Skip to content

Centre-State Relations and Article 356 Class 11

questionbuddy.in/cbse/class-11/political-science/federalism/centre-state-relations-autonomy-article-356-new-states-and-special-provisions

Political ScienceCBSE Class 11 · Federalism

Centre-State Relations, Article 356, New States and Special Provisions (Class 11 Political Science, Chapter 7)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Centre-State relations moved from Congress dominance (1950s-60s) through demands for autonomy (from the mid-1960s) to the coalition era from the 1990s. Autonomy demands cover powers, finance, administration and language. The Governor and Article 356 have been controversial; the States Reorganisation Commission (1953) led to linguistic States in 1956; inter-State disputes and special provisions complete the picture.

Understand Centre-State Relations: Autonomy Demands, the Governor and Article 356, New States and Special Provisions

Why this topic matters. Phases of relations, the Governor/Article 356 controversy and the reorganisation of States are repeated long-answer topics; river disputes and special provisions give short answers.

1. Phases. (i) 1950s to early 1960s: Congress dominance at the Centre and in States under Nehru; relations normal except over new States. (ii) From the mid-1960s: Congress dominance declined, opposition parties won many States, and autonomy demands and protests against central interference grew. (iii) Since the 1990s: coalition politics at the Centre and regional parties in States, giving States a greater say and a more mature federalism. Legal disputes go to the judiciary but autonomy demands are political and need negotiation.

2. Autonomy demands. (i) A change in the division of powers in favour of States (Tamil Nadu, Punjab, West Bengal; DMK, Akali Dal, CPI(M)); (ii) financial autonomy (the West Bengal Left Front government's 1977 document); (iii) administrative autonomy; (iv) cultural and linguistic autonomy (opposition to Hindi domination in Tamil Nadu; Punjabi language and culture). Autonomy seeks more power within the Union, not secession.

3. Governor and Article 356. The Governor is not elected, is appointed by the Centre and is often a retired military officer, civil servant or politician; actions can look like central interference when different parties rule. The Governor can recommend dismissal of a State government and suspension or dissolution of the Assembly (President's rule). Misuse: the dismissal of the Kerala government in 1959 despite a majority; dismissals without a floor test after 1967; removal of elected governments in Andhra Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir in the 1980s. The Sarkaria Commission (appointed 1983, reported 1988) recommended non-partisan appointments. The Supreme Court has ruled that the validity of imposing President's rule can be examined by the judiciary.

4. New States. The States Reorganisation Commission (December 1953) recommended linguistic States; reorganisation took place in 1956. Later: Gujarat and Maharashtra (1960), Punjab and Haryana (1966), North-East States, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand (2000) and Telangana (2014).

5. Inter-State conflicts. Border disputes (Belgaum between Maharashtra and Karnataka; Manipur-Nagaland; Punjab-Haryana and Chandigarh) and river water disputes (Cauvery between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka; Narmada among Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra) are best solved by negotiation.

6. Special provisions. Asymmetrical treatment: Rajya Sabha seats by size, special provisions for the North-East and hill States. Jammu and Kashmir acceded in October 1947 and had special status under Article 370; this no longer exists, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019 created two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Centre-State Relations: Autonomy Demands, the Governor and Article 356, New States and Special Provisions: key facts

Phases
1950s-early 1960sCongress dominance
Mid-1960sautonomy demands
1990scoalitions
Evolution.
Autonomy demands
  • Powers
  • Finance
  • Administration
  • Culture and language
Not secession.
Article 356
  • Governor's report
  • President's rule
  • Kerala 1959
  • After 1967
  • Sarkaria 1983-88
  • Judicial review possible
Controversy.
New States
SRC December 1953
1956linguistic
1960Gujarat, Maharashtra
1966Haryana
2000three States
2014Telangana
Reorganisation.

How to answer Centre-State Relations: Autonomy Demands, the Governor and Article 356, New States and Special Provisions questions

Article 356 questions are answered as cause, misuse and safeguard.

  1. 1State what the Article allows.
  2. 2Give two examples of misuse with years.
  3. 3Mention the Sarkaria Commission recommendation.
  4. 4Add that the Supreme Court can examine the validity.

Centre-State Relations: Autonomy Demands, the Governor and Article 356, New States and Special Provisions in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Dismissed despite a majority

Suppose a State government that clearly has a majority in the Assembly is dismissed on the Governor's report.

Which controversy is this?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Dismissal of a government despite majority, as in Kerala 1959.
  2. This is misuse of Article 356.

Answer: Misuse of Article 356.

Memory hook: Majority ignored.

Water for two States

Suppose two neighbouring States quarrel over river water for drinking and farming even after a tribunal rules.

Which type of inter-State conflict is this?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. It concerns a river water dispute.
  2. Examples are the Cauvery and Narmada disputes.

Answer: A river water dispute.

Memory hook: Water, not borders.

Tricks to remember Centre-State Relations: Autonomy Demands, the Governor and Article 356, New States and Special Provisions

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • Three phases

    Dominance, autonomy demands, coalitions

    Use it when: Relations over time.

  • 1953-56

    SRC set up 1953, reorganisation 1956

    Use it when: States.

  • Kerala 1959

    First famous dismissal despite a majority

    Use it when: Article 356.

Centre-State Relations: Autonomy Demands, the Governor and Article 356, New States and Special Provisions: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Sarkaria Commission · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

The Sarkaria Commission examined:
(A) Centre-State relations
(B) electoral reforms
(C) judicial appointments
(D) language policy

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. It was appointed in 1983 on Centre-State relations and reported in 1988 (1 mark).

