This study attempts to analyse the political implications of regional disparity in India in the post-independence period, keeping in view the nature of federalism and democracy enshrined in the Constitution. It presents the crucial findings on regional disparity since the 1960s, and investigates the observed trends from the perspective of the federal aspects of the Constitution. It also notes the challenges posed by regional disparities to the overall functioning of democracy and its evolution over the last six decades. The conclusion situates certain changes in the institutional role of finance commissions over the post-independence period in the light of the observations on the link between regional disparity, federalism and democracy.
