Evolution of Indian Federalism after Independence

Federalism is a political concept describing the practice whereby a group of members are bound together by agreement or covenant with a governing representative head. It refers to a system of government in which sovereignty is constitutionally shared between a central governing authority and constituent political units (such as states or provinces). India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-nine states and seven union territories. The states and union territories are further subdivided into districts and further into smaller administrative divisions. The Constitution of India distributes the sovereign powers exercisable with respect to the territory of any State between the Union and that State. Article 73 provides that the executive power of the Union shall extend to the matters with respect to which Parliament has power to make laws. Article 162 provides that the executive power of a State shall extend to the matters with respect to which the Legislature of a State has power to make laws. The Supreme Court has reiterated this position when it ruled in the Ramanaiah case that the executive power of the Union or of the State broadly speaking is coextensive and coterminous with its respective legislative power. Federalism in India has come up age reflecting greater degree of maturity, adjustment and sustenance. Coalition politics, emergence of powerful regional parties, court judgments on federal disputes and globalization process have accelerated the pace of decentralization and greater degree of Federalism. The states ’demand for partnership in Federal Policy making processes and steps in making global contracts in regard to foreign investment is a remarkable change. The emergence of Federal agencies and mechanism has added strength to Federal framework. In this paper attempt is made to analyze and describe constitutional provisions of Indian federalism, agencies and mechanism for federal coordination, functioning of federalism, role of governor, coalition era and Indian federalism.