Federalism In India and the Challenges of Cooperative Federalism: Constitutional Vision, Contemporary Practices, and Emerging Trends

Federalism in India represents a distinctive constitutional arrangement, often described as "quasifederal," where a strong Centre coexists with constitutionally guaranteed powers of the States.Rooted in the vision of the Constituent Assembly, Indian federalism balances unity with diversity through an elaborate distribution of legislative, administrative, and fiscal powers.Over the decades, this balance has evolved into the principle of cooperative federalism, emphasizing collaboration between the Union and the States in policy formulation, fiscal management, and governance.Institutional mechanisms such as the Inter-State Council, Finance Commissions, Zonal Councils, and more recently, NITI Aayog and the GST Council, exemplify this cooperative framework.However, the practice of cooperative federalism faces significant challenges.Political friction between ruling parties at the Centre and in the States, fiscal imbalances aggravated by GST compensation disputes, and the limited role of institutional forums often hinder effective cooperation.Judicial interventions, while upholding federal principles, have not eliminated ambiguities in Centre-State relations.Comparative insights from other federations such as the United States, Canada, and Germany highlight potential reforms for strengthening India's cooperative model.The present research argues that revitalizing cooperative federalism is indispensable for sustaining India's democratic pluralism, ensuring inclusive development, and addressing emerging governance challenges.