International Women’s Day 2026: Rights, Justice and Action in a World of Conflict

Every year on March 8, the world observes International Women's Day to celebrate women’s achievements and advocate for gender equality.

The day originated from early 20th-century labour movements, where women demanded better working conditions, voting rights, and equal pay. In 1977, the United Nations officially recognized the observance, turning it into a global platform for promoting women’s rights.

Today, International Women’s Day serves not only as a celebration but also as a call for action to address persistent gender inequalities worldwide.

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The Theme for 2026: Rights, Justice and Action

For 2026, the UN has adopted the theme:

“Rights, Justice, Action: For All Women and Girls.”

The theme highlights three key principles:

1. Rights – Ensuring women enjoy equal human rights.

2. Justice – Addressing systemic discrimination and inequality.

3. Action – Moving beyond promises to practical solutions.

However, translating these ideals into reality remains difficult in a world affected by wars, economic instability, political conflicts, and humanitarian crises.

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Impact of Armed Conflicts on Women

Modern conflicts across the world have devastating consequences, especially for women and children, who are among the most vulnerable groups.

Research consistently shows that wars lead to:

• Increased gender-based violence

• Forced displacement and migration

• Food insecurity

• Loss of livelihoods

• Restricted mobility

• Breakdown of families and social support systems

• Lack of access to healthcare and education

In many conflicts, sexual violence against women is used as a weapon of war to terrorize and humiliate communities.

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Psychological and Social Consequences

Beyond physical violence, wars create severe mental health challenges for women.

Many women in conflict zones experience:

• Depression

• Anxiety disorders

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

At the same time, women are frequently excluded from peace negotiations and reconstruction processes, reducing their ability to shape solutions to the problems they face.

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Global Commitment: Women, Peace and Security Agenda

Recognizing the disproportionate impact of conflict on women, the United Nations Security Council adopted United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on October 31, 2000.

This historic resolution established the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, which aims to:

• Protect women during armed conflicts

• Increase women’s participation in peace negotiations

• Promote women’s leadership in conflict resolution

• Address gender-based violence in conflict zones

Despite these commitments, implementation has been slow and uneven.

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Worsening Global Situation

According to the 2025 report on Women, Peace and Security by the UN Secretary-General, the world is experiencing:

• The highest number of active conflicts since 1946

• Around 676 million women living within 50 km of deadly conflict zones

• A fourfold increase in civilian casualties among women and children

• An 87% rise in conflict-related sexual violence in just two years

These statistics highlight the growing vulnerability of women in global conflicts.

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Lack of Women in Peace Negotiations

Despite evidence that women’s participation leads to more durable peace agreements, women remain underrepresented in peace processes.

Recent data shows:

• 9 out of 10 peace processes in 2024 had no women negotiators

• Women accounted for only 7% of negotiators

• Women made up 14% of mediators globally

This exclusion weakens the effectiveness of peacebuilding efforts.

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The Need for Real Action

Ensuring gender equality in conflict situations requires more than symbolic commitments.

Key actions needed include:

1. Inclusion in Peace Negotiations

Women must be actively involved in peace talks and conflict resolution processes.

2. Protection from Violence

Governments and international organizations must ensure protection from sexual exploitation and gender-based violence.

3. Humanitarian Assistance

Women and children in conflict zones require:

• Food security

• Healthcare

• Education

• Financial support

• Psychological counselling

4. Stronger Global Cooperation

International institutions, governments, and civil society must work together to translate commitments into action.

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Conclusion

International Women’s Day 2026 emphasizes rights, justice, and action, highlighting the urgent need to protect women’s rights in a world marked by instability and conflict.

Ensuring gender equality during crises is not merely a moral obligation; it is essential for sustainable peace and development.

Thus, International Women’s Day should serve not just as a celebration but as a reminder that protecting women’s rights requires continuous collective action.

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✅ UPSC Relevance

GS Paper	Topics
GS-I	Women’s issues, social vulnerability
GS-II	International relations, UN institutions
Essay	Gender equality, women in conflict zones

 

Women’s Reservation and the Missing Debate on Elder Care in India

India is set to witness a historic political change in 2029, when the Women's Reservation Act will reserve one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha for women.

This will make the 2029 Parliament the most gender-representative in India’s history. While this reform increases women's presence in politics, representation alone does not guarantee meaningful change.

