Constitutional Provisions to promote National Unity and Integrity and Initiatives by GOI

There are several constitutional provisions in India that aim to promote national unity and integrity. Some of the key provisions are: 

• Preamble: The Preamble of the Indian Constitution declares India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic committed to promoting unity and integrity among all its citizens. 
• Fundamental Rights: The Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights to all citizens irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, or gender. These rights ensure equality before the law, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and protection against discrimination. 
• Directive Principles of State Policy: The Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitution directs the government to promote social, economic, and political justice, and to strive towards a society based on equality and fraternity. 
• Union and State List: The Constitution divides the legislative powers between the central government and state governments. The Union List contains subjects of national importance such as defense, foreign affairs, and currency, while the State List includes subjects such as health, education, and public order. 
• Emergency Provisions: The Constitution provides for emergency provisions in times of war, external aggression, or internal disturbance. During an emergency, the central government has the power to suspend fundamental rights and take necessary measures to maintain national unity and integrity. 
• Official Language: The Constitution recognizes Hindi as the official language of India, while English is also used for official purposes. 
• Cultural and Educational Rights: The Constitution recognizes the cultural and educational rights of different communities and directs the government to promote and protect their interests. 

These constitutional provisions aim to promote national unity and integrity by ensuring that all citizens have equal rights and opportunities and by providing for a federal system of governance that balances the interests of different states and communities. 

Certain initiatives by GOI to ensure Integrity 

1. The Interstate Council was established by the Government of India under Article 263, following the acceptance of the Justice Sarkaria Commission's report on center-state relations. The council's objective is to develop the Inter-State Council Secretariat as a dynamic organization that supports Center-State and Inter-State coordination and cooperation in India. 
2. The Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) is a program that has been implemented in 272 backward districts across all states in India to address regional imbalances in development. 
3. The Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) was launched in September 2015 to promote the welfare of tribals, tribal areas, and others affected by mining. 
4. The State Reorganization Act of 1956 created Zonal councils to promote the interests of different geographic zones in India. 
5. The North-Eastern States Reorganization Act of 1971 was enacted to provide a platform for inter-state coordination, regional planning, and integrated development of the Northeast region to prevent intra-regional disparities. 
6. New states have been created by considering economic and administrative viability, such as Telangana. 
7. The Backward Area Development Program is a plan assistance program for the backward states. 
8. Public investment in industries like steel, fertilizers, oil refining, petrochemicals, heavy chemicals, and power and irrigation projects has been utilized as a tool for reducing regional inequality, such as the Polavaram irrigation and Indira Gandhi canal projects. 
9. Government incentives such as subsidies, tax concessions, concessional banking, and institutional loans have been provided to the private sector to invest in backward areas. 
10. New institutional structures like NITI Aayog have been created to ensure federal equilibrium. 
11. The GST Council has been established to ensure fiscal federalism. 
12. Cultural connect and student exchange programs among state education institutes have been initiated. 
13. Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat is a program that aims to promote national integration by connecting people from different states. 
14. The National Register of Citizens of Assam Government is intended to expel outsiders and protect the cultural identity of natives. 
15. The National Integration Council (NIC) was established to promote national integration and communal harmony. 
16. The North-Eastern Council (NEC) was created in 1971 to provide a forum for inter-state coordination, regional planning, and integrated development of the Northeast region to prevent intra-regional disparities. 
17. Regional parties have been given representation in Parliament. 
18. The Inter-State Council was established under Article 263 to address issues of common interest. 
19. Special status provisions have been made in the Indian Constitution, such as Article 371 to 371F. 
20. Special category status has been granted to economically backward states, such as hilly and border states.