Tamil Nadu Raises 234 Questions on Constitution Overhaul
Tamil Nadu Puts Forth 234 Questions on Constitution Overhaul
The Tamil Nadu government has initiated a comprehensive review of the Indian Constitution by presenting 234 questions through its High-Level Committee on Union-State Relations (HLUSR). Chief Minister M.K. Stalin released the questionnaire on Saturday, emphasizing the need to reshape India into a truly federal nation.
The committee, chaired by retired judges and constitutional experts, has been tasked with preparing an interim report by January 2026 and a final report within two years. The initiative seeks to examine the 75-year-old framework of the Constitution, which critics argue centralizes power in New Delhi.
The questionnaire covers 20 major themes including:
- Nature of Indian federalism
- Centralisation trends since 1950
- Constitutional amendment procedures
- Formation and reorganization of states
- GST reforms and fiscal federalism
- Union-State financial relations
- Powers of governors and the President
- Language policy and representation
- Delimitation of constituencies
- Elections and anti-defection laws
- Inter-state river water disputes
- Administrative and legislative relations
- National security vis-à-vis state autonomy
The first question raised asks whether respondents agree that the Constitution drew heavily from the colonial Government of India Act, 1935, thereby creating a centralised power structure.
Political perspectives on constitutional reform have long differed across parties. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has often advocated for reviewing the Constitution to “Indianise” its framework, while the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has consistently pushed for reforms to strengthen federalism and state autonomy.
By initiating this structured questionnaire, Tamil Nadu has positioned itself at the forefront of a crucial national debate on reshaping the future of Indian federalism.
