Federalism
Kartavya Desk Staff
Context: Chief Justice of India recently highlighted the evolving role of federalism in promoting democracy and upholding constitutional ideals. At the Loksatta Annual Lecture, he stressed that modern challenges like climate change, AI, and cybercrime require Union and state collaboration, emphasizing the need for greater synergy.
These lines from his speech capture CJI Chandrachud’s vision of a dynamic and cooperative federalism:
• “Federalism should foster democracy, equality, liberty, dignity, and fraternity.”
• “Modern challenges like climate change and cybercrime go beyond traditional federal boundaries.”
• “The Constitution was intended to be transformative, not static.”
• “Indian federalism is unique; it values equality and liberty, not as a mask but as a core principle.”
• “Constructive dialogue between the Union and States is vital for federalism to thrive.”
• “Courts play a key role in shaping and safeguarding federal principles.”
NOTE: Using these statements by CJI in your answer, especially the introduction and conclusion, will help in fetching additional marks in the exam.
Relevance in UPSC syllabus:
• GS Paper II – Indian Constitution and Governance
• Federalism in India: Helps in understanding evolving federal principles in India. Cooperative and Competitive Federalism: Highlights the balance of collaboration and contestation in Union-State relations. Judiciary and Federalism: Insight on judicial interpretation of federalism and the role of constitutional courts in preserving states’ rights.
• Federalism in India: Helps in understanding evolving federal principles in India.
• Cooperative and Competitive Federalism: Highlights the balance of collaboration and contestation in Union-State relations.
• Judiciary and Federalism: Insight on judicial interpretation of federalism and the role of constitutional courts in preserving states’ rights.
• Essay Paper
• Federalism as a Dynamic Principle: Useful for essays on governance, democracy, and challenges to federalism in the modern age.
• Federalism as a Dynamic Principle: Useful for essays on governance, democracy, and challenges to federalism in the modern age.
• Optional Papers – Political Science and Public Administration
• Indian Political System: Detailed case studies on federalism, union-state relations, and the judiciary’s role in a federal structure.
• Indian Political System: Detailed case studies on federalism, union-state relations, and the judiciary’s role in a federal structure.