This book presents a systematic analysis of the rise and decline of the Indian National Congress since 1980s, using the frame dominance to hibernation. The Indian National Congress (INC or Congress Party) originated in the national movement for India`s freedom and has since been the centerpiece of post-Independence multiparty system for nearly four decades. However, the Congress has been experiencing a phase of serious decline since the 2014 and 2019 General Elections. Analyzing years of political history and contemporary developments, this volume brings to the fore important issues and key themes such as, • Evolution of party system in India, the contemporary dynamics and movements; • Indian National Congress under Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi; • Ideological and policy reorientation of the party in 1990s under P. V. Narsimha Rao; • Revival of mass membership and organizational elections in the party; • Indian National Congress in the 2000s, under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi; • The 2019 debacle and change in the leadership. A comprehensive work on the history of the Congress Party in India, this volume will be an essential read for scholars and researchers of political science, party politics, Indian politics, sociology, modern Indian history, political sociology, public administration, public policy, South Asian studies, and governance studies.

This book explores hitherto unaddressed dimensions in federalism studies in India. It traces continuities and changes in Indian federalism since independence and especially economic liberalization. Beginning with the 1990s, due to the emergence of multi-party system, coalition governments, change in judicial temper and the onset of privatization and globalization in the economy, there has been a trend towards greater federalization in India. However, in the context of one-party majority in a coalition government since 2014, new aspects have emerged in Indian federalism. The volume engages with several facets of federalism: administrative federalism; environmental and resource federalism; changing dynamics of fiscal federalism; and multi-level governance. With comparative data and case studies across different states of India, it brings together a range of issues, including Article 356 and its dysfunctions; land acquisition; decentralized governance; tribal rights; the roles of central and state governments; concerns regarding Citizenship Amendment Act; recent abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A; Delhi and statehood; climate change; MGNREGA; implementation of ICDS and the cooperative and competitive nature of Indian federalism. Comprehensive and topical, this book will be useful to scholars and researchers of political science, federalism, comparative federal studies, political studies, comparative politics, public administration, governance and development studies. It will also interest policy makers, bureaucrats, government organizations, NGOs, and civil society activists.

This book explores new avenues of international research in comparative federal studies. It re-examines the conceptual tools and methodologies for understanding federal systems, and the role of comparative federalism in the dissemination and implementation of federal concepts. It highlights the influence of comparative federalism on constitution-making as well as constitutional reforms. The volume provides innovative and pragmatic perspectives from both the Global North and the Global South, with case studies drawn from established federations such as India, Canada, Australia, and Austria, and emerging federal systems such as Italy and South Africa. Advocating a combined approach that integrates modern and traditional theoretical routes with practical insights and contemporary analyses, it discusses the issues of multilevel elections and federal governance; coalition governments and multiparty democracy in parliamentary federal systems, such as India; minority empowerment; gender budgeting; self-governance; multinational federalism; unitary states; the nation-state; and degenerating federalism. It also breaks new ground by looking at federalism from a gender perspective and deals with tools for measuring fiscal responsibility, and a social and cultural index. A tribute to the intellectual legacy of Ronald L. Watts, this volume will be useful to scholars and researchers of political science, federalism, comparative federal studies, political studies, comparative politics, governance, public administration and law, development studies, South Asian studies, and Global South and North studies as well policymakers, international government bodies, research institutes, development experts, and other organisations working in the area.

(1) This is a comprehensive book on India's electoral democracy and political system. (2) It contains an in-depth analysis of the crucial 2019 Parliamentary elections in India, with contributions from scholars such as Subrata Mitra, Jivanta Schoettli, Rekha Saxena, Hilal Ahmed, and Arjan H. Schakel. (3) This book will be of interest to departments of South Asian Politics and political and election studies. It will also interest professionals and those in politics, public policy and governance, civil society organisations, media and journalists.

(1) This is a comprehensive book on India's electoral democracy and political system. (2) It contains an in-depth analysis of the crucial 2019 Parliamentary elections in India, with contributions from scholars such as Subrata Mitra, Jivanta Schoettli, Rekha Saxena, Hilal Ahmed, and Arjan H. Schakel. (3) This book will be of interest to departments of South Asian Politics and political and election studies. It will also interest professionals and those in politics, public policy and governance, civil society organisations, media and journalists.

This book explores hitherto unaddressed dimensions in federalism studies in India. It traces continuities and changes in Indian federalism since independence and especially economic liberalization. Beginning with the 1990s, due to the emergence of multi-party system, coalition governments, change in judicial temper and the onset of privatization and globalization in the economy, there has been a trend towards greater federalization in India. However, in the context of one-party majority in a coalition government since 2014, new aspects have emerged in Indian federalism. The volume engages with several facets of federalism: administrative federalism; environmental and resource federalism; changing dynamics of fiscal federalism; and multi-level governance. With comparative data and case studies across different states of India, it brings together a range of issues, including Article 356 and its dysfunctions; land acquisition; decentralized governance; tribal rights; the roles of central and state governments; concerns regarding Citizenship Amendment Act; recent abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A; Delhi and statehood; climate change; MGNREGA; implementation of ICDS and the cooperative and competitive nature of Indian federalism. Comprehensive and topical, this book will be useful to scholars and researchers of political science, federalism, comparative federal studies, political studies, comparative politics, public administration, governance and development studies. It will also interest policy makers, bureaucrats, government organizations, NGOs, and civil society activists.

This book explores new avenues of international research in comparative federal studies. It re-examines the conceptual tools and methodologies for understanding federal systems, and the role of comparative federalism in the dissemination and implementation of federal concepts. It highlights the influence of comparative federalism on constitution-making as well as constitutional reforms. The volume provides innovative and pragmatic perspectives from both the Global North and the Global South, with case studies drawn from established federations such as India, Canada, Australia, and Austria, and emerging federal systems such as Italy and South Africa. Advocating a combined approach that integrates modern and traditional theoretical routes with practical insights and contemporary analyses, it discusses the issues of multilevel elections and federal governance; coalition governments and multiparty democracy in parliamentary federal systems, such as India; minority empowerment; gender budgeting; self-governance; multinational federalism; unitary states; the nation-state; and degenerating federalism. It also breaks new ground by looking at federalism from a gender perspective and deals with tools for measuring fiscal responsibility, and a social and cultural index. A tribute to the intellectual legacy of Ronald L. Watts, this volume will be useful to scholars and researchers of political science, federalism, comparative federal studies, political studies, comparative politics, governance, public administration and law, development studies, South Asian studies, and Global South and North studies as well policymakers, international government bodies, research institutes, development experts, and other organisations working in the area.