Federalism, in simple terms, refers to the division of powers and responsibilities between the different forms of government. In the context of India, the terms show little variation. Instead of a complete separation of powers and responsibilities, certain powers are vested in both the central and state governments. Thus, we could say that Indian federalism is cooperative federalism. To understand this better, one must know that the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution guarantees the division of powers between state and centre. Although the constitution doesn’t directly refer to the federal governance structure, the Seventh Schedule divides powers between the Union and states through three lists: the Union List (centre subjects), the State List (state subjects), and the Concurrent List (the central and state governments) (subjects). Thus, Indian federalism is a unique blend of federalism and unitarianism, thus safely referred to as a quasifederal system. This may sound impressive, but it does come with challenges.

• The intricate balance between centralization and regionalism poses challenges.
• A powerful central authority may be perceived as encroaching, while robust regional movements can jeopardise national unity. For example, the revocation of Article 370 without the consent of Jammu and Kashmir’s legislature is a prime example of this dilemma.
• Regional dissatisfaction which stems from calls for autonomy, such as those from the Bodos and Gorkhas.