Day 6 – Q 3.Examine the challenges associated with India’s federal polity.
3. Examine the challenges associated with India’s federal polity.
भारत की संघीय राजनीति से जुड़ी चुनौतियों की जांच करें।
Approach:
This is a direct question. Simply write a short introduction connecting the two keywords, “Federal polity of India” and “Challenges”. After intro, directly start challenges. At the end, it would be better to suggest some way forward instead of conventional conclusion.
Introduction
- In a famous Judgment, Kuldip Nayar vs. Union of India, Sc held that,”… though, (Indian) federalism forms the basic structure of Constitution, India is not a federal State in the traditional sense of the term.” Therefore, this sui generis federation has its unique challenges too.
- Since independence India faced and continues to face these challenges. Some of them are as follows.
Body
Geo-political challenges
- Statehood demands and secessionist demand: Earlier at the time of independence there were demands of linguistic states, now there are demands based on development and cultural differences, such as Vidarbha in Maharashtra and Bodoland in North east.
- There were Secessionist demands in newly independent India, some of them still exist.
- Misuse of central bias of the constitution: Ranging from emergency articles to governor’s powers (Article 356, 365, 200 etc.), on many occasions central government did used its powers to coerce the State governments.
Fiscal Challenges:
- Constitution of India provides for fiscal power sharing between all the three tiers of the government but sill there are issues.
- Taxation powers to local governments are not devolved in all states. Resource crunch is major reason behind poor performance of third tier.
- There are challenges related to fiscal resource sharing. Some of the developed states who contribute the large share in GDP and government revenue get smaller share in revenue shares distributed by the center, and vice versa.
Developmental issues:
- There is a virtual divide between comparatively more developed states and least developed states.
- Migration of workers from poor northern states to rich southern and western states is another major challenge.
- Educational developments, population, per-capita income and health are other issues which draw a virtual line between better performing southern states and northern states with poor performance.
- Similarly, there divide between western and eastern states in the sector of agricultural development are yet to reap the fruits of Green Revolution.
Challenges between and within states:
- Water sharing, territorial disputes are some of the examples of tussles between states. Cauvery water sharing and Belgaum territorial dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka are classic examples of it.
- Issues related to Panchayati Raj institutions, devolution of fiscal and legislative powers to local governments, holding elections to them are some of the challenges within states.
Way forward:
- The Sarkaria Commission on Centre–State Relations (1983–87) observed: “The rule of federal supremacy is a technique to avoid absurdity, resolve conflict and ensure harmony between the Union and state laws. If this principle of union supremacy is excluded, the federal principle of unity in diversity will be very much a casualty.”
- Therefore, though the strong center is important for governance of India, there should be consultation and cooperation between all the units of federation.
- Interstate council, zonal council and think tank of India that is NITI Aayog are performing this task of consultation and coordination, still there is need to make these meetings and consultations more regular.
Best Answer: Raviraj
