Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India says that the executive power of every State shall be so exercised as not to impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive power of the Union ?

1. Framework of Centre-State Administrative Relations (basic)

Welcome to your first step in understanding how India functions as a cohesive unit! To understand Centre-State Administrative Relations, we must first look at the "Mirror Principle." In a federal system like ours, the power to execute or implement laws generally follows the power to make those laws. This means that if Parliament has the exclusive power to legislate on a subject (the Union List), the Union government has the executive power over it. Similarly, States have executive power over subjects in the State List. This distribution is neatly laid out in Articles 256 to 263 of Part XI of the Constitution M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Chapter 14, p.148.

However, India is a "Union of States," meaning the Centre has a special responsibility to ensure that the entire country’s administration runs smoothly without friction. To achieve this, Article 256 mandates that every State must exercise its executive power to ensure compliance with laws made by Parliament. Moving a step further, Article 257 acts as a safeguard; it directs that a State's executive power must be exercised in a way that does not impede or prejudice the exercise of the Union's executive power D.D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, Chapter 26, p.394. Essentially, while States are supreme in their own sphere, they cannot act as a roadblock to the Union’s national functions.

It is also fascinating to note that while legislative and executive powers are divided, our judicial power is not. Unlike the USA, where there are separate federal and state courts, India has an integrated judicial system. This ensures that both Central and State laws are enforced by the same set of courts, promoting a sense of administrative unity despite the division of political powers M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Chapter 14, p.144.

Sources: Indian Polity, Centre-State Relations, p.144, 148; Introduction to the Constitution of India, Administrative Relations Between the Union and the States, p.394

2. Article 256: Compliance with Union Laws (intermediate)

In a federal setup like India, the Union and the States coexist, but for the country to function as a single unit, there must be a way to ensure that Central laws are actually implemented on the ground. This is where Article 256 acts as the 'Constitutional glue.' It stipulates that the executive power of every State must be exercised in a way that ensures compliance with the laws made by Parliament and any existing laws which apply in that State. Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Centre-State Relations, p.148

Think of it as a mandatory duty of the State administration. Since the Union often lacks its own vast administrative machinery at every local level, it relies on the State's executive branch to enforce Central statutes. To make this obligation effective, Article 256 further empowers the Union to issue directions to a State as may appear necessary for that purpose. This ensures that a State cannot simply ignore a Central law because it disagrees with the policy behind it.

What happens if a State refuses to follow these directions? This is where the provision gets its 'teeth.' Under Article 365, if a State fails to comply with or give effect to any directions given by the Union, the President can deem that a situation has arisen where the government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution. This can pave the way for the imposition of President’s Rule under Article 356. Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), ADMINISTRATIVE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNION AND THE STATES, p.394

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Centre-State Relations, p.148; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), ADMINISTRATIVE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNION AND THE STATES, p.394

3. Connected Concept: Federalism and Emergency Provisions (intermediate)

In a healthy federal system, the Union and the States usually operate in their own spheres. However, the Indian Constitution includes specific safeguards to ensure that the administrative machinery of the country doesn't come to a standstill due to friction between these two levels. At the heart of this is Article 257, which establishes a clear hierarchy: every State must exercise its executive power in a way that does not impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive power of the Union. Essentially, if a State’s administrative actions clash with the Union’s national functions, the State must give way Introduction to the Constitution of India, ADMINISTRATIVE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNION AND THE STATES, p. 394.

This control is not just a matter of 'power' but of constitutional duty. Under Article 355, the Union is burdened with the solemn responsibility to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance. More importantly, it must ensure that the government of every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution Indian Polity, Emergency Provisions, p.178. Think of the Union as the 'guardian' of the constitutional order; if a State deviates from the constitutional path, the Union is duty-bound to intervene.

When this duty cannot be fulfilled through simple directions, the Constitution provides for the 'ultimate sanction' under Article 356, popularly known as President’s Rule. If the President is satisfied that the state’s constitutional machinery has failed, the Union takes over. The consequences are profound: the State Council of Ministers is dismissed, and the President assumes the functions of the State government, while the Parliament takes over the powers of the State Legislature Indian Polity, Emergency Provisions, p.179. This transition effectively turns a federal structure into a unitary one to restore order.

Article	Core Function in Federalism
Art. 257	Ensures State executive actions do not obstruct Union administration.
Art. 355	Imposes a duty on the Union to protect States and ensure constitutional governance.
Art. 356	Allows the Union to take over State administration upon failure of constitutional machinery.

