Overview
Indian Federalism: Structure, Process and Agency offers a comprehensive and critical account of Indian Federalism, its origin, development, structural, innovations and functioning, and resilience in the face of new challenges. Federalism in India is a relative success story as a model of governance of a complex multi-ethnic country. This book provides a detailed examination of the structures of Indian federalism with particular focus on the core structures such as tiers of government, constitutional distribution of powers, parliamentary second chamber, Supreme Court, Finance Commission (fiscal federalism and federal asymmetry) and Inter-State Council. Each discussion is preceded by the constitutional designs and functions. The issues covered in this book are territorial accommodation of ethnic identity; power-sharing; centripetalism and state autonomy; changing political economy from a command economy to a market driven one; special significance of the major transformation in the party systems for federalism; and the new meaning of centre-state relations in the shifting patty systems and the political economy. This book will be of interest to advanced undergraduates and postgraduates as a core text on Indian federalism, and a necessary reference for the students and researchers of comparative federalism, and Indian politics, globally speaking.
Full Product Details
Author: Harihar Bhattacharyya (University of Burdwan, India)
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint: Routledge
Weight: 0.620kg
ISBN: 9781032455495
ISBN 10: 1032455497
Pages: 228
Publication Date: 24 February 2026
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Tertiary & Higher Education
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Not yet available
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Reviews
""This majestic work shows how India's federalism conflates territoriality and ethnicity with self-rule and shared rule. This compact, comprehensive and accessible volume should be on every reading list on federalism"". Subrata Mitra, Heidelberg University ""This book is an essential guide to the evolution, development and the contemporary challenges of Indian federalism that is sure to become a reference source. Erudite and accessible, it provides a masterful synopsis of the subject that is a must for scholars, students and the general reader."" Professor. Gurharpal Singh, King's College, London. ""This wide-ranging textbook covers key institutions making federalism in India work. Its nuanced interpretation of the politics of federalism in India deserves to be widely read"". Professor Katharine Adeney, University of Nottingham
Author Information
Harihar Bhattacharyya was formerly Professor of Political Science at the University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India. Previously he taught at Delhi University, the Heidelberg University (South Asia Institute), Hull University (UK) and the Institute of Federalism, Fribourg, where he was a Visiting Research Professor (1998-99) for one year to draft a book on a comparative study of Indian and Swiss federalism. Widely globally travelled, Bhattacharyya also takes part in ethnic conflict resolution and constitution making for transitional states. His recent publications include Asymmetric Federalism in India: Ethnicity, Development and Governance (2022); Federalism in Asia: India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Nepal and Myanmar, 2nd ed. (2021); and Radical Political and Governance in India’s North East: The Case of Tripura (2018). He is also the recipient of the Publius Distinguished Scholar Award (2025).
