Unit - 4
Relation between Federal and Provincial units
4.1.1 Union-State relations
India could be a union of states. The constitution of India has divided the legislative, government and monetary powers between the Centre and therefore the states, which provides the constitution a federal character whereas judiciary is integrated during a hierarchical data structure.
The center-state relations square measure divided into 3 components, that square measure mentioned below:
(A) Legislative Relations (Article 245-255)
(B) Body Relations (Article 256-263)
(C) Monetary Relations (Article 268-293)
In India, before the formation of the federation the States weren't ‘sovereign’ entities.
As such, there was no want for safeguards to safeguard ‘States’. On account of the exigencies of things, the Indian federation has no inheritable characteristics that square measure quite completely different from the Yankee model.
(i)The residuary powers underneath the Indian Constitution square measure allotted to the Union and to not the States. However, it's going to be noted that the Canadian Constitution will identical mode of distributing the powers cannot be thought of as eating away the federal nature of the Constitution.
(ii) although there's a division of powers between the Union and therefore the States, the Indian Constitution provides the Union with power to exercise management over the legislation additionally because the administration of the States. Legislation by a State is disallowed by the President, once reserved by the Governor for his thought.
The Governor is appointed by the President of the Union and holds workplace “during his pleasure”. Title of respecting these ideas square measure found within the Canadian Constitution although not within the Constitution of the U.S.A.
The Constitution of India lays down the Constitution of the Union additionally because the States, and no State, except Jammu and Cashmere, encompasses a right to see its own (State) Constitution.
(iv) Once considering the modification of the Constitution we discover that except during a few specific matters poignant the federal structure, the States needn't even be consulted within the matter of modification of the Constitution. the majority of the Constitution is amended by a Bill within the Union Parliament being lapsed a special majority.
(v) Within the case of the Indian Constitution, whereas the Union is indestructible, the States aren't. It’s doable for the Union Parliament to reorganize the States or to change their boundaries by a straightforward majority within the standard method of legislation.
The ‘consent’ of the State assembly involved isn't required; the President has solely to ‘ascertain’ the views of the Legislatures of the affected States. The convenience with that the federal organization could also be reshaped by a normal legislation by the Union Parliament has been incontestable by the enactment of the States Reorganization Act, 1956. An oversized range of recent States have, since, been shaped.
(vi) Underneath the Indian Constitution, there's no equality of illustration of the States within the Council of States. Hence, the federal safeguard against the interests of the lesser States being overridden by the interests of the larger or additional inhabited States is absent underneath our Constitution. Its federal nature is additional laid low with having a nominative part of twelve members against 238 representatives of the States and Union Territories.
4.1.2 Body
Article 256 to 263 deals with the executive relations between the centre and therefore the states. Article 256 states that "the government power of each State shall be thus exercised on guarantee compliance with the laws created by the parliament and any existing laws that apply in this State, and therefore the government power of the Union shall be the giving of such directions to a State as might seem to the govt of India to be necessary for that purpose".
Cooperation between the Centre and therefore the States
The constitution lays down numerous provisions to secure cooperation and coordination between the center and therefore the states. These include:
(i) Article 261 states that "Full religion and credit shall be throughout the territory of India to public acts, records and judicial proceedings of the Union and of each State".
(ii) Per Article 262, the parliament might by law offer for the judgement of any dispute or criticism with reference to the utilization, distribution or management of the waters of, or in, any inter-State stream or stream vale.
(iii) Article 263 empowers the President to determine Associate in Nursing inter-State Council to discuss and advise upon disputes between states, to analyze and discuss subjects within which some or all of the States, or the Union and one or additional of the States, have a standard interest.
(iv) As per Article 307, Parliament might by law appoint such authority because it considers applicable for completing the needs of the constitutional provisions associated with the inter-state freedom of trade and commerce.
Centre-State Relations throughout Emergency
(i) Throughout a national emergency (under Article 352), the government become subordinate to the central government. All the chief functions of the state come back underneath the management of the union government.
(ii) throughout a state emergency (under Article 356), the president will assume to himself all or any of the functions of the govt of the State and every one or any of the powers unconditional in or exercisable by the Governor or authority within the State aside from the assembly of the State.
(iii) throughout the operation of economic emergency (under Article 360), the Union might provide directions to any State to watch such canons of economic deportment as could also be laid out in the directions, and to the giving of such alternative directions because the President might see necessary and adequate for the aim.
