Likening fiscal federalism to a game between the Union and the states, and among the states themselves, Indian Fiscal Federalism lays bare the complex rules of play. In this new edition, the authors examine the pivotal and expanding role of Finance Commissions and momentous changes since 2015, such as the replacement of the Planning Commission by the NITI Aayog and the emergence of the GST Council. The book looks at the changes in the rules of the game, with the Union deviating from the established convention of treating the Finance Commission's recommendations as a package and award by not accepting the state-specific and sector-specific grants recommended by the Fifteenth Finance Commission. It presents a historical perspective on fiscal federalism, its evolution through various phases, and the interplay and overlap of institutional mechanisms, with a focus on the challenges before the Sixteenth Finance Commission. A contemporary, timely, and comprehensive analysis of federalism in India, this practitioners' perspective is a must-read that offers a way forward to address persistent and immediate concerns.
