NCAFI-2022

As we celebrate 75 years of India’s independence we also need to celebrate the resilience and dynamism of India’s unique template of federalism within which the concept and practice of asymmetrical federalism has been particularly pertinent. Focused on this endeavour, this conference attempts to make salient the variations, transitions and the future prospects of asymmetrical federalism in India.

Scholars widely agree on the proposition that all successful multinational federations are asymmetrical in their structures in some way or the other, to recognize and accommodate diverse ethnic identities. This is further justified by the fact that conventional equality based federal structures have failed to come up with mechanisms to regulate ethnic conflicts. Asymmetrical mechanisms are thus meant to both protect the unity of the nation as well as preserve the distinct identity of the minority community.

The existing diversities and internal heterogeneity in a ‘state-nation’ like India, leads to the movement around the concept of ‘identity’ and ‘recognition’. While acculturation and assimilation undoubtedly remains a larger objective of any modern state, the immediate concern is to unify and to accommodate. This remained a major thought behind the sub-committees created by constituent assembly to solve the question of administration of tribal areas. The Indian constitution therefore has been characterized as a ‘demos-enabling’ kind of federation in contrast to the ‘demos-constraining’ one like in the USA. In a ‘demos-enabling’ kind or the ‘holding together’ kind of federalism, there exists constitutional-flexibility wherein minority demands for greater linguistic or cultural autonomy can be addressed by the majority at the center. Asymmetry in simplest terms denotes granting of differential rights to these differential layers existing in the federal sub-units, while also recognizing the territorially concentrated ‘ethnic’ or ‘national groups’ belonging to that subdivision.

The abrogated article 370, the special provisions for Nagaland and Mizoram under article 371, the provisions ensuring ‘tribal autonomy’ under 5^th and 6^th schedule or other asymmetrical arrangements in terms of centre state relations are meant to protect the unity of the nation as well as preserve the distinct identity of the minority communities. The differences with regard to the governance of States and Union Territories and greater subjection of the later to central control is also a provision of asymmetry. Other than these provisions, the constitution also makes special provisions concerning the admission of new states into the union as per the discretion of the Parliament, paving way for a differential treatment and arrangements.

However there are distinct gaps between the normative ideals that underlie asymmetrical federal arrangements and the praxis thereof. The meaning, significance and practice of asymmetrical federalism is undergoing constant transition and taking on newer forms.

Objective of the Conference:

• Theorizing asymmetrical federalism through a conceptual and comparative framework

• To study the implications and results of 5^th and 6^th schedule in terms of tribal autonomy in the region.

• To analyse the abrogation of the article 370 and its implications.

• To understand implications of increasing secessionist and separatist demands on the federal structure of the country.

• To further examine evolution of India’s asymmetrical federalism to ‘post-modern’ prospects.

• To explore future directions in India’s approach towards linguistic, cultural, ethnic, religious demands with the rising centrist and majoritarian politics.

• To analyse the question of autonomy of union territories especially newly constituted, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

• To explore the financial aspects of asymmetrical federalism and its implications.

Contact: All questions related to conference and submissions of abstract/paper should be emailed to: polscience@mln.du.ac.in