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Federalism and Centre–State Relations – UPSC GS2

This module of the GS Paper 2: Polity, Governance, Social Justice & IR course covers legislative, administrative and financial relations, emergencies, special provisions and inter-state relations. It has 5 study lessons and a 40-question practice quiz. Free lessons can be read in full; premium lessons show a preview.

Lessons in this module

1. Legislative and Administrative Relations between the Centre and States

Free 7 min

India's Constitution divides powers between the Centre and the states in three spheres: legislative, administrative and financial. Judicial power is not divided – there is an integrated judiciary. Part XI (Articles 245–263) covers legislative and…

2. Financial Relations, the Finance Commission and the GST Council

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The Constitution gives the Centre the most buoyant taxes (income tax on non-agricultural income, corporation tax, customs), while states carry most of the spending responsibilities (police, health, agriculture, school education). This mismatch – vertical fiscal…

3. Emergency Provisions: Articles 352, 356 and 360

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Part XVIII (Articles 352–360) lets the Centre meet abnormal situations by temporarily converting the federal structure into a unitary one – without any formal amendment. The framers saw this as a safeguard for the sovereignty,…

4. Special Provisions: Article 370, Article 371 and the Fifth and Sixth Schedules

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India treats some states and regions differently to accommodate history, geography, culture and the concerns of tribal communities. This asymmetric federalism takes four main forms: the former special status of Jammu and Kashmir (Article 370),…

5. Inter-State Relations and Cooperative Federalism

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A federation works only if its units cooperate. India's Constitution provides for: adjudication of inter-state water disputes (Article 262), coordination through Inter-State Councils (Article 263), mutual recognition of public acts, records and judicial proceedings (Article…

Module quiz: Federalism and Centre–State Relations (40 questions)

Maps & infographics in this module

Three cards describing the Union, State and Concurrent Lists with examples — Education, forests, wildlife, weights and measures and administration of justice moved to the Concurrent List in 1976.

Five-box flow showing Articles 249, 250, 252, 253 and 356 as routes for Parliament to legislate on State List matters — These exceptions give the Indian federation its unitary flexibility.

Donut chart of the 15th Finance Commission criteria: income distance 45%, population 15%, area 15%, forest and ecology 10%, demographic performance 12.5%, tax effort 2.5% — Income distance rewards poorer states; demographic performance rewards states that controlled population growth.

Bar chart showing the states' share of central taxes rising from 30.5% under the 12th Finance Commission to 42% under the 14th and 41% under the 15th — The 14th Finance Commission's jump to 42% was the largest increase in vertical devolution.

Comparison table of national emergency, President's rule and financial emergency on grounds, approval, duration, effect on rights and use — Only a national emergency affects Fundamental Rights.

Timeline of national emergencies from 1962 to their revocation in 1977 and the 44th Amendment of 1978 — The excesses of 1975–77 led to the safeguards of the 44th Amendment.

Frequently asked questions

Lessons: Legislative and Administrative Relations between the Centre and States; Financial Relations, the Finance Commission and the GST Council; Emergency Provisions: Articles 352, 356 and 360; Special Provisions: Article 370, Article 371 and the Fifth and Sixth Schedules; Inter-State Relations and Cooperative Federalism.

Answer: Agriculture. Agriculture remains in the State List.

Answer: Parliament. Article 248.

Answer: one year. One year; renewable.

Answer: applies only to the requesting states and those that adopt it later. Only consenting states; amendable only by Parliament.

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Federalism and Centre–State Relations – UPSC GS2

Lessons in this module

1. Legislative and Administrative Relations between the Centre and States

2. Financial Relations, the Finance Commission and the GST Council

3. Emergency Provisions: Articles 352, 356 and 360

4. Special Provisions: Article 370, Article 371 and the Fifth and Sixth Schedules

5. Inter-State Relations and Cooperative Federalism

Maps & infographics in this module

Frequently asked questions

What is covered in Federalism and Centre–State Relations for UPSC GS2?

Which of the following subjects was NOT transferred from the State List to the Concurrent List by the 42nd Amendment?

Residuary powers of legislation in India are vested in:

A resolution of the Rajya Sabha under Article 249 remains in force for:

A law made by Parliament at the request of two or more states under Article 252:

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