TN Panel on Centre-State Ties

Tamil Nadu Committee Formation: Tamil Nadu has formed a three-member high-level committee to review Centre-State relations. The goal is to strengthen state autonomy and federalism. Committee Headed by Justice Kurian Joseph and will submit report in 2 years.

Erosion of Legislative Powers: States are losing control over key areas due to subjects being moved from the State List to the Concurrent List (e.g., education, health). 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 moved key subjects like education to Concurrent list, reducing states’ control.

National Policies Override State Policies: National policies (like NEET and the National Education Policy’s three-language formula) limit states’ ability to tailor policies to their specific needs. Tamil Nadu facing fund witholding of ₹2,500 crore under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan due to opposing NEP.

Fiscal Disparities: The GST system has caused revenue loss for states, reducing their financial freedom. Tamil Nadu argues it receives only 29 paise for every rupee contributed to the Centre.

Reduced Representation: States with proactive population control measures (like Tamil Nadu) feel penalized by the delimitation process. Upcoming delimitation of Parliamentary constituencies in 2026 could drastically reduce Tamil Nadu’s representation.

Exclusion from Key Decisions: States are often excluded from important national decisions, undermining participatory

Historical

Call for Cooperative Federalism: The committee aims to ensure maximum autonomy for states while maintaining national unity and integrity. Need to strengthen cooperative federalism by reviewing the provisions of the Indian Constitution, laws, and policies related to Centre-State relations, Stalin said.