General Studies 2024 GS Paper II 15 marks 250 words Compulsory Suggest

Q13

What changes has the Union Government recently introduced in the domain of Centre-State relations ? Suggest measures to be adopted to build the trust between the Centre and the States and for strengthening federalism. (Answer in 250 words) 15

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

केन्द्र सरकार ने केन्द्र-राज्य सम्बन्धों के क्षेत्र में हाल ही में क्या बदलाव किये हैं ? संवाद को मजबूत करने के लिए तथा केन्द्र और राज्यों के बीच विश्वास पैदा करने के लिए उपाय सुझाइए। (उत्तर 250 शब्दों में लिखिए)

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Directive word: Suggest

This question asks you to suggest. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'suggest' requires candidates to first enumerate recent Union Government changes in Centre-State relations, then propose concrete measures for trust-building and federalism strengthening. Structure: brief introduction acknowledging federal tensions → first body part on recent changes (GST compensation issues, Article 356 usage, NIA Act amendments, farm laws controversy, NEET/JEE federalism concerns) → second body part on suggestions (Inter-State Council revitalization, GST Council reforms, Article 263 institutions, fiscal federalism measures, cooperative federalism mechanisms) → forward-looking conclusion emphasizing 'team India' or competitive-cooperative federalism balance.

Key points expected

  • Recent changes: GST compensation cess extension and disputes, increased usage of Article 356 (Maharashtra 2019, Uttarakhand 2016), NIA Act 2019 expanding Centre's policing powers, farm laws (now repealed) bypassing state agriculture jurisdiction, NEET/JEE federalism concerns, CAA implementation variations
  • Recent changes: abolition of Planning Commission weakening state voice, PM-KISAN direct benefit transfer bypassing states, Dam Safety Act 2021, Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment 2021
  • Suggestions for trust-building: mandatory pre-consultation before legislation on concurrent list, fixed tenure for Inter-State Council with quarterly meetings, dispute resolution mechanism under Article 263 with binding arbitration
  • Suggestions: GST Council voting reform (weighted voting), Finance Commission recommendations implementation without delay, state-specific grants without conditionalities, 'cooperative federalism' institutionalized through NITI Aayog with veto power for states
  • Suggestions: restricting Article 356 to 'breakdown of constitutional machinery' with judicial review (S.R. Bommai precedent), empowering Rajya Sabha as states' house, zonal councils activation for regional cooperation
  • Analytical edge: distinction between 'cooperative' vs 'competitive' federalism, reference to K.C. Wheare's 'quasi-federal' characterization or Sarkaria Commission recommendations, recognition that asymmetrical federalism requires differential treatment for special category states

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Demand-directive understanding20%3Answer explicitly addresses BOTH parts—recent Union Government changes AND suggestions for trust-building—without conflating them; demonstrates awareness that 'suggest' requires prescriptive, actionable recommendations beyond descriptive enumerationCovers both parts but treats them as merged narrative; suggestions are generic or reactive rather than institutional/structural; minor imbalance in word allocation between two demandsMisses one part entirely (only changes or only suggestions); misunderstands 'suggest' as mere opinion-giving without concrete measures; writes on federalism theory without addressing recent changes
Content depth & accuracy20%3Precise identification of 2019-2024 changes with constitutional/statutory basis; suggestions grounded in constitutional provisions (Articles 263, 280, 352, 356, 368) or established commission recommendations; no factual errors on GST compensation timeline or Article 356 casesBroadly correct on changes but lacks specificity (dates, acts, cases); suggestions reasonable but not constitutionally anchored; minor errors like conflating Finance Commission with Planning Commission functionsSignificant factual errors (e.g., claiming Article 356 was repealed, misdating farm laws); suggestions are vague platitudes ('more cooperation needed') or constitutionally unworkable; confuses Centre-State with Union-Territory relations
Structure & flow20%3Clear demarcation between 'Recent Changes' and 'Suggested Measures' with sub-headings or paragraph transitions; logical sequencing within each section (chronological or thematic); 250-word discipline maintained with proportional allocation (~100 words each part, 50 conclusion)Both parts present but without clear visual/structural separation; some logical jumps between points; word count slightly exceeded or uneven distribution causing truncated conclusionNo discernible structure—stream of consciousness mixing changes and suggestions randomly; abrupt ending without conclusion; severe word management failure (under 180 or over 280 words)
Examples / case-law / data20%3Specific references: S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) for Article 356 judicial review; 15th Finance Commission recommendations; GST compensation gap figures (₹1.58 lakh crore); Sarkaria or Punchhi Commission citations; state-specific instances (Tamil Nadu NEET exemption, Kerala CAA non-implementation)Mentions commissions or cases without precision (e.g., 'Supreme Court limited Article 356' without naming Bommai); one or two contemporary examples but no data; generic reference to 'recent Supreme Court judgments'No legal precedents, no commission references, no contemporary examples; relies solely on textbook 1950s federalism examples; or invents data/commissions that don't exist
Conclusion & analytical edge20%3Synthesizes into forward-looking vision—'competitive cooperative federalism,' 'team India with state autonomy,' or 'asymmetrical federalism respecting diversity'; acknowledges tension between national integration and regional aspirations; ends with specific institutional innovation (e.g., 'Federalism Review Commission' or 'Inter-State Council as constitutional body')Standard conclusion restating importance of federalism; no new insight; generic closing like 'Centre and States should cooperate for national development'; no acknowledgment of inherent tensionsNo conclusion or abrupt stop; purely negative critique without constructive synthesis; or concludes with unrelated topic (foreign policy, local governance); defeatist tone suggesting federalism is unworkable in India

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