For representation to be impactful, women’s issues must already be part of the political agenda. One such neglected issue is elder care for women in India.

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Why Representation Needs Policy Focus

Increasing the number of women in Parliament is important, but presence without policy priorities does not lead to transformation.

If newly elected women MPs in 2029 are expected to address women's issues effectively, those issues must already be identified, debated, and demanded politically today.

One such issue that remains largely invisible in Indian policymaking is:

The lack of a gender-sensitive elder care policy.

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India’s Ageing Population: A Growing Concern

India is ageing rapidly.

• Over 100 million Indians are already above 60 years of age.

• This number is expected to exceed 250 million by 2040.

Women face greater challenges during ageing because:

• Women live 4–5 years longer than men on average.

• Many women have lower lifetime earnings.

• Employment histories are often interrupted due to caregiving responsibilities.

• Property and financial assets are rarely in their names.

• Many elderly women live alone without caregivers.

Thus, longevity combined with economic vulnerability creates a feminisation of ageing.

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Policy Gaps in Elder Care

India does have some policies addressing elderly welfare, such as:

• National Policy for Older Persons

• Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme

However, these policies largely focus on poverty relief and healthcare, and they do not adequately address the gender dimension of ageing.

As a result, elderly women often fall through the cracks of the welfare system.

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Dementia and Ageing Women

Recent research published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia highlights the seriousness of the problem.

Key findings:

• Around 8.8 million Indians above 60 currently live with dementia.

• This number may almost double by 2036.

• Women are disproportionately affected.

• Many elderly women experiencing cognitive decline live alone without support systems.

This indicates a growing public health and social care crisis.

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Lack of Political Attention

Despite the scale of the problem, the issue remains largely absent from political debate.

Evidence shows:

• Parliamentary questions rarely address ageing women.

• There are no major private member bills focused on gendered elder care.

• Parliamentary committees have given little attention to the issue.

This absence demonstrates how policy invisibility leads to political neglect.

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A Positive Example: Maharashtra’s Menopause Clinics

A recent initiative shows how government recognition can make a difference.

In January 2026, the state of Maharashtra launched menopause clinics in 580 government healthcare facilities.

Within five weeks, more than 31,000 women accessed these clinics.

This response revealed an important lesson:

Women often remain silent about issues until the state officially acknowledges them.

The same logic applies to elder care and dignified ageing.

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The Way Forward

For the 2029 Parliament to bring meaningful change, political parties must prepare now.

Important steps include:

1. Better Data Collection

• Census and surveys must collect age- and gender-disaggregated data on ageing.

2. Transparent Budgeting

• Governments should publish clear data on elder care spending.

3. Political Commitment

• Political parties should include dignified ageing policies in their manifestos.

4. Recognising Elder Care as Public Infrastructure

Elder care should not be treated as a private family responsibility, but as a public policy issue similar to healthcare or education.

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Conclusion

The Women’s Reservation Act will change the composition of India’s Parliament in 2029. However, its success will depend on whether women’s real concerns are already part of the political conversation.

Elder care, particularly for women, is one such issue that urgently requires attention.

As India prepares for a more representative Parliament, the country must ensure that representation leads to policy action.

Only then can women in India age with dignity and security.

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✅ UPSC Relevance

GS Paper	Topics
GS-I	Social issues, ageing population
GS-II	Parliament, governance, and welfare policies
Essay	Women's empowerment, demographic transition

 

MPLADS Controversy 

1️⃣ What is MPLADS?

🔹 Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)

• Launched in 1993

• Administered by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation

• Objective: Enable MPs to recommend development works in their constituencies

Key Features:

• ₹5 crore per MP per year (currently)

• Works must create durable community assets

• Implemented by district authorities

• MP only recommends — executive executes

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📊 2️⃣ What the Report Found

• 21 MPs recommended works outside their usual State/constituency

• ₹18 crore spent in such cases

• 84% of this amount went to Uttar Pradesh

• The majority of MPs involved were Rajya Sabha MPs

📌 Out of 20,858 completed works (2023–26):

• 26% located in Uttar Pradesh

• ~20% of the total MPLADS utilised funds went to UP

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⚖️ 3️⃣ Rules on Out-of-Area Spending

Lok Sabha MPs:

• Recommend works within their constituency districts

Rajya Sabha MPs:

• Recommend works only within the State they represent

Nominated MPs:

• Can recommend works anywhere in India

Exceptions:

• Up to ₹50 lakh per year outside the usual area

• ₹1 crore for severe natural calamity areas

👉 Most MPs follow the “established norm” of spending in their home region.

