SSC Descriptive Writing Current Affairs SSC-CGL (TIER-III) - Co-Operative Vs competitive federalism

CO-OPERATIVE VS COMPETITIVE FEDERALISM

Key Points:

Federal polity in India

• Quasi-federal
• Strong centralizing tendency

Co-operative federalism

• One size fits all policy

Competitive federalism

• Survival of the fittest
• Responsibility
• Autonomy
• Policy making
• Optimal usage of resources
• Investment growth
• Inclusive growth
• Ease of doing business
• NITTO Aayog

THE ESSAY BEGINS..

The constitution-makers of India, keeping in mind the political, social and economic structure of India, framed India as a federal polity.

In a true federal polity, powers should be divided equally between centre and states, which is not the case with India. Foreseeing the possible threats to sovereignty and integrity of the country, the centre was given more powers than the states, making it a quasi-federal state, one with a strong centralizing tendency. Though this was how it was envisioned by the constitution-makers, the constitution has evolved along with the development of the country.

Co-operative federalism implies a mutual co-operation between states among themselves and with the union for the common growth as contrasted with competitive federalism in which states compete with the union for funds for their respective growth. The present administrative and economic setup in the country is more leaning towards the latter.

The present world is one of competition and it is the fittest that survive. Decades of co- operative federalism have taken us to a point beyond which it can't help us. The need of today is competitive federalism.

In competitive federalism, the states are given more responsibilities and autonomy in the matters of policy-making which ensure optimal usage of resources and inclusive growth of states as well as the nation. States compete with each other to bring investments for the resources they have. Their competence in doing so is measured by the union in the Ease of doing business ranking. One-size-fits-all policy which was followed in the past has been revamped into growth-from-below policy, symbolized by the creation of NITI Aayog.

Growing together and growing as a whole is what our country needs and the states competing among each other to make the best of their resources is the effective way to achieve it.