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Centre-State and Inter-State Relations in Indian Polity Notes

Centre-State and Inter-State Relations in Indian Polity

Comprehensive lecture on constitutional provisions governing legislative, administrative, and financial relations between the Union and States. Analyzes key commissions (Sarkaria, Punchhi, Rajamannar) and the mechanisms for resolving inter-state water and administrative disputes. Explores statutory bodies like Zonal Councils and the Inter-State Council designed to preserve Indian federalism.

UPSC
Other State PSC
Polity
English · 9 topics
Checked against the video on 22 Oct 2026

Made by AI from the YouTube video Centre State Relations & Inter State Relations Full Chapter | Indian Polity - Chapter 15 & 16 | UPSC (opens YouTube in a new tab) by UPSC Wallah, then checked against it. All credit for the teaching goes to the creator. Tap a topic’s time to confirm a fact in the video.

Centre-State and Inter-State Relations in Indian Polity

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In short

Comprehensive lecture on constitutional provisions governing legislative, administrative, and financial relations between the Union and States. Analyzes key commissions (Sarkaria, Punchhi, Rajamannar) and the mechanisms for resolving inter-state water and administrative disputes. Explores statutory bodies like Zonal Councils and the Inter-State Council designed to preserve Indian federalism.

Constitutional Structure of Centre-State Relations

The Indian Constitution establishes a dual polity dividing legislative, executive, and financial powers between the Centre and States.
The judicial system remains integrated across India, having no division of judicial powers between the Union and State levels.
Legislative relations are primarily governed under Part XI (Articles 245 to 255).
Administrative relations between the Centre and States are detailed under Part XI (Articles 256 to 263).
Financial relations are dealt with separately in Part XII (Articles 268 to 293).
Must knowUnder five extraordinary circumstances—President's Rule, National Emergency, Rajya Sabha resolution (by 2/3rd majority), request by two or more states, and implementation of international agreements—Parliament can legislate on State List subjects.

Legislative Relations and Distribution of Subjects

Parliament has the power to make laws for the whole or any part of the territory of India and enjoys extra-territorial legislation power for Indian citizens and their property abroad.
State legislatures enact laws for the whole or part of their respective states; extraterritorial operation is permitted only through the Doctrine of Territorial Nexus (Article 245).
Must knowUnder the Seventh Schedule, legislative powers are distributed into three lists: List-I (Union List) with 98 subjects (originally 97), List-II (State List) with 59 subjects (originally 66), and List-III (Concurrent List) with 52 subjects (originally 47).
Residuary legislative powers are vested exclusively in Parliament under Article 248, following the Canadian model rather than the USA or Australia.
The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 transferred five subjects from the State List to the Concurrent List: education, forests, weights and measures, protection of wild animals and birds, and administration of justice.
In case of a conflict between a Central law and a State law on a concurrent subject, the Central law prevails; however, if a State law was reserved for and received the President's assent, it prevails in that state.

Centre's Control Over State Legislation

Under Articles 200 and 201, the Governor can reserve certain state bills for the consideration of the President, who holds absolute veto power over them.
Bills imposing restrictions on the freedom of trade and commerce require the prior sanction of the President before introduction in a state legislature (Article 304).
During a Financial Emergency under Article 360, the Centre can direct states to reserve all money bills and other financial bills for the President's consideration.
Under Article 213, the Governor cannot promulgate certain ordinances without instructions from the President.
Must knowThe Sarkaria Commission (1983–88) justified the Principle of Federal Supremacy to avoid absurdity, resolve conflict, and maintain harmony between Union and State laws.

Administrative Relations Between Centre and States

Executive powers are co-extensive with legislative competence; executive power to implement laws on Concurrent List subjects normally rests with the State Executives.
Article 256 imposes a general obligation on states to comply with Parliamentary laws, and Article 257 mandates that state executive power must not impede the Centre's executive actions.
Failure of a state to comply with Central directions allows the invocation of Article 365, deeming it a breakdown of constitutional machinery leading to President's Rule under Article 356.
The Centre can direct states to protect railways, maintain means of communication of national or military importance, and secure instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage for linguistic minorities.
Under Article 312, Parliament is empowered to create new All-India Services (AIS) based on a prior resolution passed by the Rajya Sabha supported by a 2/3rd majority.
Chairman and members of a State Public Service Commission (SPSC) are appointed by the Governor but can be removed only by the President.

Financial Relations and Revenue Distribution

The Constitution divides taxing powers between the Union (exclusive power over 13 subjects) and States (exclusive power over 18 subjects), with no tax entries originally in the Concurrent List.
The 101st Constitutional Amendment Act of 2016 introduced concurrent powers to both Parliament and State Legislatures regarding the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The 80th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2000 implemented the "Alternative Scheme of Devolution" based on the 10th Finance Commission recommendations, transferring 29% of certain central taxes to states retrospectively from April 1, 1996.
All revenues received by the Government of India are credited to the Consolidated Fund of India (Article 266), from which money can only be withdrawn with Parliamentary approval.
The Contingency Fund of India (Article 267) is an imprest of money placed at the disposal of the President and held on his behalf by the Finance Secretary.
Must knowUnder Article 275, statutory grants are provided to needy states from the Consolidated Fund of India on the recommendation of the Finance Commission, whereas Article 282 provides for discretionary grants.

