What is the difference between the state government and the central government?

India has a federal system in which powers are divided between the central (Union) government and the state governments by the Constitution.

The Seventh Schedule divides subjects into three lists:

• Union List: subjects only Parliament can make laws on, such as defence, foreign affairs, currency, railways and atomic energy.
• State List: subjects mainly for state legislatures, such as police, public order, public health, agriculture and local government.
• Concurrent List: subjects where both can legislate, such as education, forests, marriage and criminal law. If the two laws conflict, the central law usually prevails.

At the top of the central government are the President (head of state) and the Prime Minister (head of government). In a state, the Governor is the constitutional head and the Chief Minister is the head of government.

India is described as a “Union of States” and leans toward a strong Centre, for example in emergencies and in matters not listed anywhere, which belong to Parliament. Even so, states have real powers, and the two levels work together through bodies such as the GST Council.