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UPSC Notes

Cooperative Federalism and Centre-State Legislative Relations

PYQs

8

Articles

1

Momentum

21

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

UPSC frequently tests the nuances of India's federal system, including the division of powers, mechanisms of Centre-State cooperation, and challenges in implementing policies across different levels of government, especially concerning subjects in the State List.

India's Constitution establishes a federal system with a clear division of powers between the Union and State governments, delineated by the Seventh Schedule. While States have exclusive legislative competence over subjects in the State List, the Union government often plays a facilitative role, promoting uniformity and best practices through recommendations and model legislations, embodying the spirit of cooperative federalism.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Seventh Schedule

Divides legislative powers into Union, State, and Concurrent Lists.

State List

Subjects on which State legislatures have exclusive power to make laws (e.g., public order, police, local government, theatres).

Cooperative Federalism

A concept where the Centre and States collaborate to achieve common national goals, often involving the Centre providing guidance or model frameworks for State subjects.

Model Legislations

The Centre can prepare model laws or regulations on State subjects and recommend their adoption by States to ensure uniformity and address common challenges.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaIndian Polity & Governance

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
Ministry of Information & BroadcastingInitiates policy recommendations
State GovernmentsAdopts and implements regulations
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis

Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding

Quick revision

  • India's federalism: division of powers via Seventh Schedule.
  • State List subjects: exclusive legislative domain of States.
  • Cooperative federalism: Centre-State collaboration for national goals.
  • Model Regulations: Centre's tool to guide States on State List subjects.
  • I&B Ministry's Model Cinema Regulations exemplify this.

Elimination traps

Constitutional vs statutory — Distinguish between constitutional provisions for federalism (Seventh Schedule) and statutory/executive actions (Model Regulations) taken within that framework.

Check if created by Constitution or by Parliament.

High-confidence PYQs

2025Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following pairs: State – Description I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks. II. Nagala...

GeographyOpen question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Indian PolityOpen question

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Indian PolityOpen question
2025Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following pairs: State – Description I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks. II. Nagala...

GeographyOpen question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Indian PolityOpen question

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Indian PolityOpen question
2025Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following pairs: State – Description I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks. II. Nagala...

GeographyOpen question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Indian PolityOpen question

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Indian PolityOpen question
2025Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following pairs: State – Description I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks. II. Nagala...

GeographyOpen question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Indian PolityOpen question

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Indian PolityOpen question
2023Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: In India, prisons are managed by State Governments with their own rules and regulations for the day-to-day a...

Indian PolityOpen question

With reference to 'Scheduled Areas' in India, consider the following statements: 1. Within a State, the notification of an area as Scheduled Area takes place...

Indian PolityOpen question
2023Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: In India, prisons are managed by State Governments with their own rules and regulations for the day-to-day a...

Indian PolityOpen question

With reference to 'Scheduled Areas' in India, consider the following statements: 1. Within a State, the notification of an area as Scheduled Area takes place...

Indian PolityOpen question
2019Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to the management of minor minerals in India consider the following statements: 1. Sand is a ‘minor mineral’ according to the prevailing law ...

Indian PolityOpen question
2016Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

The Parliament of India acquires the power to legislate on any item in the State List in the national interest if a resolution to that effect is passed by the -

Indian PolityOpen question

Topic timeline

Indian Polity & Governance
Prelims 2016· Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

The Parliament of India acquires the power to legislate on any item in the State List in the national interest if a resolution to that effect is passed by the -

Open question
Prelims 2019· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to the management of minor minerals in India consider the following statements: 1. Sand is a ‘minor mineral’ according to the prevailing law ...

Open question
Prelims 2023· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: In India, prisons are managed by State Governments with their own rules and regulations for the day-to-day a...

Open question

With reference to 'Scheduled Areas' in India, consider the following statements: 1. Within a State, the notification of an area as Scheduled Area takes place...

Open question
Prelims 2023· Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: In India, prisons are managed by State Governments with their own rules and regulations for the day-to-day a...

Open question

With reference to 'Scheduled Areas' in India, consider the following statements: 1. Within a State, the notification of an area as Scheduled Area takes place...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Open question

Consider the following pairs: State – Description I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks. II. Nagala...

Open question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Open question

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Open question

Consider the following pairs: State – Description I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks. II. Nagala...

Open question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Open question

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Open question

Consider the following pairs: State – Description I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks. II. Nagala...

Open question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Open question

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Open question

Consider the following pairs: State – Description I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks. II. Nagala...

Open question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Open question

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Open question

I&B Ministry sets up panel to boost film industry

30 Jun 2026 · The I&B Ministry's initiative to provide Model State Cinema Regulations for a State List subject exemplifies cooperative federalism, where the Centre facilitates policy uniformity and growth in areas primarily under State jurisdiction.

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