PYQ Vault · Paper 1 · Indian Federalism

Comment on the Mechanism for settling inter-state disputes in 150 words.

How the answer moves

The flow snapshot — the routes in, the body, the counter-view and the routes out.

Flow snapshot — how the answer moves
Intro routes

Route 1 divided powers/interests disputes built into the system Constitution offers judicial + extra-judicial mechanisms

Route 2 federalism breeds conflict by design Constitution responds through courts, tribunals and councils

Body flow

Article 131 (SC exclusive original jurisdiction, legal not political) Article 262 (Parliament, river water disputes, ousts Court, ISWD Act 1956 tribunals) Article 263 Inter-State Council advisory + Zonal Councils / NITI Aayog / mediation / GST Council rationale: many disputes political, not merely legal

Counter-view

water tribunal system the weak link delay in constitution + award, weak enforcement, Article 136 appeals despite Article 262 bar Nariman: innovative experiment that failed in performance

Conclusion routes

Route 1 mechanism layered but uneven needs basin-wide, cooperative reform

Route 2 2019 Bill (permanent tribunal, Disputes Resolution Committee) only partly repairs the gap

Model answer

Handwritten, in the form it would be written in the examination hall.

Handwritten model answer — UPSC PSIR 2020, Indian Federalism