Answer: (A)

Example 2: Autonomy not secession · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

Distinguish a demand for autonomy from a demand for secession. (2 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Autonomy seeks more powers within the Union (1 mark).
  2. Secession seeks separation from the Union (1 mark).

Answer: A demand for autonomy seeks more powers and resources for a State within the Union, while secession is a demand to separate from the Union.

Example 3: Reorganisation of States · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Explain how and when States were reorganised on a linguistic basis. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. States Reorganisation Commission set up in December 1953 (1 mark).
  2. It recommended linguistic States for major language groups (1 mark).
  3. Reorganisation took place in 1956 (1 mark).

Answer: The national movement had accepted that States would be based on common language and culture where possible. The States Reorganisation Commission, set up in December 1953, recommended linguistic States for the major language groups, and the reorganisation was carried out in 1956.

Example 4: Assertion and reason: Governor · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

Assertion (A): The Governor's role is often controversial in Centre-State relations.
Reason (R): The Governor is appointed by the Centre and is not elected, so actions can look like central interference.
(A) Both true, R explains A
(B) Both true, R does not explain A
(C) A true, R false
(D) A false, R true

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The appointment by the Centre explains the controversy (1 mark).

Answer: (A)

Example 5: HOTS: coalition era · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Explain how the move from Congress dominance to coalition politics changed Centre-State relations, using the three phases, and say what this implies for demands for autonomy and for the use of Article 356. (5 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Phase 1: Congress dominance at Centre and States, relations normal except new States (1 mark).
  2. Phase 2: opposition parties won States, demands for autonomy and protests against interference (1 mark).
  3. Phase 3: coalitions at the Centre, regional parties strong, States have a greater say (1 mark).
  4. Autonomy is a political demand that needs negotiation (1 mark).
  5. Article 356 can be examined by courts and coalition politics makes arbitrary dismissal harder (1 mark).

Answer: In the first phase the Congress dominated both the Centre and the States, so relations were normal except over new States. From the mid-1960s opposition parties formed governments in many States, leading to autonomy demands and protests against interference. Since the 1990s coalition politics at the Centre and strong regional parties have given States a greater say and a more mature federalism. Autonomy demands are political and need negotiation, and since the Supreme Court has ruled that the imposition of President's rule can be examined by courts, and coalition governments depend on regional partners, arbitrary use of Article 356 has become harder (the second part is an inference from the chapter).

Where students lose marks in Centre-State Relations: Autonomy Demands, the Governor and Article 356, New States and Special Provisions

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Saying Article 356 allows the Centre to dissolve Parliament

    Wrong target.

    Wrong working

    Article 356 dissolves the Lok Sabha.

    Right working

    It concerns President's rule in a State.

    Do this: Name the State Assembly.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Writing 1953 as the year of reorganisation

    Dates mixed.

    Wrong working

    States reorganised in 1953.

    Right working

    SRC set up in 1953; reorganised in 1956.

    Do this: Pair the two.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Equating autonomy with secession

    Used interchangeably.

    Wrong working

    Autonomy demand means separation.

    Right working

    Autonomy means more powers within the Union.

    Do this: Say "within the Union".

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Use years for the phases of Centre-State relations.
  • Mention the Sarkaria Commission with 1983 and 1988.
  • Use neutral wording for Jammu and Kashmir: state the legal facts only.

Practice questions on Centre-State Relations: Autonomy Demands, the Governor and Article 356, New States and Special Provisions

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    Linguistic reorganisation of States took place in:
    (A) 1947
    (B) 1956
    (C) 1966
    (D) 1971

    Hint

    SRC 1953.

    Answer

    (B)

  2. Q2 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

    Name two river water disputes between States mentioned in the chapter. (2 marks)

    Hint

    Cauvery, Narmada.

    Answer

    The Cauvery dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, and the Narmada dispute among Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

  3. Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    List four types of autonomy demands with an example of a State or party for any two. (3 marks)

    Hint

    Powers, money, administration, language.

    Answer

    Demands include more powers in the division of powers (Tamil Nadu, Punjab, West Bengal), financial autonomy (West Bengal Left Front's 1977 document), administrative autonomy and cultural and linguistic autonomy (opposition to Hindi domination in Tamil Nadu).

  4. Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Describe two instances of the misuse of Article 356. (3 marks)

    Hint

    Kerala, Andhra.

    Answer

    In 1959 the Kerala government was dismissed despite having a majority; after 1967 several State governments were dismissed without a floor test; in the 1980s elected governments were removed in Andhra Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

  5. Q5 · 4 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

    A student says that special provisions for some States violate federalism because all States should be equal. Evaluate with the chapter's examples of asymmetrical treatment, and note what happened to Article 370. (4 marks)

    Hint

    Asymmetry.

    Answer

    Indian federalism treats States differently: Rajya Sabha seats vary by size, special provisions exist for the North-East because of large tribal populations, and for hill States. Such asymmetry is meant to fit diverse conditions rather than violate federalism, though it has not always stopped alienation. The special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 no longer exists; the 2019 Reorganisation Act created the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.What did SRC recommend?Show answer

    Linguistic States.

  2. 2.Which States formed in 1960?Show answer

    Gujarat and Maharashtra.

  3. 3.Which State was formed in 2014?Show answer

    Telangana.

  4. 4.What does Article 356 allow?Show answer

    President's rule in a State.

Centre-State Relations: Autonomy Demands, the Governor and Article 356, New States and Special Provisions: frequently asked questions

Which court can examine President's rule?

Courts can examine its constitutional validity.

Who is the Governor appointed by?

The President on the advice of the Union government.

What is the Chandigarh issue?

Capital of both Punjab and Haryana; the 1985 understanding has not been implemented.