(a) Discuss the major provisions of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act. Do you think that the Act remains an 'unfulfilled…

(a) Discuss the major provisions of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act. Do you think that the Act remains an 'unfulfilled dream'? Argue your case. (20 marks) (b) How does NITI Aayog as a 'policy think tank with shared vision' visualize the reorganization of planning in India? Justify your answer. (15 marks) (c) The Constitution of India is the 'cornerstone of a nation'. (Granville Austin). Analyze. (15 marks)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) 74वें संविधान संशोधन अधिनियम के प्रमुख प्रावधानों का विवेचन कीजिए। क्या आपके विचार में यह अधिनियम एक 'अधूरा स्वप्न' है? अपने तर्क दीजिए। (20 अंक) (b) नीति आयोग एक 'साझा दृष्टिकोण के साथ पॉलिसी थिंक टैंक' के रूप में भारत में योजना के पुनर्गठन की कल्पना कैसे करता है? अपने उत्तर की पुष्टि कीजिए। (15 अंक) (c) भारत का संविधान 'किसी राष्ट्र की आधारशिला' है। (ग्रानविल ऑस्टिन)। विश्लेषण कीजिए। (15 अंक)

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Directive word: Discuss

This question asks you to discuss. 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 'discuss' requires balanced exposition and critical evaluation across all three parts. Allocate approximately 40% of word budget to part (a) given its 20 marks, and roughly 30% each to parts (b) and (c). Structure as: brief integrated introduction → systematic treatment of each sub-part with clear demarcation → synthesized conclusion linking constitutionalism, decentralization and planning reform.

Key points expected

Part (a): 12th Schedule powers, WPR, DPCs, State Finance Commissions; fiscal autonomy gaps, delayed elections, supersession of ULBs as 'unfulfilled dream' evidence
Part (a): Balanced argument—achievements (74th CAA existence, some urban devolution) vs. failures (2.88 lakh crore municipal debt, 74% ULBs lack own revenue source per 2021 ASPIRE report)
Part (b): NITI Aayog's shift from Planning Commission's top-down allocation to 'shared vision' through cooperative federalism, SDG localization, Aspirational Districts Programme
Part (b): 3-year action agenda, 15-year vision document, strategic planning vs. erstwhile Five-Year Plans; limitations (no financial allocation power, advisory role)
Part (c): Granville Austin's 'cornerstone' thesis—social revolution + political unity; Preamble as philosophical anchor, Part III/IV as transformative constitutionalism
Part (c): Kesavananda (basic structure), Navtej Singh Johar (constitutional morality), contemporary challenges (anti-defection, judicial delays) testing Austin's thesis

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	10	For (a), moves beyond description to critical evaluation of 'unfulfilled dream'; for (b), explains 'shared vision' operationalization, not just NITI Aayog functions; for (c), analyzes Austin's metaphor rather than merely quoting it, showing how constitutionalism enables nation-building	Describes 74th CAA provisions and NITI Aayog structure adequately but treats 'unfulfilled dream' superficially; mentions Austin without unpacking 'cornerstone'; some directive confusion between discuss/analyze/justify	Misreads directives—treats (a) as pure description, (b) as comparison with Planning Commission only, (c) as biographical note on Austin; fails to engage evaluative demands
Content depth & accuracy	20%	10	Precise on 74th CAA articles (243P-243ZG), NITI Aayog's 2015 resolution vs. erstwhile PC executive order, Austin's two themes (social revolution, political unity); accurate constitutional provisions without conflating 73rd/74th Amendments	Broadly correct on provisions but vague on specific articles; conflates NITI Aayog with NDC functions; general familiarity with Austin's thesis without textual precision	Factual errors—confuses 73rd and 74th CAA schedules, claims NITI Aayog has financial powers, misattributes Austin to 'Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation' title; significant gaps in constitutional knowledge
Structure & flow	20%	10	Clear tripartite organization with visible transitions; integrated opening linking constitutionalism-decentralization-planning; each sub-part has internal thesis-antithesis-synthesis; conclusion synthesizes across parts showing constitutional design → implementation gaps → institutional redesign arc	Three distinct sections present but abrupt transitions; some imbalance—over-expands on (a) at cost of (c); conclusion merely summarizes rather than synthesizes	No clear demarcation between sub-parts; stream-of-consciousness writing; disproportionate treatment (e.g., 70% on (a)); missing or perfunctory conclusion
Examples / case-law / data	20%	10	For (a): 2nd ARC recommendations, 15th Finance Commission urban share, specific ULB performance data (Kerala/TN success vs. Bihar/UP failure); for (b): SDG India Index, Aspirational Districts ranking, Governing Council resolutions; for (c): specific Austin citations, Kesavananda, Minerva Mills, contemporary cases like Puttaswamy	Some examples present but generic (mentions 'urban local bodies' without specificity, 'NITI Aayog reports' without naming, 'Supreme Court cases' without citation); no contemporary data	No examples, case law, or data; relies entirely on assertion; or irrelevant examples (rural panchayats for 74th CAA, Five-Year Plan details post-2014)
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	10	Synthesizes three parts into coherent thesis: constitutional promise (Austin) → institutional mechanisms (74th CAA, NITI Aayog) → implementation gaps requiring political will; offers forward-looking reform agenda (constitutional municipalism, NITI 2.0 with teeth, civic education); balanced optimism without determinism	Separate conclusions for each part without integration; or generic conclusion on 'need for political will'; no distinctive analytical contribution	No conclusion; or abrupt ending; or purely descriptive summary; or unbalanced ideological position (pure pessimism on 74th CAA, uncritical celebration of NITI Aayog)

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