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🧩 4️⃣ Key Governance Issues

A. Federalism & Regional Equity

When MPs from:

• Rajasthan

• Jharkhand

• Maharashtra

• J&K

Sending funds disproportionately to Uttar Pradesh, it raises:

• Questions of regional imbalance

• Political alignment concerns

• Potential distortion of scheme intent

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B. Accountability & Transparency

Example:

• One MP reportedly did not remember where funds were recommended.

• Said decisions are handled by the private secretary.

📌 Raises issue of:

• Delegation without oversight

• Weak institutional responsibility

• Lack of monitoring

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C. Political Economy Dimension

Why Uttar Pradesh?

• Largest number of MPs

• Major political battleground

• High symbolic significance

But:

• States like J&K received only 0.6% of MPLADS utilised funds.

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📚 5️⃣ Constitutional & Governance Themes

🔹 Separation of Powers

MPLADS blurs lines:

• Legislature recommends

• Executive implements

Supreme Court has upheld MPLADS constitutionality, but concerns remain.

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🔹 Fiscal Federalism

Funds are:

• Central funds

• But meant for local development

Issue:

Does cross-state spending undermine decentralisation?

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🔹 Ethical Issues (GS IV)

Value	Concern
Integrity	Political bias in allocation
Accountability	MPs are unaware of allocations
Transparency	Dashboard vs actual intent
Equity	Uneven regional flow

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🧠 6️⃣ Analytical Dimensions for Mains

Argument Supporting MPs:

• Rules permit limited out-of-area spending

• National integration logic

• Political constituency may extend beyond geography

Argument Against:

• Undermines the local representation principle

• Weakens federal spirit

• May reflect partisan bias

• Opportunity cost for poorer home States

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🎯 7️⃣ 5 Practice PYQs (UPSC Pattern)

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Q1. MPLADS funds are:

A) State funds allocated to MPs

B) Central sector scheme funds

C) Funds from the Finance Commission

D) Corporate CSR funds

✅ Answer: B

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Q2. Which authority implements the MPLADS works?

A) Member of Parliament

B) Panchayati Raj Institutions

C) District Administration

D) NITI Aayog

✅ Answer: C

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Q3. The main criticism of MPLADS relates to:

A) Excessive decentralisation

B) Violation of the separation of powers

C) Private sector participation

D) Judicial activism

✅ Answer: B

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Q4. Which of the following principles is most directly affected if MPs allocate funds disproportionately to politically significant States?

A) Parliamentary sovereignty

B) Cooperative federalism

C) Collective responsibility

D) Judicial review

✅ Answer: B

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Q5. Ethical governance in public expenditure primarily requires:

1. Transparency

2. Accountability

3. Political loyalty

Which of the above are correct?

A) 1 only

B) 1 and 2 only

C) 2 and 3 only

D) 1, 2 and 3

✅ Answer: B

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🖋️ Possible GS Mains Questions

1. “MPLADS reflects both the strengths and weaknesses of India’s decentralised development model.” Discuss.

2. Examine whether cross-State allocation of MPLADS funds strengthens national integration or weakens federal principles.

3. Critically analyse MPLADS in the context of separation of powers.

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🔍 Conclusion for Essay Use

The MPLADS controversy is not merely about ₹18 crore.

It highlights deeper questions:

• Who owns public money?

• Should representation be territorial or political?

• Can discretion operate without accountability?

Strengthening transparency, stricter audit norms, and clearer guidelines for out-of-area spending would help preserve both federal balance and democratic trust.

 

NCERT Textbook Controversy & Supreme Court Reaction 

🏛️ Key Institutions Involved

🔹 Supreme Court of India

• Guardian of the Constitution

• Ensures rule of law

• Power of judicial review

🔹 National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)

• Develops national curriculum

• Publishes textbooks

• Advisory body under the Ministry of Education

🔹 Dharmendra Pradhan

• Current Union Education Minister

• Announced action against officials responsible

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🧭 Core Constitutional Themes

1️⃣ Separation of Powers

India follows a functional separation between:

• Legislature

• Executive

• Judiciary

Controversy raises questions about:

• Judicial overreach?

