Regionalism in India: Balancing Diversity and National Unity

Regionalism in India: Balancing Diversity and National Unity 10 Nov 2023

Regionalism in India: Balancing Diversity and National Unity
Relevancy for Mains: Regionalism and Salient Aspects of Diversity in India.


Regionalism- A Political Ideology:
It focuses on the interests of a particular region, group of regions or other subnational entity. It is a strong attachment to one’s own region.

Fostering Unity in Diversity: Positive Dimensions of Regionalism in India

  • Promotes regional culture and language by preserving local cultures, traditions, literature, art forms, cuisine etc.
  • Encourages healthy competition among different regions to compete to attract investment, talent and tourism which fosters development.
  • Ensures regional representation to ensure that local issues and voices are represented at the national level.
  • Accountability and decentralization by putting pressure on national parties for regional needs.
  • Fosters participation as it represents regional aspirations and ethnic identities.
  • Checks concentration of power by reducing dominance of few groups.
  • Responsive governance as it is more responsive to regional needs.
  • Balanced national development for equitable development across all regions of the country.
  • Unity in diversity and strengthens the Constitutional values.
  • Vision of shared nationhood in the nation’s future.

Dangers of Extreme Regionalism: Undermining National Unity and Governance in India

  • Breeds petty parochialism and can lead to intolerance of other cultures.
  • Promotes divisive politics that amplifies differences and divides people.
  • Triggers separatism and can threaten national unity and integrity. 
  • Fosters narrow interests rather than larger national interests.
  • Creates inequality due to unequal distribution of resources and opportunities.
  • Undermines meritocracy and can promote mediocrity.
  • Obstructs national consensus on national issues and reforms.
  • Promotes competitive populism by inciting regional sentiments to gain votes.
  • Distorts identities due to aggressive regional identities and people get forced into linguistic/regional boxes.
  • Triggers conflicts and violence, resulting in violence in many parts of India.
  • Weakens national parties and prevents emergence of national leadership.

Manifestations or Expressions of Regionalism in India: Rise of regional political parties, Dominance of state leaders, Language-based subnationalism, Sons of the soil movements, Inter-state river disputes, Demands for statehood, Anti-migrant agitations, Secessionist struggles, etc.

Dynamics of Regionalism in India: Exploring Influential Factors

  • Geographical Factor: The linguistic distribution along geographic boundaries.
  • Historical Factor: India’s regionalism was evident in the ancient, medieval and colonial ages.
  • Economic Factor: Uneven economic growth and development in many parts of the country.
  • Cultural Factor: Southern India is evidently different from the rest of the Country.
  • Rituals and Festivals: They are numerous and vary according to the region. 
  • Politico-Administrative Factors: Local regions have different local issues. 
  • Ethnic Factors: India is home to as many as 645 Scheduled tribes.
  • Scarcity of Resources: This competition is fuelled by regional aspiration.

Fostering National Unity: Government Initiatives and Institutional Frameworks in India

  • The Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) Programme, Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY), State Reorganisation Act, 1956, North-eastern States Reorganisation Act, 1971, Ek bharat Shreshtha Bharat etc.
  • Institutional structures like NITI Aayog, GST Council, Cultural connect and student exchange programme among state education Institutes, National Integration Council (NIC), North-Eastern Council (NEC), etc.

Constitutional Framework for National Unity and Integration in India

  • Freedom of speech and expression (Art. 19), Interstate Council under Article 263, 5th and 6th Schedule to preserve tribal identity, Article 38 (DPSP) to deal with inequality, Schedule 7 (Division of Power), 8th Schedule (languages), Articles 79 and 80 (provisions of Rajya Sabha as Council of States) and Article 368 (amendment procedure – Ratification by States).

Way Forward: Fostering National Unity through Inclusive Development

The need of the hour is to develop each region of India and introduce a system of national education. There is a need to utilize the potentiality of the National Integration Council and Schemes like “Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat” should be promoted more.

 

Archive Calendar

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

Need help preparing for UPSC or State PSCs?

Connect with our experts to get free counselling & start preparing

Aiming for UPSC?

Download Our App

      
Quick Revise Now !
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD SOON
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

<div class="new-fform">






    </div>

    Subscribe our Newsletter
    Sign up now for our exclusive newsletter and be the first to know about our latest Initiatives, Quality Content, and much more.
    *Promise! We won't spam you.
    Yes! I want to Subscribe.