The Centre-State Relation

Total Questions: 52

21. The regional councils are constituted by— [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000]

Correct Answer: (b) Parliamentary Laws
Solution:Parliament Act- 1956 formed 5 regional Councils namely – North, South, Central, East and West. The Sixth Regional Council North East was formed in 1971. Home Minister is the Chairman of every Council.

The main objectives of setting up of Zonal Councils are as under:
Bringing out national integration;
Arresting the growth of acute State consciousness, regionalism, linguistic and particularistic tendencies;
Enabling the Centre and the States to co-operate and exchange ideas and experiences;
Establishing a climate of co-operation amongst the States for successful and speedy execution of development projects.

22. Who among the following chairs the Zonal Council? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]

Correct Answer: (b) Home Minister of India
Solution:Parliament Act- 1956 formed 5 regional Councils namely – North, South, Central, East and West. The Sixth Regional Council North East was formed in 1971. Home Minister is the Chairman of every Council.

The main objectives of setting up of Zonal Councils are as under:
Bringing out national integration;
Arresting the growth of acute State consciousness, regionalism, linguistic and particularistic tendencies;
Enabling the Centre and the States to co-operate and exchange ideas and experiences;
Establishing a climate of co-operation amongst the States for successful and speedy execution of development projects.

23. Which one of the following is not a feature of a zonal council? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]

Correct Answer: (a) It is a constitutional body
Solution:The zonal councils have been set up under the state reorganization Act, 1956 to advice on matters of common interest to each of the five zones into which the territory of India has been divided. Zonal councils are not constitutional bodies rather they are statutory bodies. Originally five zonal Councils were formed as per the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.

They are-

Northern Zonal Council
Central Zonal Council
Eastern Zonal Council
Western Zonal Council
Southern Zonal Council

The North Eastern states i.e. (i) Assam (ii) Arunachal Pradesh (iii) Manipur (iv) Tripura (v) Mizoram (vi) Meghalaya and (vii) Nagaland are not included in the zonal council and their special problems are looked after by the North Eastern Council, setup under the North Eastern Council Act, 1971. Chandigarh, although not a state, is included in zonal council. Similarly, Delhi, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu and Puducherry also have been included in the zonal councils.

24. With reference to the regional councils in India, which of the following statements is/are correct? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]

1. The councils act as 'Sub-Federal Links' of Indian Federal System.

2. The councils pave the way for co-operation and integration among the states in Indian federal system.

Select the correct answer from the code given below:

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Solution:The regional councils serve as the 'Sub-Federal Links' in the Indian Union System. It provides a better platform, where the centre and the states and the mutual invalidations of the States can be resolved through free and fair discussions and consultations. It is a regional platform for collaborative efforts for economically, politically and culturally interconnected states. It is capable of focusing on specific matters involving regional aspects and keeping the national perspective in mind.

25. When was the Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council formed? [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]

Correct Answer: (c) 8 August, 1995
Solution:Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council, formed on 8 August, 1995, comprised 18 districts of Santhal Pargana and Chota Nagpur.
  • The Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council emerged from a long-standing movement for a separate state for the tribal regions of South Bihar, driven by groups like the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha
  • The JAAC was intended to address the unique needs and aspirations of the tribal population in the region, including their cultural identity and economic development.
  • The council was formed in 1995, following persistent demands and agitations for greater autonomy and self-rule.
  • The JAAC paved the way for the eventual formation of the state of Jharkhand in 2000, marking a major milestone in the region's history.

26. Which of the following is not matched properly? [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004]

Correct Answer: (c) River Boards Act, 1970
Solution:Option (c) is not correctly matched. River Boards Act was enacted and came into force in 1956, not in 1970. All the other options are correctly matched.
  • As per Article 262, the Parliament has enacted the following:
    ∗ River Board Act, 1956: This empowered the GOI to establish Boards for Interstate Rivers and river valleys in consultation with State Governments. Till date, no river board has
    ∗ Inter-State Water Dispute Act, 1956: Under this act, if a state government or governments approach the Centre for the constitution of a tribunal, the government may form a tribunal after trying to resolve the dispute through consultations.

