Co-operative Federalism

Co-operative federalism, in general terms, is a concept wherein the federal government, state government, and local government interact co-operatively and share their responsibilities in the governance.It is also considered as a new form of federalism.

Factors influencing Cooperative Federalism in India

• Territorial Extent and Diversity: The large size of the country, its vastness and socio-cultural diversity can be preserved cooperative federalism.
• Economic Development: Integration and solidarity in a federal set up is necessary to tackle stagnation is economic field and unbalanced regional development. Cooperative federalism helps the government at union, state and local levels to tap the potential of a large national market, diverse and rich natural resources and pool of human capital available in the country to build a prosperous country.
• Emergence of New Challenges: New challenges emerging in form of epidemics, pandemics like covid-19, cyber threat, climate change and environmental concern can be dealt effectively when both the union and states cooperate with each other.
• Accessibility of Resources: The emergence of the concept of welfare state, which is strongly based on the public opinion, has made the local units more dependent on the national governments for adequate resources. Cooperative federalism helps the government at different levels to raise all the available resources in a coordinated manner and utilize them for the common good of the people.
• Safeguard and Promote Unity: National decisions take precedence over the points of Centre-State division of powers when a war is urgently necessary for national survival. Further cooperative federalism reconciles national unity with regional autonomy, safeguarding and promoting unity of the country.
• Efficient Governance and Public Welfare: It is necessary for the governments in a federation to coordinate among themselves with cooperation to promote the public welfare. A combined effort by both the Centre and the states is necessary to implement the desired policies in both letter and spirit.