FEDERALISM AND CENTRE-STATE RELATIONS IN CONTEMPORARY INDIA

India's federalism is one of the most complicated experiments in democratic rule, exemplified by the unique combination of federal and unitary elements. This paper explores the changing centre–state dynamic in modern-day India, probing the tensions between cooperative federalism and centralising tendencies. By exploring recent constitutional evolution, policy measures, and judicial interpretations, this paper investigates how India's federal structure has evolved to face the challenges of the present while highlighting persistent areas of conflict. Recent case studies such as the implementation of Goods and Services Tax, abrogation of Article 370, and COVID-19 measures are used in the analysis to illustrate the intricate intermingling of constitutional structure and political practice. The conclusions are that although India's federal design has shown resiliency of remarkable proportions, there is, in recent years, a strengthening centralisation contrary to the underlying values of cooperative federalism.