The administrative relations between the union and therefore the states might be studied as under: (i) traditional and (ii) emergency conditions. The constitution has devised many techniques of management to be exercised over the states by the Union government underneath traditional circumstances. The states shall not interfere with the legislative and government policies of the Union government.
Techniques of Union control over States
In normal times:
Even in traditional times, the Indian Constitution has devised techniques of management over the states by the Union to make sure that the state governments don't interfere with the legislative and govt policies of the union and additionally to make sure the potency and strength of every individual unit that is important for the strength of the union. a number of these avenues of management arise out of the chief and legislative powers unconditional within the President, in reference to states. For example, the President of Asian country has power to appoint and dismiss the Governor, (Art. 155-156) and alternative dignitaries within the state, if they were found guilty.
4.1.3 Legislative and Financial
Legislative
Articles 245 to 255 partly XI deals with totally different aspects of legislative relations between center and states. These include:
(1) Territorial jurisdiction of laws created by the Parliament and by the Legislatures of States.
(2) Distribution of legislative subjects
(3) Power of parliament to enact with relevance a matter within the State List
(4) Centre's management state legislation
However, Seventh Schedule of the Constitution provides for the distribution of legislative powers between the middle and also the states. The legislative subjects square measure divided into List I (the Union List), List II (the synchronal List) and List III (the State List).
•At gift, there square measure a hundred subjects within the Union list which has subjects like foreign affairs, defense, railway, communicating services, banking, nuclear energy, communication, currency etc.
•At gift, there square measure sixty one subjects within the State list. The list includes subjects like police, public order, roadways, health, agriculture, authorities, drink facilities, sanitation etc.
•At gift, there square measure fifty two subjects within the synchronal list. The list includes subjects like education, forests, protection of untamed animals and birds, electricity, labor welfare, legal code and procedure, civil procedure, social control and planning, drugs etc.
Article 245 empowers the Centre to convey directions to the states in sure cases with regard to the exercise of their govt powers.
Article 249 empowers the parliament to enact with relevance a matter within the State List within the national interest.
Under Article 250, the parliament becomes authorized to create laws on the matters associated with state list once national emergency (under Article 352) is operative.
Under Article 252, the parliament is authorized to enact for 2 or a lot of States by their consent.
(Article 245-254) of the Indian Constitution fixed two-fold division of Legislative powers between the Union and also the States.
(1) With respect of territory
(2) With respect of material
Territorial Jurisdiction
As regards territory, Article 245 (1) provides that subject to the provisions of this constitution, a State general assembly might create laws for the full or any a part of the state to that it belongs. It’s inconceivable for a State general assembly to enlarge its territorial jurisdiction below any circumstances except once the boundaries of the state itself square measure widened by an act of Parliament. Parliament has, on the opposite hand, the ability to enact for ‘the whole or any a part of the territory of Asian country, which has not solely the states however additionally the union territory of Asian country [Art. 246 (1). It additionally possess the ability of extra-territorial legislation [Art. 245, that no state general assembly possesses. this implies that laws created by parliament can govern not solely persons and property within the territory of Asian country however additionally Indian subjects resident and this property settled anyplace within the world.
Financial
The Constitution deals with the center-state monetary relations in Article 268-293 of half XII. Allocation of burdensome powers
The Constitution has provided the union government and also the state governments with the freelance sources of revenue. It allocates the powers to center and also the states within the following way:
(i) The parliament has exclusive power to levy taxes on the themes mentioned within the Union List.
(ii) The state legislatures has exclusive power to levy taxes on the themes mentioned within the
State List
(iii) Each the parliament and also the state general assembly square measure authorized to levy taxes on the themes mentioned within the synchronal List.
(iv) The parliament has exclusive power to levy taxes on the matters associated with the residuary subjects.
However, just in case of revenue distribution,
•article 268 states that duties square measure levied by the Union however square measure collected and condemned by the States;
•Service tax levied by Union and picked up and condemned by the Union and also the States (Article 268-A);
•Taxes levied and picked up by the Union however allotted to the States (Article 269);
•Taxes levied and picked up by the Union however distributed between the Union and also the States (Article 270).
•Surcharge on sure duties and taxes for functions of the Union (Article 271)
Under Article 275, the parliament is allowed to produce grants-in-aid to any state as parliament might verify to be in would like of help, and totally different sums is also fastened for various States.
