The Changing Nature of Federalism in Indian Politics: Trends, Tensions, and Transformations

Abstract

In this paper, the changing shapes of federalism in Indian politics are looked at, with a focus on new trends, rising tensions, and big changes that have happened in the last few decades. The Indian Constitution called for a quasi-federal system with a strong center. However, recent political events have seen both a strong return of regionalism and a concentration of power. Coalition governments, the rise of regional parties, fiscal federal changes like the Goods and Services Tax (GST), and the changing roles of institutions like the Finance Commission have all had a big impact on the relationship between the Centre and the States. Issues like competitive federalism, asymmetrical federalism, and cooperative federalism have been at the heart of debates about governance and policymaking under each government, especially during the Modi era. The paper takes a critical look at how the central government is gaining power over areas that used to be the responsibility of the states, how disagreements over how to distribute resources are growing, and how the institutions that were meant to keep the federal government in balance are breaking down. At the same time, it looks at creative ways that states have used their independence in areas like health care, education, and aid. By looking at both the constitution and real-world changes, the study gives us a more complete picture of how Indian federalism is not a fixed system of government but one that is always changing due to the interaction between political will, economic needs, judicial interpretations, and democratic hopes.