Federal Structure — Centre-State Relations, Cooperative/Competitive Federalism

What should you study in Federal Structure?

• Division of powers — Union List (100), State List (61), Concurrent List (52)
• Residuary powers — Parliament (Art.248)
• Art.356 — President's Rule; Sarkaria & Punchhi Commission recommendations
• Cooperative federalism vs competitive federalism — GST Council model

How often is Federal Structure asked in UPSC Mains?

Asked in 5 of 10 years, including 2 of the last 5. Highlighted years below are the ones it appeared in.

1. 2016: asked
2. 2017: not asked
3. 2018: asked
4. 2019: not asked
5. 2020: asked
6. 2021: not asked
7. 2022: asked
8. 2023: not asked
9. 2024: asked
10. 2025: not asked

About the Mains GS Paper II paper

GS Paper II is a 250-mark descriptive Mains paper covering governance, the Constitution, polity, social justice and international relations. See all 40 Mains GS Paper II topics.

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