Current Edge Daily Brief 1st November 2025

IE Opinion: The quasi-federal model of governance remains the best fit for India

Syllabus: Pre/Mains – Polity

Why in News?

→ 76th anniversary of the Indian Constitution → Renewed focus on India’s quasi-federal model as the most suitable governance framework for a diverse democracy.

Nature of Indian Federalism

• Constitutional Basis → Art.1: “Union of States” → neither strictly federal nor unitary → Quasi-federal.
• Historical Context → Constituent Assembly → Aim: unity + autonomy balance post-Independence.
• Ambedkar’s View → Federation ≠ result of states’ agreement; indestructible union of destructible states.
• Structure → Dual polity (Centre–States); Written & partly rigid Constitution; Bicameralism.
• Division of Powers → 3 Lists → Union (97), State (61), Concurrent (47).
• Emergency Provisions → Centre ↑ powers → may legislate on State List.
• Article 3 → Parliament can alter state boundaries → Centre supremacy.
• Council of States (Rajya Sabha) → Represents regional aspirations; acts as federal check on Lok Sabha.

Why Quasi-Federalism Works for India?

• Unity in Diversity → Single citizenship, integrated judiciary, All India Services → cohesion across diversity.
• Self-rule + Shared-rule Principle → Enables coexistence of plurality & national unity.
• Flexibility → Adaptable to crises (e.g., integration of princely states, linguistic reorganisation).
• Institutional Balance → Combination of central authority & state autonomy → ensures stability.

Present Challenges

• Fiscal Centralisation → GST ↓ state tax autonomy (State VAT subsumed); revenue shortfall ↑ (≈19–33%); delayed compensation → fiscal stress.
• Administrative Centralisation → Covid lockdown via DM Act → minimal state consultation.
• Political Centralisation → Centre’s dominant role in policymaking, appointments, and fund allocation.

Federal Mechanisms of Cooperation

• Cooperative Federalism Bodies → GST Council, NITI Aayog, Inter-State & Zonal Councils → consensus forums.
• Dispute Resolution → Art. 262, 263 → inter-state water & coordination mechanisms.
• Local Governance Empowerment → 73rd & 74th Amendments → Panchayati Raj & Urban Local Bodies → deepening federal base.

Resilience & Achievements

• National Integration → Peaceful state reorganisation & inclusion of new UTs/states.
• Policy Coordination → Pulse Polio, Swachh Bharat, Digital India → Centre-state synergy.
• Economic Unification → Single market via GST → improved interstate trade flow.
• Adaptive Federalism → Capacity to handle crises while preserving unity.

Conclusion

India’s quasi-federal model = pragmatic equilibrium → strong Centre for unity + empowered States for diversity → sustains cooperative, adaptable, and resilient democracy.

Test Your Knowledge 01

Q. Consider the following provisions and identify which strengthen the unitary bias in India’s federal framework:

1. Article 3 – Parliament can alter state boundaries
2. Emergency provisions (Art. 352–360)
3. Equal representation of states in Rajya Sabha
4. Single citizenship

Choose the correct answer:

(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Hint: Think of features that ↑ Centre’s dominance or ↓ States’ autonomy — i.e., where uniformity or central control prevails.