Report on Datasets for State Finance Commissions (2026)

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) released the Report on Datasets for State Finance Commissions (SFCs) in June 2026. The report identifies major data gaps affecting the functioning of State Finance Commissions and proposes measures to strengthen the local government data ecosystem for evidence-based fiscal devolution. Key Findings of the Report Systemic Bottlenecks in Data Management

Mekedatu Project

The Mekedatu Project is a multi-purpose project proposed by the Government of Karnataka for drinking water supply and hydropower generation. It involves the construction of a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district, Karnataka, about 90 km from Bengaluru and nearly 4 km upstream of the Karnataka–Tamil Nadu border. The project is planned at the confluence of the Cauve

Delimitation and Federal Concerns

The principle of democratic representation in India, as provided under Article 81, mandates that seats in the Lok Sabha be allocated to States in proportion to their population. This system worked effectively in earlier decades when population differences among States were relatively small. However, with India becoming the world’s most populous country, and with growing demographic dispariti

India’s Federalism

The phrase “double-engine sarkar” has become a popular election slogan in recent years. It refers to a situation where the same political party governs both at the Centre and in a State, with the claim that this leads to faster development and better coordination. A key point is that while the slogan promotes the idea of policy coordination, it also raises concerns about whether

Federalism in India

Recently, a high-level committee on Union–State relations submitted its first report to the Government of Tamil Nadu. The report examines the distribution of powers and responsibilities between the Union and the States, highlighting ongoing debates regarding the balance between central authority and state autonomy. This discussion is closely linked to the concept of federalism, which for

Formation Day

On 1st November, eight Indian states—Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu—along with five Union Territories—Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Delhi, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry—celebrate their Formation Day. This date marks an important milestone in India’s administrative evolution, shaped primaril

 Education From concurrent to State List?

The question of whether education should be brought back onto the State List is a complex and nuanced issue. The debate centers around whether education, which was moved to the Concurrent List, should be managed primarily at the state level rather than the central level Historical context: Education was originally on the State List in the Constitution. It was moved to the Concurrent Li

Exit polls

The exit polls for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in India have proven to be notably inaccurate, with the BJP-led NDA's performance falling well short of the projections suggesting over 350 seats. This discrepancy highlights ongoing debates and legal issues surrounding exit polls in India. The concise overview of the history and regulations regarding exit polls in India are given below Histor

Formation of New states

The formation of new states in India often arises from demands rooted in perceived regional disparities or cultural and administrative aspirations. The recent news highlights two key developments: the tenth anniversary of Telangana's formation and the Bhil tribe's demand for a new state called Bhil Pradesh. Formation of Telangana Background: Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2

Special Category Status

It was established to address the specific needs of states that face geographical, social, or economic disadvantages. Evolution and Background Introduction: SCS was introduced in 1969 following the Fifth Finance Commission's recommendations to assist states that were economically or geographically disadvantaged. Initially, states like Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, and Nagaland were grante

Internal Emergency

The news about the 50th anniversary of the imposition of the internal Emergency on June 25, 1975, highlights a significant and controversial period in India's history. Here’s a detailed breakdown to understand the context better: Background on the Emergency 1. What was the Emergency? The Emergency was a period during which democratic rights were suspended, and the central gov

New Rules for Allocation of Symbols

Context: The Election Commission of India has brought in new rules for allocation of symbols to Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs).  New rules: To qualify for the 'concession of common symbol allotment,' these parties must submit audited accounts for the past three financial years, expenditure statements from the last two elections, and the

Rethink the emerging dynamics of India’s fiscal federalism

Rethink the emerging dynamics of India’s fiscal federalism     Indian Federalism: A ‘holding together federation’ with a built-in unitary bias. Dual Polity: Separate independent Govts at Centre & States. Written Constitution: Powers of Centre & States clearly marked out in the form a written book. Division of Powers: Powers

The Cauvery-water sharing issue

Why in the News? The Tamil Nadu (TN) government has sought the Supreme Court’s intervention to make Karnataka (KA) release 24,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) from its reservoirs immediately and also direct the latter to release 36.76 TMC as per Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT)’s final award of February 2007 that was modified by the SC in 2018.   News in Deta