UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Treatise for federalism

Q1. The High-Level Committee on Union-State Relations chaired by Justice Kurian Joseph, which submitted its Part I report in February 2026 calling for a 'structural reset' of Indian federalism, was constituted by which one of the following?

  • A. The Inter-State Council under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
  • B. The Government of Tamil Nadu
  • C. The 22nd Law Commission of India
  • D. NITI Aayog, Government of India

Q2. With reference to the Justice Kurian Joseph Committee on Union-State Relations (2025-26), consider the following persons: Which of the above is/are correctly identified as members of the Committee?

  1. Justice Kurian Joseph, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India
  2. K. Ashok Vardhan Shetty, former IAS officer and former Vice-Chancellor of the Indian Maritime University
  3. Prof. M. Naganathan, former Vice-Chairman of the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission
  4. Justice B.N. Srikrishna, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. How many members constitute the Justice Kurian Joseph Committee on Union-State Relations set up by the Government of Tamil Nadu in April 2025?

  • A. Three
  • B. Five
  • C. Seven
  • D. Eleven

Q4. With reference to the Justice Kurian Joseph Committee (2025-26) in comparison with previous reviews of Centre-State relations, consider the following statements: 1. It is the second committee on Union-State relations commissioned by the Government of Tamil Nadu, after the Rajamannar Committee of 1969-71. 2. Unlike the Sarkaria Commission and the M.M. Punchhi Commission, the Kurian Joseph Committee was constituted by a State Government rather than the Union Government. 3. The Committee is chaired by a sitting Judge of the Supreme Court of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It is the second committee on Union-State relations commissioned by the Government of Tamil Nadu, after the Rajamannar Committee of 1969-71.
  2. Unlike the Sarkaria Commission and the M.M. Punchhi Commission, the Kurian Joseph Committee was constituted by a State Government rather than the Union Government.
  3. The Committee is chaired by a sitting Judge of the Supreme Court of India.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3