Understanding Powers in the Indian Constitution

Study Notes

Structure and Distribution of Powers in the Indian Constitution

The Constitution of India establishes the structure of the Indian government and defines the relationship between the federal government and state governments.
Part XI of the Indian constitution outlines the distribution of legislative, administrative, and executive powers between the union government and the States of India.
The legislative powers are divided into three categories: Union List, State List, and Concurrent List.
The Union List contains powers conferred upon the Union government, while the State List contains powers conferred upon the State governments.
The Concurrent List represents powers that are shared between the Union government and the State governments.
This federalism in India is symmetrical, meaning that the devolved powers of the constituent units are intended to be the same.
Historically, the state of Jammu and Kashmir had a different status compared to other states due to Article 370 of the Indian Constitution.
Article 370 provided for a temporary provision, which was revoked by the Indian Parliament in 2019.
Union territories in India are governed directly by the Union government and have a unitary type of administration.
The Indian Constitution aims to maintain a balance of power between the union government and state governments.
The distribution of powers is intended to ensure effective governance and representation at both the federal and state levels.
The Indian Constitution provides a framework for cooperative federalism, where the union and state governments work together to address the needs and interests of the people.

Description

Test your knowledge of the distribution of powers in the Indian constitution with this quiz. Explore the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List and understand the relationship between the federal government and state governments.