UPSC Mains 2020 GS2 Q11 — Centralising Tendencies
Indian Constitution exhibits centralising tendencies to maintain unity and integrity of the nation. Elucidate in the perspective of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897; The Disaster Management Act, 2005 and recently passed Farm Acts. (Answer in 250 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Elucidate
- Scope keywords
- centralising tendenciesunity and integrity of the nationEpidemic Diseases Act, 1897Disaster Management Act, 2005Farm Acts
- Implicit sub-parts
- The constitutional basis for centralisation (Article 1, 246, 248, 254) as a tool for national stability.
- Critical analysis of how the COVID-19 pandemic justified the use of central laws (EDA and DMA) over state subjects (Health).
- The tension between 'Agricultural' state-list entry and the Union's 'Trade and Commerce' entry regarding the Farm Acts.
- Evaluation of whether these tendencies strengthen 'integrity' or undermine 'cooperative federalism'.
- Common pitfalls
- Spending too much time on the repeal of the Farm Acts rather than their legal-centralist nature.
- Failing to mention the Seventh Schedule entries (Entry 6, List II vs Entry 29, List III) that create these overlaps.
- Treating the EDA and DMA as purely medical/logistical laws instead of tools of constitutional power-shift.
- Forgetting to link the conclusion back to the 'Unity and Integrity' trade-off.
- Dimensions required
- Constitutional-LegalFederal/Quasi-FederalJudicial InterpretationAdministrative/Executive Overreach
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate 50 words to the introductory constitutional philosophy of 'indestructible union'. Devote 150 words to the three specific acts, ensuring each is linked to a specific centralising mechanism. Use the final 50 words for a balanced critique on how excessive centralisation might provoke regionalism, impacting the very 'integrity' the Constitution seeks to protect.
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