Federalism was not a policy choice to india but a compulsion to meet different aspirations. Elucidate

[PUB AD- Answer writing]

.

[Anupam Boro]

On Wednesday, October 7, 2015 at 12:01:55 PM UTC+5:30, PUB AD- Answer writing wrote:

.

Federalism was not a luxury of choice for India. India adopted federalism as a form of government to meet its various social, economic, political, geographical aspirations. 

Unlike the classic federation of USA, India adopted a different type of federalism to meet its own needs, fulfill its own aspirations, which is often referred to as federalism sue generis. Such different aspirations are-

1. SOCIAL: At the time of independence India was mired with problems such as undilapidated poverty, huge backwardness, stratified society etc. Therefore to have balanced regional growth, inclusive development, discrimination-free society there was a need for a strong center.

2.ECONOMIC: With nascent private players and limited resource the center had to control the means of production so that the benefit of production gets distributed evenly to all.

3.POLITICAL: Independent india adopted much from GOI Act 1935--bicameralism, federalism, dyarchy etc. To meet the aspirations of the then princely state and governors province post-independence India adopted federalism to meet the aspirations of all the princely state.

4.GEOGRAPHICAL: Given the size and diversity of India, at the time of independence different regions of the country were at mixed level of nationalism. Which was evident in the scecessionist tendency of different north eastern states such as nagaland, mizoram, travancore,junahgarh etc. To integrate such princely state and to meet their aspiration a federation with strong center was necessary of the time.

Hence it can be concluded that the idea of federalism was not a ideologiacal luxury for India, rather a compulsion to accommodate different diversity at the time. Now given that we are a mature democracy of more than 70 years, such federalism sue generis is morphing more towards cooperative and competitive federalism.