Federalism In India: Balancing Center-State Powers Under The Constitution

Arush Khanna, Research Scholar, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow, U.P.

ABSTRACT

India’s Constitution establishes a federal structure aimed at balancing national unity with regional autonomy through the delineation of legislative powers among the Union, States, and Concurrent Lists. However, in practice, centralization tendencies, resource allocation issues, and demands for state autonomy often disrupt this balance, leading to conflicts. This paper explores these tensions by analyzing key constitutional provisions and mechanisms such as the Inter-State Council that are designed to foster cooperative federalism. This paper argues that sustainable federal relations in India necessitate a strategic recalibration of fiscal and legislative powers, with a focus on conflict resolution and collaborative governance to strengthen India’s democratic fabric.

Keywords: Centre-State Relations, Indian Constitution, Federalism, Cooperative Federalism, Legislative Powers, Resource Allocation, Fiscal Decentralization, Conflict Resolution, Inter-State Council, Autonomy, National Unity.