Under Article 282, the union or a state might create any grants for any public purpose, withal that the aim isn't one with relevance that Parliament or the general assembly of the State, because the case is also, might create laws.
Under Article 352, throughout the operation of national emergency, the distribution of revenues between the center and also the states is altered by the president.
Under Article 360, throughout the monetary emergency, the chief authority of the Union shall offer directions to any State to watch such canons of monetary properness as is also per the directions and to the offer the directions because the President might view necessary and adequate for the aim.
4.1.4 Inter State council
Article 263 of Indian constitution offer provision for the institution of AN Inter-State Council. This can be to boost the coordination between the middle and States. It’s the foremost dynamic platform to debate policies, strengthen the Centre-State relations and act as a bridge to the trust deficit between the middle and also the States. The nation can progress only if the Union and State Governments work hand in hand. There are many challenges to maintain the federation. For a soothing functioning of the system, it is necessary to conduct periodic debates and discussions.
Inter-State Council isn't a permanent constitutional body, which might be created at any time if it looks to the President that the general public interest would be served by the institution of such council. it had been came upon in 1990 through a presidential ordinance for the primary time as per the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission beneath the Ministry of Home affairs. The supporter functions of the Zonal Councils are reassigned to the Inter-State Council Secretariat from first April 2011.
Inter-State Council works as AN instrument for cooperation, coordination and also the evolution of common policies the interstate council is projected to fulfill thrice a year. However in twenty six years, it's met solely eleven times. Recently the meeting was control when a niche of ten years in city in July 2016.
- Inter-State Council Composition
- Prime Minister acts because the chairman of the council.
1. Union Ministers of cupboard rank within the Union
2. Council of Ministers appointive by the Prime Minister.
3. Chief Ministers of all states.
4. Chief Ministers of Union Territories having a legislature
5. Directors of UTs not having a legislature.
6. Governors of the states being administered beneath President’s rule.
Functions of Inter-State Council
1. Inquiring and advising upon disputes which can have emerged between the States:
2. Work and discussing subjects during which the States of the Union contains a common interest.
3. Creating suggestions on any such subject, for the higher coordination of policy and action with reference to that subject.
Highlights of eleventh Inter-State Council Meeting
1. Thought of commission recommendations on Centre-State Relations.
2. Use of Aadhaar and DBT for providing Subsidies, benefits, and Public Services
3. Enhancing the standard of education with attention on rising learning outcomes, incentivizing higher performance, etc.
4. Internal Security with attention on intelligence sharing and synchronization for fighting act of terrorism and insurrection and Police Reforms and Police Modernization.
Key Takeaways
- Though there's a division of powers between the Union and also the States, the Indian Constitution provides the Union with power to exercise management over the legislation additionally because the administration of the States.
- Article 256 states that "the government power of each State shall be therefore exercised on guarantee compliance with the laws created by the parliament and any existing laws that apply in this State
- During a national emergency (under Article 352), the authorities become subordinate to the central government. All the chief functions of the state return beneath the management of the union government.
- Inter-State Council works as AN instrument for cooperation, coordination and also the evolution of common policies the interstate council is projected to fulfill thrice a year.
4.1.5 NITI Ayog
- The National establishment for remodeling Asian country, additionally known as NITI Aayog, was fashioned via a resolution of the Union cupboard on January one, 2015. NITI Aayog is that the premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the govt. of Asian country, providing each directional and policy inputs. Whereas coming up with strategic and long run policies and programmers for the govt. of Asian country, NITI Aayog additionally provides relevant technical recommendation to the Centre and States.
- The Government of Asian country, keep with its reform agenda, official the NITI Aayog to interchange the look Commission instituted in 1950. This was tired order to raised serve the requirements and aspirations of the folks of Asian country. a crucial organic process amendment from the past, NITI Aayog acts because the illustration platform of the govt. of Asian country to bring States to act along in national interest, and thereby fosters Cooperative ideology.
- At the core of NITI Aayog’s creation square measure 2 hubs – Team Asian country Hub and also the data and Innovation Hub. The Team Asian country Hub leads the engagement of states with the Central government, whereas the data and Innovation Hub builds NITI’s think-tank capabilities. These hubs replicate the 2 key tasks of the Aayog.
- NITI Aayog is additionally developing itself as a State of the Art Resource Centre, with the required resources, data and skills, which will alter it to act with speed, promote analysis and innovation, give strategic policy vision for the govt., and trot out contingent problems.
