Question

explain any four major of tension in indian federalism?

Answer 1

Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units. Indian Federalism is different from the type of Federalism practiced in the countries like the United States of America. In this post, we analyze in detail 15 issues/challenges pertaining to Indian Federalism.

Is India a true federation?



Indian model of federalism is called quasi-federal system as it contains major features of both a federation and union. It can be better phrased as ‘federation sui generis‘ or federation of its own kind.

Article 1 of the Constitution of India states that ‘India that is Bharat shall be a union of states’.


Indian federation was not a product of coming together of states to form the federal union of India. It was rather a conversion of a unitary system into a federal system.

It is a compromise between two conflicting considerations such as autonomy enjoyed by states within the constitutionally prescribed limit (State List) and the need for a strong centre in view of the unity and integrity of the country (Union List).

Federal Features of the India Union

Two governments i.e. Union Government and State governments
Division of powers between the union and its constituents (Seventh Schedule of the Constitution contains three lists such as the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List)
Supremacy of the Constitution (Basic structure of the Constitution is made indestructible by the Judiciary)
Partial rigidity of the Constitution
Independent Judiciary
Bicameralism
Unitary Features of the Constitution

A strong centre – The Union Government becomes all powerful in certain times like emergencies. Article 200 of the Constitution of India demands that the States must comply with the central laws. Other features include

Single Constitution
Single citizenship
Flexibility of Constitution
Integrated judiciary
Appointment of the Centre
All India Services
Emergency provisions
Importance of Federalism in India

Federalism is the most relevant factor of modern constitutionalism. The core objectives of Indian federalism are unity in diversity, devolution in authority, and decentralization in administration. Through federalism, the State pursues the goal of common welfare in the midst of wide diversity in socio-cultural, economic spheres.

15 Issues and Challenges faced by Indian Federalism



1. Regionalism

It is considered one of the significant challenges to federalism in India.
Federalism best thrives as a democratic system when it mitigates the centralization of power sharing between the centre and the states.
The pluralist character of India gives rise to many factors including regionalism. People from far northeast sometimes feel themselves at a formidable distance from New Delhi and people in southern part of the country with bigger states feel neglected having been within larger states.
Regionalism or love for one’s area, despite India’s tradition of successful federal rule over the years since independence, still raises its head in different parts of the country.
The voice for the demand of more states has become more prominent in recent times, especially after the formation of Telangana in 2014. Recent demands like four-fold division of Uttar Pradesh and the creation of Gorkhaland from West Bengal are instances of aggressive regionalism that pose a threat to the federal structure of India.
The agitations for Gorkhaland, Bodoland, and KarbiAnglong have been revived. This is apart from the new demands for a separate Vidarbha State in Maharashtra, and Harit Pradesh and Poorvanchal in Uttar Pradesh. The more the number of states the more the centre will be held hostage to state parties on matters of national importance.
For instance, West Bengal threatened India’s Teesta river waters treaty with Bangladesh because of its possible potential costs for West Bengal. Even growing regional powers may affect effective foreign policy as the federal government may bow to the will of