27. Sarkaria Commission was set up to review- [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

Correct Answer: (d) The relations between the Union and the States
Solution:To consider the relationship between the Union and State and to give suggestions to strengthen it, a commission was formed under the Chairmanship of Justice R.S. Sarkaria on 9 June, 1983. B. Shivaraman and S.R. Sen were the other two members of this Commission. This Commission submitted its report in January, 1988.

The Sarkaria Commission made several crucial recommendations to improve Centre-State relations and ensure a balanced distribution of powers. It emphasized the need for restraint in using Article 356 and suggested that It should only be applied as a last resort. The Commission recommended strengthening fiscal federalism by giving States more financial autonomy and suggested reforms in the appointment and role of Governors to ensure they remain impartial. It also proposed establishing a permanent Inter-State Council to promote dialogue between the Centre and the States, fostering greater cooperative federalism..

28. Who among the following was a member of Sarkaria Commission? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]

Correct Answer: (c) Dr. S.R. Sen
Solution:To consider the relationship between the Union and State and to give suggestions to strengthen it, a commission was formed under the Chairmanship of Justice R.S. Sarkaria on 9 June, 1983. B. Shivaraman and S.R. Sen were the other two members of this Commission. This Commission submitted its report in January, 1988.

The Sarkaria Commission made several crucial recommendations to improve Centre-State relations and ensure a balanced distribution of powers. It emphasized the need for restraint in using Article 356 and suggested that It should only be applied as a last resort. The Commission recommended strengthening fiscal federalism by giving States more financial autonomy and suggested reforms in the appointment and role of Governors to ensure they remain impartial. It also proposed establishing a permanent Inter-State Council to promote dialogue between the Centre and the States, fostering greater cooperative federalism..

29. In which one of the following years was Sarkaria Commission, which was empowered to recommend changes in Centre-State relations, submitted its report? [B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2018]

Correct Answer: (e) None of the above/More than one of the above
Solution:To consider the relationship between the Union and State and to give suggestions to strengthen it, a commission was formed under the Chairmanship of Justice R.S. Sarkaria on 9 June, 1983. B. Shivaraman and S.R. Sen were the other two members of this Commission. This Commission submitted its report in January, 1988.

Note: Answer was given by Bihar Public Service Commission as option (d), which is not correct.

The Sarkaria Commission made several crucial recommendations to improve Centre-State relations and ensure a balanced distribution of powers. It emphasized the need for restraint in using Article 356 and suggested that It should only be applied as a last resort. The Commission recommended strengthening fiscal federalism by giving States more financial autonomy and suggested reforms in the appointment and role of Governors to ensure they remain impartial. It also proposed establishing a permanent Inter-State Council to promote dialogue between the Centre and the States, fostering greater cooperative federalism..

30. The recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission are related to: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018, U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2014, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004, Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2003, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2003]

Correct Answer: (d) Centre-State relations
Solution:To consider the relationship between the Union and State and to give suggestions to strengthen it, a commission was formed under the Chairmanship of Justice R.S. Sarkaria on 9 June, 1983. B. Shivaraman and S.R. Sen were the other two members of this Commission. This Commission submitted its report in January, 1988.

The Sarkaria Commission made several crucial recommendations to improve Centre-State relations and ensure a balanced distribution of powers. It emphasized the need for restraint in using Article 356 and suggested that It should only be applied as a last resort. The Commission recommended strengthening fiscal federalism by giving States more financial autonomy and suggested reforms in the appointment and role of Governors to ensure they remain impartial. It also proposed establishing a permanent Inter-State Council to promote dialogue between the Centre and the States, fostering greater cooperative federalism..