Sources: Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), ADMINISTRATIVE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNION AND THE STATES, p.394; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Emergency Provisions, p.178; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Emergency Provisions, p.179

4. Connected Concept: Commissions on Centre-State Relations (exam-level)

In a federal structure like India’s, the balance of power between the Union and the States is not static; it evolves with political and economic shifts. To navigate these complexities, the Government of India has periodically appointed high-level commissions to review Centre-State relations and suggest reforms. These commissions act as the intellectual architects of Cooperative Federalism, ensuring that the administrative and legislative machinery remains functional even during periods of political friction.

The journey of formal review began with the First Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) in 1966. One of its most critical observations involved the fiscal and administrative overlap between the Finance Commission (a constitutional body) and the then-existing Planning Commission (an executive body). The ARC pointed out that this overlap often blurred the lines of responsibility regarding 'plan' and 'non-plan' expenditure D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, Chapter 26, p. 397. Later, the Rajamannar Committee (1969) appointed by the Tamil Nadu government took a more radical stance, advocating for greater state autonomy and the deletion of articles that allowed Central interference.

The most influential body, however, was the Sarkaria Commission (1983). It famously noted that federalism is more a functional arrangement for cooperative action than a static institutional concept. While it favored a strong Centre to maintain national integrity, it made 247 recommendations to prevent the misuse of Central powers. Its most significant legacy was the recommendation to establish a permanent Inter-State Council under Article 263, which the government finally implemented in 1990 M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Centre-State Relations, p. 160.

As the Indian economy moved toward liberalization, a fresh look was needed. Thus, the Punchhi Commission was set up in 2007 under the chairmanship of former CJI Madan Mohan Punchhi. It submitted its report in 2010, taking into account the "sea-changes" in the polity and economy since the Sarkaria report. While it drew heavily from its predecessor, it differed on several modern issues like internal security and the Governor's role in mid-term elections M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Centre-State Relations, p. 161.

Sources: Introduction to the Constitution of India, Chapter 26: ADMINISTRATIVE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNION AND THE STATES, p.397; Indian Polity, Centre-State Relations, p.160; Indian Polity, Centre-State Relations, p.161

5. Connected Concept: Inter-State Coordination Mechanisms (intermediate)

In a diverse federal setup like India’s, the Centre and States are not isolated islands; they are gears in the same machine. To ensure these gears don't grind against each other, the Constitution and Parliament have created Inter-State Coordination Mechanisms. These are institutional bridges designed to resolve conflicts, discuss shared policies, and promote what we call Cooperative Federalism.

The most vital constitutional tool for this is the Inter-State Council (ISC) under Article 263. This Article gives the President the power to establish a council if it serves the "public interest." For decades, this remained a dormant provision until the Sarkaria Commission (1983-88) strongly recommended making it a permanent fixture to handle Centre-State friction. Consequently, the Council was established in 1990, chaired by the Prime Minister and including all State Chief Ministers M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Inter-State Relations, p.168. Its primary job is to investigate and discuss subjects of common interest and make recommendations for better policy coordination M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Inter-State Relations, p.167.

While the ISC is a constitutional body, we also have statutory bodies known as Zonal Councils. These were created by the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 to promote regional cooperation. The country is divided into five zones (Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern), each with its own council. Unlike the ISC, which is chaired by the PM, all Zonal Councils are chaired by the Union Home Minister, who acts as a common link between the regional interests and the Union government D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, INTER-STATE RELATIONS, p.407.

Coordination also takes a more specific form regarding resources and administration. For instance, Article 262 deals exclusively with Inter-State Water Disputes, allowing Parliament to set up ad-hoc tribunals and even bar the Supreme Court's jurisdiction to ensure a specialized resolution process M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Inter-State Relations, p.167. On the administrative side, Article 257 acts as a "safety valve," directing States to exercise their executive power in a way that does not impede or prejudice the Union’s executive functions D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, ADMINISTRATIVE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNION AND THE STATES, p.394.

Feature	Inter-State Council	Zonal Councils
Nature	Constitutional (Article 263)	Statutory (States Reorganisation Act, 1956)
Chairman	Prime Minister	Union Home Minister
Scope	National / All-India	Regional / Zonal

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Inter-State Relations, p.167-168; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), INTER-STATE RELATIONS, p.407; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), ADMINISTRATIVE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNION AND THE STATES, p.394

6. Article 257: Control of the Union over States in Specific Cases (exam-level)

In the architecture of Indian federalism, administrative relations are designed to ensure that the Union’s national responsibilities are never paralyzed by State actions. While the Constitution divides executive powers, Article 257 acts as a safeguard to ensure that the Union remains paramount in specific administrative matters. The core philosophy here is one of non-interference and subordination; the executive power of every State must be exercised in a manner that does not impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive power of the Union M. Laxmikanth, Centre-State Relations, p.148.

