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While only six decades old, federalism in India faces many of the same challenges as its more-established Canadian and American counterparts. Equalization, off-shore resource revenues, the environment, and urbanization are leading issues confronting the world’s largest federation.

 

In a public lecture sponsored by IDRC and the Ottawa-based Forum of Federations, respected economist and former senior civil servant Vijay Kelkar explored the flexibility of India’s “cooperative federalism.” India’s model, Kelkar asserted, has provided strong national unity and economic progress while adopting innovative solutions to the contemporary challenges posed by the country’s social and economic transformation.

 

Vijay Kelkar is the newly appointed Chairman of the Board of the Forum of Federations, an independent organization concerned with the contribution federalism makes and can make to the maintenance and construction of democratic societies and governments.  He has held a range of distinguished appointments in India’s public service, various international organizations, and the private sector.

 

Kelkar is the recent Chairman of India’s Finance Commission and has also served as Finance Secretary, Advisor to the Minister of Finance, and Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. His notable international postings include Executive Director for the International Monetary Fund for India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Bhutan (1999-2002) and Director and Coordinator of the International Trade Division of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (1991-1994).

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