Legislative Relations — Current Affairs 2026
Current Affairs Connections
Supreme Court upholds validity of farm laws repeal, clarifies Centre-State legislative boundaries
January 2024The Supreme Court's recent judgment on the farm laws controversy has significant implications for legislative relations between Centre and States. The Court clarified that while agriculture is a State subject, the Centre can legislate on agricultural marketing under the concurrent list entry of 'trade and commerce.' This judgment reinforces the principle that legislative competence must be determined by examining the pith and substance of the law rather than its title or apparent subject matter. The case also highlighted the role of the Governor in the legislative process, as several State Governors had reserved bills passed by State Assemblies that sought to counter the Central farm laws. The Court's observations on cooperative federalism and the need for Centre-State consultation on matters affecting both jurisdictions provide important insights into the evolving nature of legislative relations in contemporary India.
UPSC Angle: Expected questions on doctrine of pith and substance, Centre-State legislative conflicts, role of Governor in legislative process, and cooperative federalism principles
GST Council deadlock over tax rates highlights challenges in cooperative federalism
March 2024The recent deadlock in the GST Council over tax rate revisions has brought the challenges of cooperative federalism in legislative matters to the forefront. The GST Council, established under Article 279A through the 101st Constitutional Amendment, represents a unique experiment in Centre-State legislative cooperation. The current impasse over tax rates on essential commodities and luxury goods demonstrates the practical difficulties in achieving consensus between the Centre and States with different political affiliations and economic priorities. This situation tests the federal balance established by the Constitution and raises questions about decision-making mechanisms in cooperative federal institutions. The dispute also highlights the tension between the Centre's revenue needs and States' concerns about the impact on their populations, particularly regarding items like petroleum products and electricity that remain outside the GST framework.
UPSC Angle: Questions on GST Council functioning, cooperative federalism challenges, Article 279A implementation, and Centre-State revenue sharing mechanisms