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General Studies 2022 GS Paper II 15 marks 250 words Compulsory Comment

GS Paper II — Q13

"While the national political parties in India favour centralisation, the regional parties are in favour of State autonomy."…

"While the national political parties in India favour centralisation, the regional parties are in favour of State autonomy." Comment. (Answer in 250 words) 15 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

"भारत में राष्ट्रीय राजनीतिक दल केन्द्रीकरण के पक्ष में हैं, जबकि क्षेत्रीय दल राज्य-स्वायत्तता के पक्ष में ।" टिप्पणी कीजिए । (250 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए)

Q13 of the 2022 UPSC Mains General Studies GS Paper II, as printed
The question as printed in the 2022 General Studies paper
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Model answer

Written by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the 250-word length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key.

Indian federalism operates along a dynamic spectrum where national parties generally champion a unified, centralised polity, while regional parties assert sub-national identity and State autonomy. However, this dichotomy reflects political location and expediency as much as genuine ideological conviction.

Centralising Tendencies of National Parties National parties inherently prioritize national integration and macro-governance. Historically, the Congress party fostered centralisation through its unitary ‘high command’ culture, frequent invocation of Article 356, and Centrally Sponsored Schemes with rigid conditionalities. Similarly, the Bharatiya Janata Party pursues a "One Nation" paradigm—exemplified by GST, ‘One Nation One Ration Card’, and calls for simultaneous elections. This centralising thrust often leverages constitutional provisions like Article 3 (altering state boundaries) and the expanding Union influence over the Seventh Schedule, visibly manifesting in controversies over the farm laws, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), initial centralized COVID-19 vaccine distribution, and allegations of politicised enforcement via the ED and CBI.

Regional Parties as Champions of Autonomy Conversely, regional parties draw legitimacy from linguistic, cultural, and regional identity. Formations like the DMK advocate deeper federalism and state rights, while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) resists central investigative agencies and demands timely GST compensation. These parties routinely contest central hegemony within institutional arenas such as the Finance Commission and demand the revival of the Inter-State Council to safeguard their fiscal and administrative space.

Fluid Dichotomy and Pragmatism However, this divide is oversimplified. Regional parties frequently dilute their federal demands when accommodated as coalition partners in the NDA or UPA. Conversely, national parties aggressively champion state autonomy whenever they govern in states as the national opposition.

Therefore, while national parties lean toward integration and regional parties toward decentralisation, their postures are largely determined by their proximity to Union power rather than immutable philosophy.

What "Comment" is asking you to do

Take a position on the statement and support it. Comment usually attaches to a quoted line in the short slots, so the reasoning must be compressed — an opening view, a few load-bearing reasons, and the limit of the claim.

Structure that answers it

Unpack what the statement asserts → your stance → two or three supporting reasons → the qualification that limits it

Where marks are lost

Neutral summary; a comment without a stance has not answered. Equally costly is accepting the quoted line wholesale and never testing where it fails.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Framework: GS2 Paper 2: Federalism & Political Theory. comment: context > arguments both sides > judgment > close Full marks: Nuanced analysis of the centralization-autonomy dialectic with specific examples and a balanced, constitutional judgment.

Key points expected

  • Contextualize the centralization-autonomy tension in Indian federalism
  • Arguments for national parties favoring centralization (unity, efficiency)
  • Arguments for regional parties favoring state autonomy (identity, local needs)
  • Balanced judgment on the coexistence of both forces

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

  1. The answer Contextualize the tension between national centralization and regional autonomy, present arguments for both, and offer a balanced judgment. 15 marks · 250 words

    comment— context → arguments both sides → judgment → close

    Must cover

    • Contextualize the centralization-autonomy tension in Indian federalism
    • Arguments for national parties favoring centralization (unity, efficiency)
    • Arguments for regional parties favoring state autonomy (identity, local needs)
    • Balanced judgment on the coexistence of both forces

    Loses marks

    • Reciting Articles without analyzing the political dynamic
    • Taking an activist tone favoring one side exclusively
    • Ending without a balanced judgment or reform suggestion

    Earns more

    • Reference to 7th Schedule (Union/State/Concurrent Lists)
    • Mention of 73rd/74th Amendments (local autonomy)
    • Example of a specific regional party's demand (e.g., TMC, BJD)
    • Reference to the 14th Finance Commission's devolution

    Extra mark

    • Citation of the Sarkaria Commission or Punchhi Commission
    • Reference to a specific Supreme Court judgment on federalism

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