Justice BV Nagarathna Stresses Constitutional Federalism: No Discrimination in Centre‑State Relations

Key Insight

Supreme Court stresses non‑partisan federalism: States must not face discrimination from the Centre

Key Facts

1. Justice B.V. Nagarathna, a Supreme Court judge, reiterated that the Union‑State relationship is constitutional, not political, in 2026.
2. Article 245–255 of the Constitution delineate the distribution of legislative and executive powers between Centre and States.
3. Article 256 obliges every State to comply with Union laws; Article 262 provides for dispute resolution through the Supreme Court.
4. The Supreme Court, through the basic structure doctrine (Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, 1973), safeguards federal balance against political discrimination.
5. Cooperative federalism requires that development schemes, fiscal transfers and central assistance be impartially allocated, irrespective of party alignment.

Background

The statement comes amid growing concerns that political differences between the Centre and opposition‑run states could affect fund allocation and project approvals, challenging the federal spirit enshrined in the Constitution and impacting governance and development across India.

UPSC Syllabus

• GS2 — Functions and responsibilities of Union and States
• Essay — Democracy, Governance and Public Administration

Mains Angle

In Mains, this can be addressed in GS‑2 under "Federal Structure and Centre‑State Relations"; candidates may be asked to evaluate how constitutional safeguards ensure non‑discriminatory governance despite changing political landscapes.