What is Federalism and Centre-State Relations (Environment)?
Historical Background
Key Points
12 points- 1.
The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution divides legislative powers into Union, State, and Concurrent Lists. Environment falls under both State and Concurrent Lists.
- 2.
The Union List allows the Centre to legislate on inter-state rivers and valleys, maritime zones, and atomic energy, all of which have environmental implications.
- 3.
The State List empowers States to legislate on water supply, irrigation, drainage, sanitation, and agriculture, directly impacting environmental management.
- 4.
The Concurrent List allows both Centre and States to legislate on forests, wildlife protection, and environmental pollution. However, central laws prevail in case of conflict.
Visual Insights
Federalism and Environment Management
Illustrates the division of powers and responsibilities between the Centre and States in environmental management.
Federalism & Environment
- ●Union List
- ●State List
- ●Concurrent List
- ●Environment Protection Act
Recent Real-World Examples
1 examplesIllustrated in 1 real-world examples from Feb 2026 to Feb 2026
Source Topic
Vedanta Challenges TN's Rejection of Sterlite Plant Revival in Court
Environment & EcologyUPSC Relevance
This concept is highly relevant for UPSC exams. It is important for GS-2 (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations) and GS-3 (Environment, Security and Disaster Management). Questions can be asked about the division of powers, environmental legislation, and Centre-State conflicts.
In Prelims, factual questions about Acts and Constitutional provisions are common. In Mains, analytical questions about the challenges of cooperative federalism in environmental management are frequently asked. Recent years have seen questions on environmental governance and the role of the NGT.
For the Essay paper, environmental issues and sustainable development are potential topics. When answering, focus on providing a balanced perspective, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities for cooperation.
Frequently Asked Questions
121. What is Federalism and Centre-State Relations in the context of the environment, and what is its constitutional basis?
Federalism, in this context, refers to the division of powers between the central government and state governments regarding environmental issues, as defined by the Constitution. Centre-State relations define how they interact. The constitutional basis lies in Article 246 and the Seventh Schedule, which divides legislative powers.
Exam Tip
Remember Article 246 and the Seventh Schedule for the division of powers.
2. What are the key provisions related to Federalism and Centre-State Relations in environmental legislation?
Key provisions include the Seventh Schedule's division of powers into Union, State, and Concurrent Lists. The Union List allows the Centre to legislate on inter-state rivers, while the State List empowers States on water supply and sanitation. The Concurrent List allows both to legislate on forests and wildlife, but central laws prevail in case of conflict. Article 252 allows Parliament to legislate on State List matters if requested by two or more states.
