The power of the Supreme Court of India to decide disputes between the Centre and the States falls under its

The correct answer is C, Original jurisdiction. Article 131 lets the Supreme Court hear disputes directly, without an appeal from a lower court, between the Government of India and one or more States, between the Centre and any State on one side and other States on the other, or between States inter se, where the dispute involves a question on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends.

Why the others are wrong:

• A) Advisory jurisdiction under Article 143 is exercised only when the President seeks an opinion on a question of law or fact. The opinion is not a binding decision in a dispute between parties.
• B) Appellate jurisdiction under Articles 132 to 136 deals with appeals against High Court judgments, including constitutional and civil or criminal appeals. It does not start a dispute between governments.
• D) Writ jurisdiction under Article 32 is for enforcing Fundamental Rights. Individuals move the Court under it. It is not the route for federal disputes.

This sits at the heart of federalism and Centre-State relations, a recurring Mains theme linked to the Sarkaria Commission debates. Water disputes are a separate matter: Article 262 routes them to tribunals, and Article 131 does not apply to them.

Trap: aspirants often pick Writ jurisdiction because the Supreme Court is the "guardian of rights". Remember that Article 131 is a Centre-State dispute provision, not a fundamental rights provision.