Centre–State Relations in India: An Appraisal During Covid-19 Period

Abstract

The framers of the Indian Constitution have tried to establish a federal system in which there is less of contradictions and more of coordination between the Union and the states. Accordingly, there is a clear division of powers between the States and the Centre in the Constitution. This arrangement has been in operation for more than seventy years. The changing sociopolitical and economic conditions have affected these relations at different phases including the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. The Indian federal structure was put to test during this period. However, during this pandemic period, both conflict and coordination in the Indian federal system have been noticed. In the initial phase of the pandemic, there was a clear conflict between the Centre and the states as the states were almost ignored in policy decisions and their implementation. Unilateral and all-of-a-sudden nationwide lockdown was imposed by the Centre during the first wave of the pandemic, but later on, a more reciprocal relationship evolved regarding the supply of essential medical inputs, advisories, medicines and medical equipments, issues related to migrant workers, etc. The Supreme Court of India had to intervene with stringent observations to regulate these relations for an effective and efficient disposal of various services to counter the pandemic outbreak. Therefore, during the pandemic, in spite of conflicts and challenges, cooperation by and large, prevailed in the Indian federation. The present research article evaluates the nature of the Indian federation, Centre–State relationships, particularly to deal with problems like that of the Covid-19 pandemic along with appropriate remedial measures.