Question

Choose the correct statement(s) regarding the West Bengal Memorandum of 1977.
(i) It proposed replacing the word ‘union’ with ‘federal’ in the Constitution.
(ii) It recommended that 75% of the Centre’s total revenue from all sources be allocated to the states.
(iii) The memorandum was fully accepted by the Central government.

• A. Only (i) and (ii)
• B. Only (i) and (iii)
• C. Only (ii) and (iii)
• D. All the above (i, ii, iii)

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Only (i) and (ii)

The West Bengal Memorandum of 1977: A Demand for Federalism

• The West Bengal Memorandum of 1977, officially known as the West Bengal Government's Memorandum on Centre-State Relations, was submitted by the Left Front Government of West Bengal, led by Chief Minister Jyoti Basu.
• It was presented in the aftermath of the Emergency period (1975-1977), a time when concerns about the over-centralization of power and the erosion of states' autonomy were heightened.
• The memorandum represented a significant demand for restructuring Centre-State relations in India, advocating for greater autonomy for states in various spheres.

Key Proposals of the Memorandum:

• Replacement of 'Union' with 'Federal': One of its primary recommendations was to amend the Indian Constitution to replace the word ‘union’ with ‘federal’ wherever it occurred.
  • This proposal aimed to emphasize the truly federal character of the Indian polity, arguing that the existing 'union' structure was overly unitary and concentrated excessive power in the hands of the Centre.
  • Article 1 of the Indian Constitution states that 'India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States'. The memorandum sought to change this to explicitly reflect a federal structure.
• Fiscal Devolution (75% Revenue to States): The memorandum strongly recommended a significant increase in the financial resources allocated to states.
  • It proposed that 75% of the Centre’s total revenue from all sources should be devolved to the states.
  • This was a radical demand at the time, aimed at enhancing the financial autonomy of states and reducing their dependence on the central government for funds.
  • It sought to address the fiscal imbalance prevalent in Centre-State financial relations, where states often struggled with limited revenue-generating powers but extensive expenditure responsibilities.
• Limitations on Central Powers: The memorandum also called for restricting the Centre's powers in certain areas, such as the deployment of armed forces in states without their consent and changes to the emergency provisions (Articles 356, 357, 360).
• Abolition of All-India Services: It suggested the abolition of All-India Services (like IAS, IPS, IFS) and replacing them with separate state services, arguing that these services undermine state autonomy.

Central Government's Response:

• The memorandum was not fully accepted by the Central government.
• Instead, its radical proposals were largely rejected or ignored by successive central governments, regardless of political party.
• However, the memorandum did contribute significantly to the ongoing national debate on Centre-State relations and highlighted the need for reforms.
• It provided a strong impetus for other states and political parties to voice similar demands for greater autonomy.

Impact and Further Developments:

• The concerns raised by the West Bengal Memorandum and similar demands from other states eventually led to the constitution of various commissions and committees to review Centre-State relations.
• Notable among these was the Sarkaria Commission (1983), which was set up by the Central government to examine the Centre-State relationship and recommend changes. While the Sarkaria Commission did not accept the most radical demands of the memorandum, it did suggest some significant reforms aimed at decentralization and improving cooperative federalism.