S PECIAL P ROVISIONS

S PECIAL P ROVISIONS The most extra-ordinary feature of the federal arrangement created in India is that many States get a differential treatment. We have already noted in the chapter on Legislature that the size and population of each State being different, an asymmetrical representation is provided in the Rajya Sabha. While ensuring minimum representation to each of the smaller States, this arrangement also ensures that larger States would get more representation. In the case of division of powers, too, the Constitution provides a division of powers that is common to all the States. And yet, the Constitution has some special provisions for some States given their peculiar social and historical circumstances. Most of the special provisions pertain to the north eastern States (Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, etc.) largely due to a sizeable indigenous tribal population with a distinct history and culture, which they wish to retain (Art ). However, these provisions have not been able to stem alienation and the insurgency in parts of the region. Special provisions also exist for hilly States like Himachal Pradesh and some other States like Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra Sikkim and Telangana. Jammu and Kashmir The other State which has a special status is Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) (Art. ). Jammu and Kashmir was one of the large princely states, which had the option of joining India or Pakistan at the time of Independence. Immediately Check your progress Why do States want more autonomy? What is the difference between autonomy and secession? I now understand what they meant by ‘intelligent and balanced design’ in the first chapter.