System Presidential system
Separation of Powers The form of government in which the executive is The form of government in which all
responsible to the legislature, thus being organs of the government
dependent on it. (legislature, executive and judiciary)
are independent of each other.
Election The president is directly elected by
The people elect representatives of the legislature. the people.

Executive It is a dual executive. The head of the state and The head of the state and
government are different (president and prime government is the same, hence it is
minister) a single executive.
Ministers Industry experts, outside of the
are members of the parliament and are of the
legislature, can also be chosen as
ruling party.
ministers.
Dissolution of lower house The President can dissolve the lower house. The president does not have the
power to dissolve the lower house.
The tenure of the head Tenure of Prime Minister is not fixed since it is The tenure of the president is fixed.
dependent on the majority support in parliament.

Autocracy There are more chances of

It is less autocratic. autocracy
 Advantages of Parliamentary Democracy

• Since the executive is responsible to the legislature there is a cooperation

between the two
• It is a responsible government since the people directly elect their
representatives and the legislature is responsible to the people
• There is a check on authoritarianism
 Disadvantages of Parliamentary System
• Due to anti-defection laws ministers and legislators are subject to party
whips and cannot exert their willpower and ideas in decision making

• The parliamentary system is less stable than a presidential system

• Politics of parties are present, as legislatures are vested in self-interest,

than national interest
 Advantages of Presidential Form of
Government
• There is a distinct separation of powers but the executive and
legislature watch over each other.

• The president is more stable, and so is the government, as compared to

the parliamentary form of government.
Disadvantages of Presidential Government
• It becomes impossible to remove a president who is unpopular
amongst people.

• When the president and legislature are from different parties, it can
result in conflict.