Article	Tax Type	Levy	Collection
268	Stamp duties on cheques, bills, etc.	Centre	States
269	Taxes on interstate trade and commerce	Centre	Centre
269-A	Inter-State GST (IGST)	Centre	Centre
270	Other central taxes (Income tax, etc.)	Centre	Centre
271	Surcharges on certain taxes	Centre	Centre

Committees on Centre-State Relations

The First Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC, 1966), chaired by Morarji Desai (and later K. Hanumanthaiah), recommended setting up an Inter-State Council under Article 263.
The Rajamannar Committee was appointed by the Tamil Nadu government (DMK) in 1969 to examine Centre-State relations, submitting its report in 1971.
In 1973, the Akali Dal passed the Anandpur Sahib Resolution, demanding that the Centre's jurisdiction be limited only to defence, foreign affairs, communications, and currency.
The West Bengal Government published the West Bengal Memorandum in 1977, seeking substitution of the word "Union" with "Federal" and allocation of 75% of central revenues to states.
The Sarkaria Commission (1983–1988) submitted 247 recommendations, emphasizing that Article 356 should be used sparingly as a matter of last resort.
Must knowThe Punchhi Commission (2007–2010), headed by Madan Mohan Punchhi, recommended giving Governors a fixed tenure of five years and requiring them to decide on state bills within six months.

Inter-State Water Disputes and Adjudication

Entry 17 in the State List covers water supplies, irrigation, canals, drainage, embankments, and water storage, subject to Entry 56 of the Union List (regulation of inter-state rivers).
Must knowUnder Article 262, Parliament enacted the River Boards Act (1956) and the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act (1956) to adjudicate disputes on inter-state rivers.
Article 262 permits Parliament to exclude the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and all other courts over inter-state water disputes.
The decision (award) of an ad-hoc tribunal set up under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act is final and binding on all parties.
A major bottleneck in dispute resolution has been lengthy proceedings; for example, the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal was set up in 1990 and delivered its final award only in 2007.

Inter-State Council and Zonal Councils

Article 263 empowers the President to establish an Inter-State Council to inquire into, discuss, and advise on inter-state and Centre-state issues.
The Inter-State Council was formally established in 1990 by a Presidential Order on the recommendation of the Sarkaria Commission under the V. P. Singh government.
The Inter-State Council consists of the Prime Minister (Chairman), Chief Ministers of all states and UTs with assemblies, administrators of other UTs, and six Union Cabinet Ministers.
Zonal Councils are statutory bodies created by an Act of Parliament—the States Reorganisation Act of 1956—which divided India into five zones: Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern.
Must knowThe Union Home Minister acts as the common Chairman of all five Zonal Councils, while the Chief Ministers of the states in each zone act as Vice-Chairman by annual rotation.
The North-Eastern Council was created as a separate statutory body under the North-Eastern Council Act of 1971, comprising the eight north-eastern states (including Sikkim).

Inter-State Trade and Freedom of Intercourse

Part XIII of the Constitution (Articles 301 to 307) deals with trade, commerce, and intercourse within the territory of India, inspired by the Australian Constitution.
Article 301 guarantees that trade, commerce, and intercourse throughout the territory of India shall be free, preventing internal tariff walls.
Under Article 302, Parliament can impose restrictions on freedom of trade between states or within a state in the public interest.
Article 19(1)(g) provides citizens the fundamental right to practice any profession or carry on any occupation, trade, or business, subject to Article 19(6).
Must knowArticle 301 applies to both citizens and non-citizens and cannot be directly enforced under Article 32, unlike the fundamental right under Article 19(1)(g).

Key terms

Integrated Judiciary: A unified hierarchical court system in India where central and state laws are administered together by the Supreme Court, High Courts, and subordinate courts.
Territorial Nexus: The doctrine under Article 245 establishing that a state law can have extra-territorial application if there is a sufficient and real connection between the state and the object/person.
Residuary Powers: Powers to make laws on matters not listed in any of the three lists of the Seventh Schedule, vested in the Union Parliament (Article 248).
Alternative Scheme of Devolution: The fiscal mechanism introduced by the 80th Amendment sharing 29% of designated central tax proceeds with states based on the 10th Finance Commission.
Statutory Grants: Grants-in-aid provided under Article 275 charged on the Consolidated Fund of India for states requiring financial assistance.
Inter-State Council: A constitutional advisory body established under Article 263 by the President to coordinate policies and deliberate on disputes between states and the Centre.
Zonal Councils: Five statutory bodies established under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 to foster interstate cooperation and regional development.

Quick revision

Read these the night before the exam.

Legislative relations between Centre and States are detailed in Part XI, Articles 245 to 255.
Administrative relations between Centre and States are governed by Part XI, Articles 256 to 263.
Financial relations between Centre and States are situated in Part XII, Articles 268 to 293.
Residuary legislative and tax powers are vested exclusively in Parliament under Article 248.
Under Article 312, a new All-India Service can be initiated only on the recommendation of Rajya Sabha.
SPSC members are appointed by the Governor but can be dismissed or removed only by the President.
Under Article 262, Parliament can exclude the Supreme Court from reviewing inter-state river water disputes.
Zonal Councils are statutory bodies set up under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, not constitutional bodies.
The Union Home Minister serves as the common Chairman of all five statutory Zonal Councils.
The North-Eastern Council was established under a separate statute: the North-Eastern Council Act of 1971.
Part XIII (Articles 301 to 307), ensuring free interstate trade and commerce, was inspired by the Australian Constitution.

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