Article 257 goes beyond general compliance and gives the Union the authority to issue specific, binding directions to the States in two critical areas of national interest:

• Means of Communication: The Union can direct a State to construct or maintain means of communication that are declared to be of national or military importance D. D. Basu, Distribution of Legislative and Executive Powers, p.381.
• Protection of Railways: Since railways are a vital national lifeline passing through various States, the Union can issue directions to a State regarding the measures to be taken for their protection within that State's territory.

Crucially, this is not a one-sided financial burden on the States. If the Union issues directions for communications or railways that involve costs beyond what the State would normally spend for its own purposes, the Government of India must pay the State the extra sum agreed upon (or decided by an arbitrator) D. D. Basu, Distribution of Legislative and Executive Powers, p.381. This ensures that while the Union has the control, it also bears the fiscal responsibility for national-level requirements.

Feature	Article 256 (Compliance)	Article 257 (Non-interference)
Nature	Positive: States must ensure compliance with Parliamentary laws.	Negative/Restrictive: States must not block or prejudice Union executive actions.
Scope	General administrative compliance.	Specific areas like Railways and Communications of military importance.

One must remember that these directions are not mere suggestions. Under Article 365, if a State fails to comply with any direction given by the Union under Article 257, it becomes lawful for the President to hold that a situation has arisen in which the Government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution, potentially leading to President's Rule.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Centre-State Relations, p.148; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), DISTRIBUTION OF LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE POWERS, p.381

7. Mutual Delegation of Executive Functions (intermediate)

In a federal setup, the division of powers between the Centre and States can sometimes lead to administrative rigidity. Imagine the Union government wanting to implement a national project in a remote corner of a state where it has no local officers, or a State government wanting the Union's specialized agencies to handle a complex task. To solve this, the Indian Constitution provides for the Mutual Delegation of Executive Functions, allowing the two levels of government to share their administrative machinery for better coordination.

The delegation from the Union to the State is governed by Article 258. This happens in two ways:

• By the President: Under Article 258(1), the President may, with the consent of the State government, entrust Union executive functions to that State. Here, consent is mandatory.
• By Parliament: Under Article 258(2), while making a law on a Union subject, Parliament can confer powers or impose duties on State officers. Interestingly, when delegation happens through a law made by Parliament, the consent of the State is not required D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, Administrative Relations Between the Union and the States, p.394.

Conversely, the State can also delegate functions to the Union under Article 258A. This provision was added by the 7th Amendment Act of 1956 to ensure the relationship is truly mutual. It allows the Governor of a State, with the consent of the Government of India, to entrust state executive functions to the Union M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Centre-State Relations, p.165. This creates a flexible, cooperative framework where neither side is hampered by a lack of local administrative infrastructure.

Feature	Union to State (Art. 258)	State to Union (Art. 258A)
Initiating Authority	President or Parliament	Governor
Consent Requirement	Required for President; Not required for Parliament (via law)	Always required from the Union Government

Sources: Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), Chapter 26: Administrative Relations Between the Union and the States, p.394; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Chapter 15: Centre-State Relations, p.165

8. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

This question brings together the building blocks of Administrative Relations you have just studied. In a federal structure, while both levels of government are independent, the Constitution includes specific obligations of the States to ensure that the national administration functions without friction. The concept here is Union Supremacy in executive matters; the Union must have the power to give directions to States to prevent any administrative deadlock. When you see the phrase "not to impede or prejudice," you should immediately think of the restrictive or 'negative' obligations placed on State machinery to safeguard the Union's interests.

The correct answer is Article 257. While Article 256 requires States to comply with Union laws, Article 257 goes a step further by mandating that the State's executive power must not interfere with the Union's executive actions. As explained in Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, this provision ensures that the Union's responsibility for national functions is not hampered by regional authorities. If a State fails to comply with such directions, it can even trigger the failure of constitutional machinery under Article 365, making this a vital mechanism for maintaining the integrity of the Indian administrative fabric.

To avoid UPSC traps, you must distinguish between routine administration and emergency powers. Article 258 is a common distractor; it focuses on the delegation or sharing of powers between the Union and States by consent, representing cooperation rather than a restriction. Similarly, Article 355 (the Union's duty to protect States) and Article 356 (President’s Rule) are Emergency Provisions. These are the consequences or broader duties of the Union, whereas the question specifically asks for the operational rule regarding the exercise of executive power found in the Administrative Relations chapter (Part XI).