Dynamic De/Centralization in India, 1950–2010

Ajay Kumar Singh

Publius: The Journal of Federalism, 2019, vol. 49, issue 1, 112-137

Abstract: Part of the project “Dynamic De/Centralization in Federations,” this article measures dynamic de/centralization in India since its founding in 1950 and seeks to account for observed patterns in terms of changes over time. India’s federation was considerably centralized at birth across its legislative, administrative, and fiscal dimensions. It has since undergone further cumulative centralization in the legislative sphere, while little change has occurred in the other two spheres. The principal instruments of dynamic centralization have been constitutional change and court rulings. Several aspects of India’s constitutional framework have facilitated the further accretion of legislative powers to the center. Centralization has been driven by a desire for policy uniformity and an emphasis on national interests and security. The transformation in the party system since the 1970s has not had a discernible impact on the system’s degree of de/centralization. In turn, India’s extreme societal diversity has not presented a major obstacle to centralization or produced significant demands for decentralization.

Date: 2019
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