Let's now learn how federalism is practiced in India — not just in theory, but in real life, through laws, institutions, and everyday governance.
🇮🇳 How is Federalism Practiced in India?
India’s federalism is not just written in the Constitution — it is practiced every day through:
- Constitutional arrangements
- Political processes
- Judicial decisions
- Cultural and linguistic recognition
- Decentralization to local governments
Let’s look at each of these in detail:
🔹 1. Division of Powers Between Centre and States
Practiced through: Three Lists in the Constitution
- Union List (e.g., defence, currency, railways) → Only the Central Government makes laws.
- State List (e.g., police, public health, local transport) → Only the State Governments make laws.
- Concurrent List (e.g., education, marriage, adoption) → Both can make laws, but if there's a conflict, the Central law wins.
📌 Example:
- Education is in the Concurrent List. Both Centre and State make policies.
In 2020, the National Education Policy (NEP) was made by the Centre, but states decide how to implement it in their schools.
🔹 2. Independent Judiciary
Practiced through: Supreme Court as the guardian of the Constitution
- If there's a dispute between the Centre and a State, or between two States, the Supreme Court resolves it.
📌 Example:
- In the Cauvery water dispute, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka fought over water sharing. The Supreme Court gave the final verdict.
🔹 3. Formation of New States
Practiced through: Power of Parliament to create or change states
- The Central Government can create new states or change borders of existing ones — but consultation with states is done.
📌 Examples:
- Telangana was created from Andhra Pradesh in 2014.
- Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh were created in 2000.
🔹 4. Use of Emergency Powers
Practiced through: President’s Rule under Article 356
- If a state government cannot function properly, the President can dismiss the State Government and Central Government takes over temporarily.
📌 Example:
- In 1992, President’s Rule was imposed in Uttar Pradesh after communal violence.
⚠️ Earlier, Article 356 was misused for political reasons, but now the Supreme Court strictly limits its use (as per S.R. Bommai Case, 1994).
🔹 5. Coalition Politics and Rise of Regional Parties
Practiced through: Power-sharing in national politics
- Since 1990s, no single party had a clear majority in Lok Sabha. So, regional parties from different states became part of the Central Government.
- This strengthened federalism, because states got more say at the national level.
📌 Example:
- DMK (Tamil Nadu), TMC (West Bengal), and Shiv Sena (Maharashtra) have been part of central coalitions.
🔹 6. Cultural and Linguistic Federalism
Practiced through: Recognition of multiple languages and cultures
- India does not impose one language or culture on all.
- The Constitution recognizes 22 scheduled languages.
- States can have their own official language.
📌 Example:
- Tamil Nadu uses Tamil in all official communication.
- Karnataka uses Kannada.
- Hindi and English are used by the Central Government.
🔹 7. Decentralization to Local Governments (Third Tier)
Practiced through: 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments (1992)
-
These amendments gave constitutional status to:
- Panchayati Raj (for villages)
- Municipalities (for towns and cities)
-
Now local governments manage schools, roads, water, sanitation, etc., and have elections every 5 years.
📌 Example:
- In rural areas, Gram Panchayats decide local issues like water supply and sanitation.
- In cities, Municipal Corporations handle garbage, roads, and street lighting.
🧠 Summary Table: Federalism in Practice in India
| Practice Area | How it Works | Example |
|---|
| Division of Powers | 3 Lists – Union, State, Concurrent | Education in Concurrent List |
| Judiciary’s Role | Supreme Court settles disputes | Cauvery water dispute |
| Creation of States | Parliament can create new states | Telangana from Andhra Pradesh |
| Emergency Powers | Centre can take over state temporarily | UP 1992 – President’s Rule |
| Coalition Governments | States get voice in Centre | DMK, TMC in national governments |
| Cultural & Language Rights | States use local languages | Tamil, Kannada in state offices |
| Local Government Empowerment | Panchayats and Municipalities get powers | Gram Panchayat managing village work |
🏁 Final Thoughts
Yes, India practices federalism actively, but with its own style — strong central government, yet growing state autonomy and local participation.
Over time, courts, elections, regional parties, and local governance have made Indian federalism more cooperative and inclusive.
