Question

Describe any three measures that can be taken by the Union government to address the regional movements and demands.

Hint:

To easily remember the Union government's strategies to manage regionalism, think of the acronym A-R-T: Accommodation (Sixth Schedule and Article 371), Reorganisation of state boundaries (creating new states), and Targeted fiscal transfers (bridging economic gaps).

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding Regionalism in a Diverse Federal Polity:
India is a diverse subcontinent characterized by multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, and multi-cultural populations. In such a society, regional movements are a natural expression of democratic aspirations and local identities. Rather than treating regionalism as a threat to national unity, the Union government can utilize constitutional, political, and economic mechanisms to address these demands and strengthen federal integration.

Step 2: Measure 1 --- Democratic Accommodation via Constitutional Power-Sharing:
The primary democratic response to regional demands is institutional power-sharing:
• Autonomous Councils (Sixth Schedule): The government can establish Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) under the Fifth and Sixth Schedules of the Constitution. This allows local communities to manage their land, forests, personal laws, and primary education without central interference, as implemented in Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
• Special Constitutional Provisions: Article 371 (A to J) provides special, asymmetric constitutional protections to states like Nagaland, Mizoram, and Karnataka, safeguarding local customs, land ownership, and recruitment rules, satisfying regional identity without redrawing borders.

Step 3: Measure 2 --- Linguistic and Administrative Reorganisation of States:
When regional movements demand distinct territorial recognition, the Union government can utilize Article 3 of the Constitution to redraw state boundaries:
• Linguistic Reorganisation: Initiated in 1956, this policy satisfied major cultural movements by aligning administrative boundaries with linguistic communities (such as Maharashtra for Marathi speakers and Tamil Nadu for Tamil speakers).
• Developmental/Identity Reorganisation: In 2000, the Union government created Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh to address regional development neglect. Similarly, Telangana was created in 2014, demonstrating that democratic federalism can accommodate regional demands through peaceful constitutional separation.

Step 4: Measure 3 --- Targeted Fiscal Devolution and Regional Developmental Balances:
Economic grievances, such as developmental neglect, are a primary driver of regional dissatisfaction. The Union government can address these through fiscal mechanisms:
• Special Category Status and Finance Commission Transfers: The central government can channel additional financial grants, tax rebates, and central assistance to economically disadvantaged, hilly, or border states to accelerate development.
• Targeted Regional Infrastructure Schemes: Implementing dedicated development programs, such as the PM-DevINE scheme for the North-East, helps bridge regional infrastructure gaps, reducing grievances of step-motherly treatment by the center.