federalism

GST and Federalism

The SC may have correctly observed that in case it was intended to make the GST Council a decision-making authority, such a qualification would have been included in articles 246A or 279A. But to treat the GST legislations mechanically without considering their long and arduous journey through the maze of our treacherous political system over a period spanning more than three decades would be tantamount to severely undermining the promise held out by GST to transform India into a common market by supplanting our antiquated, multi-layered, multi-point, multi-tax system circumscribed by an odious Inspector Raj.

# Opinion

The pace of federalism

Nepal is a diverse country with more than a hundred ethnic and language communities. For a long time, its unitary and centralised system of governance was unable to address the concerns of these diverse communities.

Cooperative federalism

It has been iterated that officers would be posted on Central deputation only in consultation with the States but also been made clear that "once the number of officers to come on deputation to the Centre is fixed after mutual consultation, the Central Government should have overriding powers to get those officers"

Federalism at Stake?

A better and far easier solution to fill up vacant posts at Joint Secretary level exists. Under the Central Staffing Scheme, every year applications are invited from officers of AIS, officers of State Government and members of the Central Services, to fill up Deputy Secretary and above posts in the Central Government. Posts up to Director level are filled-up mostly by officers of Central Services while the IAS predominates in JS and above level posts. So, the shortage of officers at JS level can be addressed by removing the bias against non-IAS officers

PM non-committal on helping states over fiscal woes amidst pandemic: Puducherry CM

The Union Territory had to borrow from the Reserve Bank of India to tide over the current fiscal crisis after sufficient funds, assistance were not provided by the central government, said Puducherry CM.