F EDERALISM IN THE I NDIAN C ONSTITUTION Even before Independence, most leaders of our national movement were aware that to govern a large country like ours, it would be necessary to divide the powers between provinces and the central government. There was also awareness that Indian society had regional diversity and linguistic diversity. This diversity needed recognition. People of different regions and languages had to share power and in each region, people of that region should govern themselves.
This was only logical if we wanted a democratic government. The only question was what should be the extent of powers to be enjoyed by the regional governments. In view of the agitation of the Muslim League for greater representation to the Muslims, a compromise formula to give very large powers to the regions was discussed during the negotiations before Partition. Once the decision to partition India was taken, the Constituent Assembly decided to frame a government that would be based on the principles of unity and cooperation between the centre and the States and separate powers to the States.
The most important feature of the federal system adopted by the Indian Constitution is the principle that relations between the States and the centre would be based on cooperation. Thus, while recognising diversity, the Constitution emphasised unity. Do you know for example, that the Constitution of India does not even mention the word federation? This is how the Constitution describes India — Article : ( ) India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.
( ) The States and the territories thereof shall be as specified in the First Schedule. After all, the purpose of living together must be that all of us are happy and must make each other be happy.