Concurrent List

Land Act: PM Modi should tell Mamata to feel free to take Bengal back to Stone Age

The opposition's united stand against the Land Acquisition Ordinance is just political obstructionism. To get over it, Modi should offer states to enact their own stricter laws - and call their bluff. Few states will dare so so

Govt pushes fiscal federalism: funds for schemes like NREGA to come without riders

The Modi govt is expected to transfer funds for centrally-sponsored schemes like NREGA to states without attaching too many riders to them. States will get more fiscal freedom on these schemes

Modi's federalism at work: Vasundhara Raje takes the bull of labour reforms by the horns

Emboldened by a friendly government at the centre led by Modi, Vasundhara Raje is making a bold attempt to reform labour laws in her state. States may now lead reforms using their federal powers

States are king: Modi’s new mantra important for emerging India

The devolution of powers do not end with the states. They have to work extra hard to strengthen and empower the local bodies so that governance happens at people’s door steps.

2014's challenge: we need big ideas to defeat bad ideas

Bad ideas are endemic to an India where centre and states neutralise one another. We need to redistribute power to the states and further down to make India more governable. The big theme for 2014 ought to be devolution of power.

Centre shouldn't force states to follow its schemes: BJP

The provision for state grievance redress commissions was approved by the Parliament standing committee, but many political parties including the BJP have opposed the move saying that the states should not be forced to emulate the schemes delivered by the Centre.