Our constitution adopted for federal system of polity. The Features have been taken from American, Canadian and Australian federalism. Federalism in the Indian constitution is not a matter of administrative convenience, but it is the outcome of our own process and recognition of the ground realities. India adopted a system which if federal in normal times, but unitary in times of emergency.
Over the course of post independent history, Centre-state relations has undergo rapid change and it got stabilized by maturity shown by both the entities. Till the rule of Nehru, there was absolutely no confrontation between the centre and state. As same party was in the power. Further cult politics dominated the era with no personality of equal calibre as that of Nehru. This relationship got a jerk and entered into a confrontational phase. As non congress ministries were forming in the state. This was the era when coalition politics was at its nascent stage. But Constitutional provisions were used in illogical manner like use of article 356. Post 1980 phase coincided with the economic liberalised era and its element was also seen in Indian polity also. Very complex system of centre state relationship developed both at the centre and state. Now Coalition politics became an integral part of Indian polity.