• Executive arbitrariness?

• Institutional insecurity?

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2️⃣ Judicial Independence

Judicial independence includes:

• Protection from political interference

• Institutional integrity

• Public confidence

However:

• Accountability and transparency are also essential

• Instances of judicial corruption exist

📌 Debate:

Can criticism = an attack on the judiciary?

Or is it part of democratic discourse?

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3️⃣ Freedom of Speech & Academic Freedom

🔹 Article 19(1)(a)

Guarantees freedom of speech & expression.

Textbooks:

• Official state publications

• Expected to maintain balance

• But must allow critical thinking

Issue:

Is censoring references to corruption a violation of academic freedom?

📌 UPSC Link:

• Secularism

• Constitutional morality

• Educational neutrality

• Pluralism

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⚖️ 5️⃣ Judicial Overreach vs Judicial Sensitivity

Possible Judicial Perspective:

• Textbooks = authoritative source

• Broad statements may damage institutional credibility

• Fear of intimidation

Criticism of Court:

• Overreaction to criticism

• Selective sensitivity

• Chilling effect on academic debate

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🧩 6️⃣ Ethical Dimensions (GS Paper IV)

Value	Conflict
Integrity of the judiciary	Transparency about corruption
Institutional dignity	Democratic criticism
Accountability	Independence
Executive responsibility	Political signalling

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🧠 7️⃣ Larger Federal & Democratic Implications

• Textbooks shape civic culture

• State control over curriculum

• Rise of narrative politics

• Social media assertions entering formal education

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🎯 5 Practice PYQs (UPSC Pattern)

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Q1. Which of the following best describes “judicial overreach”?

A) Judiciary interpreting laws

B) Judiciary reviewing constitutional amendments

C) Judiciary entering domains reserved for the executive/legislature

D) Judiciary protecting fundamental rights

✅ Answer: C

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Q2. Article 19(1)(a) guarantees:

A) Right to equality

B) Freedom of speech and expression

C) Right to education

D) Freedom of religion

✅ Answer: B

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Q3. Which doctrine ensures that no organ of government exceeds its constitutional limits?

A) Basic Structure Doctrine

B) Separation of Powers

C) Collective Responsibility

D) Parliamentary Sovereignty

✅ Answer: B

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Q4. Which of the following best balances judicial independence with accountability?

A) Complete insulation from criticism

B) Executive control over judges

C) Transparent mechanisms for complaints and removal

D) Media trials

✅ Answer: C

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Q5. Academic freedom in India is primarily protected under:

A) Article 14

B) Article 21

C) Article 19

D) Article 32

✅ Answer: C

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🖋️ Possible GS Mains Questions

1. “Judicial independence does not imply immunity from criticism.” Discuss in the context of recent textbook controversies.

2. Examine the tension between academic freedom and institutional dignity in a constitutional democracy.

3. “Rewriting textbooks reflects deeper ideological contestations in Indian democracy.” Critically analyse.

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🔍 Analytical Conclusion (For Essay Use)

This controversy reflects a deeper tension:

• Between authority and accountability

• Between institutional respect and democratic scrutiny

• Between ideological rewriting and constitutional pluralism

A mature democracy must:

• Protect judicial independence

• Allow critical engagement

• Avoid executive arbitrariness

• Ensure textbooks promote analytical thinking rather than ideological messaging

 

Sixteenth Finance Commission 

Constitutional Basis

🔹 Constitution of India

• Article 280 → Establishes Finance Commission

• Article 270 → Distribution of taxes between Union and States

• Article 275 → Grants-in-aid to States

🔹 What is the Finance Commission?

A constitutional body appointed every 5 years to recommend:

• Vertical tax devolution (Centre vs States)

• Horizontal distribution (among States)

• Grants-in-aid

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1️⃣ Vertical Devolution (Centre vs States)

Background Trend

Finance Commission	States’ Share in Divisible Pool
11th–13th FC	~27–28% effective transfer
14th FC	42% (major jump)
15th FC	41%
16th FC	41% (retained)

Key Issue:

The 14th FC increased States’ share from 32% to 42%.

