Abstract

Indian federalism has evolved from a constitutionally centralized structure to a politically negotiated and economically dynamic system. Over the last seven decades the relationship between the Union and the States has undergone profound transformation—shaped by political realignments judicial interpretation fiscal reforms and socio-economic developments. This paper undertakes an analytical study of the changing nature of Indian federalism tracing its journey from the founding vision of the Constitution to the contemporary era of cooperative and competitive federalism. It explores how factors such as coalition politics decentralization globalization and technological modernization have redefined the federal compact. Through a detailed examination of constitutional provisions historical trends and case law the paper argues that Indian federalism remains a flexible adaptive and resilient framework capable of balancing national unity with regional diversity. It concludes that the future o