- Functions
- To evolve a shared vision of national development priorities sectors and techniques with the active involvement of States within the light-weight of national objectives
- To foster cooperative ideology through structured support initiatives and mechanisms with the States on endless basis, recognizing that robust States create a powerful nation
- To develop mechanisms to formulate credible plans at the village level and mixture these more and more at higher levels of presidency
- To guarantee, on square measures that are specifically brought up it, that the interests of national security square measure incorporated in economic strategy and policy
- To pay special attention to the sections of our society which will be in danger of not benefiting adequately from economic progress
- To style strategic and long run policy and programme frameworks and initiatives, and monitor their progress and their effectivity. the teachings learnt through observance and feedback are used for creating innovative enhancements, together with necessary mid-course corrections
- To give recommendation and encourage partnerships between key stakeholders and national and international like suppose tanks, additionally as instructional and policy analysis establishments.
- To produce a data, innovation and entrepreneurial network through a cooperative community of national and international consultants, practitioners and alternative partners.
- To provide a platform for resolution of inter-sectoral and inter¬ division problems so as to accelerate the implementation of the event agenda.
- To maintain a progressive Resource Centre, be a repository of analysis on smart governance and best practices in property and equitable development additionally as facilitate their dissemination to stake-holders
- To actively monitor and judge the implementation of programs and initiatives, together with the identification of the required resources therefore on strengthen the chance of success and scope of delivery
- To specialize in technology upgradation and capability building for implementation of programs and initiatives To undertake other activities as may be necessary in order to further the execution of the national development agenda, and the objectives mentioned above
Composition of NITI Aayog
1. Prime Minister of Asian nation because the chair
2. Governing Council comprising the Chief Ministers of all the States and Lt. Governors of Union Territories
3. Regional Councils are going to be convened to handle specific problems and contingencies impacting quite one state or a vicinity by the Prime Minister and can comprise of the Chief Ministers of States and Lt. Governors of Union Territories within the region.
4. Experts, specialists and practitioners with relevant domain information as special invitees appointed by the Prime Minister
5. The full-time structure framework can comprise of, additionally to the Prime Minister because the Chairperson:
• Vice-Chairperson to be appointed by the Prime Minister
• Full-time members
• Maximum of two part-time members from leading universities analysis organizations associated alternative relevant establishments in an ex-officio capability
• Maximum of four members of the Union Council of Ministers to be appointed by the Prime Minister as Ex Officio members
• Chief military officer to be appointed by the Prime Minister for a hard and fast tenure, within the rank of Secretary to the govt of Asian nation.
• Secretariat as deemed necessary.
The major objectives of NITI Aayog
1. To evolve a shared vision of national development priorities, sectors and methods with the active involvement of States within the lightweight of national objectives.
2. To foster cooperative political theory through structured support initiatives and mechanisms with the States on a nonstop basis, recognizing that sturdy States create a powerful nation.
3. To develop mechanisms to formulate credible plans at the village level and combination these increasingly at higher levels of state.
4. To confirm that the interests of national security area unit incorporated in economic strategy and policy.
5. To pay special attention to the sections of our society that will be in danger of not benefitting adequately from economic progress.
6. To style strategic and future policy and programme frameworks and initiatives, and monitor their progress and their effectiveness.
7. To produce recommendation and encourage partnerships between key stakeholders and national and international similar suppose Tanks, also as instructional and policy analysis establishments.
8. To concentrate on technology up gradation and capability building for implementation of programs and initiatives.
4.1.5 Finance Commission of Asian nation
Finance Commission could be a constitutional body for the aim of allocation of sure revenue resources between the Union and also the State Governments. it had been established below Article 280 of the Indian Constitution by the Indian President. it had been created to outline the monetary relations between the Centre and also the states. It had been fashioned in 1951.
Articles manage Finance Commission of Asian nation
Article 280 of the Indian Constitution
•President once 2 years of the commencement of Indian Constitution and thenceforth each five years, has got to represent a Finance Commission of Asian nation.