The Centre responded by:

1. Increasing cesses & surcharges (non-shareable)

2. Reducing share in Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS)

3. Not fully accepting sector/state-specific grants

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⚖️ Sixteenth FC Approach

• Retained 41% share → gives semi-permanence

• Did NOT recommend curbing cesses & surcharges

• Proposed a “grand bargain”:

  • Merge cesses into divisible pool

  • States accept slightly lower share of a larger pool

🔎 Criticism:

• Did not strongly uphold constitutional spirit

• Dropped revenue deficit grants

• No sector/state-specific grants

• Effective transfers reduced to ~32.7% (2026–27 BE)

📌 Core Issue: Shrinking fiscal space of States

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2️⃣ Cesses and Surcharges – Federal Tension

Why controversial?

• Not shareable with States

• Increasing proportion of Union revenue

• Often not time-bound

📌 UPSC Link:

• Cooperative vs Competitive Federalism

• Off-budget fiscal practices

• Transparency in taxation

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3️⃣ Horizontal Devolution (Among States)

New “Contribution” Criterion

Earlier:

• Income distance (poorer States get more)

Now:

• Share of State’s GSDP in all-State GSDP

• Used square root of GSDP to moderate impact

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⚖️ Conceptual Problem

Two opposing logics used:

1. Lower per capita GSDP → More share (equity)

2. Higher GSDP → More share (contribution)

This creates tension between:

• Equalisation principle

• Efficiency principle

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Dropped Criterion

❌ Tax effort / Fiscal discipline criterion removed

👉 Weakens incentive for fiscal responsibility

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4️⃣ States That Lost

Major losers:

• Uttar Pradesh

• Bihar

• Madhya Pradesh

• West Bengal

• Odisha

• Rajasthan

• Chhattisgarh

Other affected:

• North-East States

• Small States like Goa

Gains:

• Some richer States (uneven)

📌 Political Economy Implication:

Redistributive tension between:

• High population, low-income States

• High-income, high-contribution States

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5️⃣ Article 275 – Missed Opportunity

🔹 Article 275

Allows:

• State-specific grants

• Equalisation transfers

• Addressing cost disabilities

The 16th FC discontinued revenue gap grants.

👉 Criticism:

Devolution alone cannot capture:

• Cost differentials

• Service delivery gaps

• Special needs

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6️⃣ Major Themes for Mains

A. Fiscal Federalism

• Vertical imbalance (tax powers with Centre)

• Horizontal imbalance (uneven development)

B. Equalisation vs Incentivisation

• Should richer States be rewarded?

• Or poorer States be equalised?

C. Constitutional Morality

• Spirit of Articles 270 & 280

• Rise of non-shareable revenue

D. GST Impact

Major GST reforms (Sept 2025) not factored in

Nominal GDP assumption optimistic (11%)

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📚 UPSC Syllabus Mapping

GS Paper II

• Centre-State relations

• Constitutional bodies

• Federalism

GS Paper III

• Government budgeting

• Public finance

• Fiscal consolidation

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🎯 5 Practice PYQs (UPSC Pattern) with Explanation

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Q1. Consider the following statements regarding cesses and surcharges:

1. They form part of the divisible pool of central taxes.

2. They are not required to be shared with States.

3. They are meant to be levied permanently.

Which of the above is/are correct?

A) 1 only

B) 2 only

C) 2 and 3 only

D) 1, 2 and 3

✅ Answer: B

Explanation:

• Not shareable

• Ideally time-bound, not permanent

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Q2. Article 280 of the Constitution relates to:

A) GST Council

B) Inter-State Council

C) Finance Commission

D) NITI Aayog

✅ Answer: C

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Q3. The concept of “income distance” in Finance Commission formula is primarily aimed at:

A) Encouraging rich States

B) Equalisation across States

C) Increasing Central revenue

D) Promoting exports

✅ Answer: B

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Q4. Which of the following best explains vertical fiscal imbalance?

A) Unequal development among States

B) Higher revenue powers with Centre compared to expenditure responsibilities of States

C) Revenue deficit in Union Budget

D) GST compensation

✅ Answer: B

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Q5. Which principle justifies grants under Article 275?

A) Market competition

B) Equalisation of public services

C) Defence expenditure

D) Corporate taxation

✅ Answer: B

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🖋️ Possible Mains Question

“The Sixteenth Finance Commission reflects the evolving tensions between equity and efficiency in India’s fiscal federalism.” Critically examine.

OR

“Increasing reliance on cesses and surcharges undermines the spirit of cooperative federalism.” Discuss.