<h2>Overview</h2> <p>Speaking at the 1st <span class="key-term" data-definition="Dr Rajendra Prasad Memorial Lecture – an annual lecture series on constitutional issues organized by Chanakya National Law University (GS2: Polity)">Dr Rajendra Prasad Memorial Lecture</span> at Chanakya National Law University, Patna, <strong>Supreme Court Justice BV Nagarathna</strong> warned that the relationship between the Union and the States must be rooted in the Constitution and not in the political fortunes of any party. She asserted that citizens of a state cannot be discriminated against in development programmes and called for a cooperative, dialogue‑based federalism.</p> <h3>Key Developments</h3> <ul> <li>The Centre should treat States as <span class="key-term" data-definition="Centre‑State relations – the constitutional framework governing the distribution of powers and responsibilities between the Union and the States (GS2: Polity)">coordinates, not subordinates</span>.</li> <li>Political party differences must be set aside; constitutional governance supersedes partisan considerations.</li> <li>Discriminatory "pick‑and‑choose" approaches in development schemes are unconstitutional; equity must guide policy implementation.</li> <li>Increasing friction between the Union and States weakens cooperative federalism and should be resolved through dialogue, not litigation.</li> <li>The Constitution does not vest ultimate trust in any single institution; it relies on a system of checks and balances.</li> <li>Historical jurisprudence – from <span class="key-term" data-definition="Shankari Prasad (1951) & Sajjan Singh (1965) – Supreme Court cases that initially upheld Parliament’s plenary amending power (GS2: Polity)">Shankari Prasad</span> and <span class="key-term" data-definition="Golak Nath (1967) – Supreme Court case that first attempted to limit Parliament’s amending power (GS2: Polity)">Golak Nath</span> – to the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Kesavananda Bharati (1973) – landmark Supreme Court case that introduced the Basic Structure doctrine, limiting Parliament’s power to alter the Constitution’s essential features (GS2: Polity)">Kesavananda Bharati</span> judgment, the Court has reinforced constitutional limits on legislative power.</li> </ul> <h3>Important Constitutional Provisions</h3> <ul> <li><span class="key-term" data-definition="Article 13 – clause that invalidates any law inconsistent with the Constitution’s fundamental rights (GS2: Polity)">Article 13</span> restricts Parliament’s legislative competence.</li> <li><span class="key-term" data-definition="Article 245 & 246 – define the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States (GS2: Polity)">Articles 245‑246</span> allocate law‑making authority.</li> <li><span class="key-term" data-definition="Seventh Schedule – contains the Union, State and Concurrent Lists that delineate subjects of legislation (GS2: Polity)">Seventh Schedule</span> outline