Sample: Governance: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States

UPSC Sample Notes [English]

A. Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States

Constitution of India

Union List

State List

Concurrent List

Residuary Powers

Includes subjects like

Defense
Atomic Energy
Foreign Affairs
War & Peace
Banking
Railways
Post & Telegraph
Airways
Ports
Foreign Trade
Currency & – – – – – – – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – – – – – –

Union Legislature alone can make laws on these matters.

Includes subjects like

Agriculture
Police
Prison
Local Government
Public Health
Land
Liquor
Trade & Commerce
Livestock & Animal Husbandry
State Public – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Normally only the State Legislature can make laws on these matters.

Includes subjects like

Education
Transfer of Property other than Agricultural land
Forests
Trade Unions
Adulteration
Adoption & – – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Both Union & State Legislature can make laws on – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Include all other matters not mentioned in any of the Lists.

Cyber Laws

Union Legislature alone has the power to legislate on – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

A.1. Functions and Responsibilities of the Union

The central executive body of the government, the Cabinet, performs a number of functions, in which its role is – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

These functions and responsibilities may be mentioned as follows:

Formulation, implementation, evaluation and revision of public policy in various fields, which the ruling party desires to progress and practice.
Coordination between various ministries and other organs of government, which may be prone to conflict, wastefulness, duplication of functions and empire building.
Preparation and monitoring of the legislative agenda, under which the policies of the government are implemented through statutory enactments.
Executive control over the administration through appointments, rule making powers and handling natural and political crises and disasters.
Financial management through fiscal control and operation of funds such as the Consolidated Fund of India and the Contingency Fund.
Planning and review of the functions of – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

A.2. Functions and responsibilities of the state

State government is defined as the government of the subdivisions of the country, and it shares political power with the national government. In India, state governments are the governments below the central government. Each state of the country is governed by a – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

The functions and responsibilities of the state governments are as follows:

Management of different departments	State governments have different departments for the efficient running of the state. States have jurisdiction over education, agriculture, public health, sanitation, hospitals and dispensaries and many other – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Internal Security	State governments have to maintain internal security, law and order in the state. Internal security is managed through the – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Public order	States have jurisdiction over police and – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Agriculture	State governments have to provide assistance to farmers, funds for best agricultural practices, disease prevention, and support during disasters such as – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Finance	The State Legislature handles the financial powers of the state, including the authorization of all expenditure, taxation, and borrowing by the state government. It has the power to make money bills. It has control over taxes on entertainment and – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Reservation of Bills	The Governor of a State can reserve any bill for the consideration of the – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Transport	The state government runs trains, trams, buses and ferry services and other public transport in the – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Water Supply	Water supply to cities and towns for drinking purposes including irrigation for farmers is the responsibility of the – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Budget	State governments prepare the budget for – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

B. Issues and challenges pertaining to federal structure

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –