TOPIC : GS 2 Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States, Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure, Devolution of Powers and Finances up to Local Levels and Challenges Therein.
What is the news?
Recently Tamil Nadu government decided to stop the usage of the term ‘Central government’ in its official communications and replace it with ‘Union government’
Historical evolution:
- The term “Centre” is a carryover from colonial times.
- The administration that was run by the governor general was often described as the “Central Government” to differentiate it from the “provincial governments” (what we now call ‘state’ govts)
- 1919 Government of India Act, which introduced a rudimentary form of federalism in India, split the administrative subjects into “central” and “provincial” subjects
- 1935 GOI act used the word “Federation of India” for the first time. But a true federation never materialised
- However, The Independent Indian Constitution neither used ‘Federation’ nor ‘Centre’ but defined India as “Union of states”
- Article 1: “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States”
Why “Union” over “Centre” or “Federation”?
- ‘Union of States’ has been preferred to ‘Federation of States’ for two reasons
- Indian Federation is not the result of an agreement among the states like the American Federation
- The states have no right to secede from the federation. The federation is an Union because it is indestructible
Thus, the country is an integral whole and divided into different states only for the convenience of administration.
- “Union” was preferred over “Centre” because
- States are neither the agencies of the Union, nor derive their powers from it.
- Both the Union and the States are created by the Constitution and both derive their respective authority from the Constitution.
- The constitution clearly demarcated legislative and Executive powers between Union and States
- The relation between union and states is not of subordination but of coordination using the term ‘Centre’ or ‘central government’ points to an unequal relationship between the two governments
However, Indian constitution has both Central and federal features
Why assumed Importance now?
In recent years Indian polity has seen some strains in its federal relations in the form of
- Citizenship Amendment Act
- Farm Bills
- UAPA and NIA amendment Act
- GST compensation
- Terms of reference of 15 th Finance commission etc.
Way Forward
A diverse and large country like India requires a proper balance between Union and states in terms of Legislative, executive and financial matters. Rigid centralisation or chaotic decentralisation can both lead to the weakening of Indian federalism.
PRELIMS PUNCHERS
- Presidio Principles
It is an initiative from the World Economic Forum’s Global Blockchain Council intended to lay out a foundational set of principles for those building with blockchain technology and decentralized infrastructure.
The Principles have been developed over the course of the past year with input from experts representing both the public and private sectors and perspectives across the blockchain community, human rights and civil society organizations, technology developers, and others. Once finalized, organizations building with decentralized technologies will have the opportunity to sign on to demonstrate their commitment to the Principles.
Sources : https://www.weforum.org/communities/presidio-principles
- Gain of function research
It is medical research that alters an organism or disease in a way that increases pathogenesis, transmissibility, or host range the types of hosts that a microorganism can infect. This research is intended to reveal targets to better predict emerging infectious diseases and to develop vaccines and therapeutics.
In virology, gain of function research is employed with the intention of better understanding current and future pandemics. In vaccine development, gain of function research is conducted in the hope of gaining a head start on a virus and being able to develop a vaccine or therapeutic before it emerges. The term “gain of function” is sometimes applied more narrowly to refer to “research which could enable a pandemic-potential pathogen to replicate more quickly or cause more harm in humans or other closely-related mammals.”
- Kali Sindh River
The Kali Sindh, is a river in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in northern India and is a tributary of the Chambal River in the Ganges Basin. It rises in the Vindhya Range near Bagli in Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh.
The River drains a major portion of the Malwa region, and is the biggest river flowing in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh. The main tributaries of the Kali Sindh are the Parwan, Niwaj and Ahu rivers. Kalisindh Dam is a major dam across the river situated in Jhalawar district of Rajasthan.
- Mettur dam:
It is located across the Cauvery river in Mettur, Salem district of Tamil Nadu. It was opened in 1934. It receives inflows from its own catchment area, Kabini dam and Krishna Raja Sagar dam located in Karnataka. It forms Stanley reservoir named after Lt. Col. Sir George Frederick Stanley, who was the Governor of Madras in 1934
A park named Ellis park is situated at the base of the dam. The dam provides irrigation and drinking water to more than 12 districts of Tamil Nadu and hence revered as Life and Livelihood giving asset of Tamil Nadu. This dam also has a Hydroelectric power project in it .Due to the subsequent construction of dams across Cauvery in Karnataka, this dam doesn’t receive much water in lean seasons, leading to Kaveri River Water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
PRELIMS QUESTIONS
- Presidio Principles is initiative of
- International Monetary Forum
- World Bank
- Asian Development Bank
- World Economic Forum
Answer: D
It is an initiative from the World Economic Forum’s Global Blockchain Council intended to lay out a foundational set of principles for those building with blockchain technology and decentralized infrastructure.
The Principles have been developed over the course of the past year with input from experts representing both the public and private sectors and perspectives across the blockchain community, human rights and civil society organizations, technology developers, and others. Once finalized, organizations building with decentralized technologies will have the opportunity to sign on to demonstrate their commitment to the Principles
- Consider the following Statement regarding to kali Sindhi River
- It is the river in Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand
- It rises in the Vindhya Range near Bagli in Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh.
Select the correct statement using code given below.
(a). 1only (b) 2 only
(c).Both (d). None of above
Answer: B
The Kali Sindh, is a river in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in northern India and is a tributary of the Chambal River in the Ganges Basin. It rises in the Vindhya Range near Bagli in Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh.
The River drains a major portion of the Malwa region, and is the biggest river flowing in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh. The main tributaries of the Kali Sindh are the Parwan, Niwaj and Ahu rivers. Kalisindh Dam is a major dam across the river situated in Jhalawar district of Rajasthan.