Strong Centre debate
Topic: Framing the Indian Constitution · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Framing the Constitution"
Meaning
The strong Centre debate was the argument in the Constituent Assembly about how to divide power between the Union and the provinces. Partition, riots and the need for economic planning pushed most members towards a strong Centre. Some members warned that this would cripple the provinces. The centralisers won. The Constitution gave the Union many more subjects than other federations do. It also gave the Centre the power, under Article 356, to take over a state's government on the Governor's recommendation.
Example
Nehru wrote that "now that partition is a settled fact", a weak central authority would be harmful. Ambedkar wanted a Centre stronger than the one created by the 1935 Act. Gopalaswami Ayyangar and Balakrishna Sharma agreed with them. K. Santhanam of Madras warned that the provinces would revolt.
Don't confuse with
- Provincial autonomy: provinces running their own affairs. Congress had promised this before Partition. The strong Centre debate ended up moving away from it.
Related concepts
- N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar
- Balakrishna Sharma
- Provincial autonomy
- Union Powers Committee
- Union, State and Concurrent Lists
- Article 356
- Fiscal federalism
- K. Santhanam
- A. Ramaswamy Mudaliar