Chandigarh at the crossroads: Why Article 240 has reignited an old storm
The 131st Amendment proposal has reopened questions of federalism, identity and long-standing Punjab-Chandigarh tensions
Chandigarh, Updated At : 05:00 AM Jan 02, 2026 IST
The debate over Chandigarh’s future has returned with unusual intensity. With the Union Government proposing to bring the city under Article 240 through the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, the political temperature in Punjab has shot up, old wounds have resurfaced and the idea of federal balance is once again under scrutiny. This isn’t merely a bureaucratic change. For Punjab, it touches history, emotion and long-standing political commitments. For students of political science and civil services aspirants, it offers a live case study in centre-state relations, constitutional mechanics and the politics of identity.