•It shall be the duty of the Commission to create recommendations to the President in reference to the:
•the distribution between the Union and also the States of information superhighway payoff of taxes that area unit to be, or maybe, divided between them and also the allocation between the States of the various shares of such proceeds;
•the principles that ought to govern the grants in aid of the revenues of the States out of the Consolidated Fund of India;
•any alternative matter brought up the Commission by the President within the interests of sound finance
•The Commission shall confirm their procedure and shall have such powers within the performance of their functions as Parliament might by law confer on them
Finance Commission Chairman and Members
•Chairman: Heads the Commission and presides over the activities. He ought to have had public affairs expertise.
•Four Members.
•The Parliament determines de jure the qualifications of the members of the Commission and their choice ways.
Qualifications of Finance Commission Chairman and Members
•The four members ought to be or are qualified as tribunal judges, or be knowledgeable in finance or veteran in monetary matters and area unit in administration, or possess information in social science.
•All the appointments area unit created by the President of the country.
•Grounds of disqualification of members:
•found to be of unsound mind, concerned during a vile act, if there's a conflict of interest
• The tenure of the workplace of the Member of the Finance Commission is mere by the President of Asian nation and in some cases, the members also are re-appointed.
• The members shall offer part-time or service to the Commission as regular by the President.
• The earnings of the members is as per the provisions ordered down by the constitution.
Functions of Finance Commission
The Finance Commission makes recommendations to the president of Asian nation on the subsequent issues:
•The internet tax yield distribution to be divided between the Centre and also the states, and also the allocation of constant between states.
•The principles governing the grants-in-aid to the states by the Centre out of the consolidated fund of Asian nation.
•The steps needed to increase the consolidated fund of a state to spice up the resources of the panchayats and also the municipalities of the state on the premise of the recommendations created by the state Finance Commission.
•Any alternative matter named it by the president within the interests of sound finance.
•The Commission decides the premise for sharing the dissociative taxes by the center and also the states and also the principles that govern the grants-in-aid to the states each 5 years.
•Any matter within the interest of sound finance is also named the Commission by the President.
•The Commission’s recommendations alongside AN informative memoranda with reference to the actions done by the govt. on them square measure ordered before the homes of the Parliament.
•The FC evaluates the increase within the Consolidated Fund of a state so as to affix the resources of the state Panchayats and Municipalities.
•The FC has adequate powers to exercise its functions inside its activity domain.
•As per the Code of Civil Procedure 1908, the FC has all the powers of a Civil Court. It will decision witnesses, fire the assembly of a public document or record from any workplace or court.
Advisory Role of Finance Commission
The recommendations created by the Finance Commission square measure of a consultive nature solely and so, not binding upon the govt. it's up to the govt. to implement its recommendations on granting cash to the states. to place it in alternative words, ‘It is obscurity ordered down within the Constitution that the recommendations of the commission shall be binding upon the govt. of Asian nation or that it might quantity to a right favoring the recipient states to receive the cash suggested to be provided to them by the Commission.
Finance Commission | Chairman | Year of Appointment |
First | K.C. Neogy | 1951 |
Second | K. Santhanam | 1956 |
Third | A.K. Chanda | 1960 |
Fourth | Dr. P.V. Rajamannar | 1964 |
Fifth | Mahavir Tyagi | 1968 |
Sixth | Brahamananda Reddy | 1972 |
Seventh | J.M. Shelat | 1977 |
Eighth | Y.B. Chavan | 1982 |
Ninth | N.K.P. Salve | 1987 |
Tenth | K.C. Pant | 1992 |
Eleventh | A.M. Khusro | 1998 |
Twelfth | Dr. C. Rangarajan | 2002 |
Thirteenth | Dr. Vijay Kelkar | 2007 |
Fourteenth | Y.V. Reddy | 2013 |
Fifteenth | N.K Singh | 2017 |
Key Takeaways
- The National Institution for Transforming India, also called NITI Aayog, was formed via a resolution of the Union Cabinet on January 1, 2015.
- NITI Aayog is the premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the Government of India, providing both directional and policy inputs.
- Finance Commission is a constitutional body for the purpose of allocation of certain revenue resources between the Union and the State Governments
- President after two years of the commencement of Indian Constitution and thereafter every 5 years, has to constitute a Finance Commission of India.
References:
1. D.D. Basu, Introduction to the constitution of India, Lexis Nexis, New Delhi
2. Subhash Kashyap, Our Parliament, National Book Trust, New Delhi
3. Peu Ghosh, Indian Government &Politics, Prentice Hall of India, New Delhi
4. B.Z. Fadia & Kuldeep Fadia, Indian Government &Politics, Lexis Nexis, New Delhi