Federalism in the Balance: Legislative Autonomy and Constitutional Conflicts in Indian Land Governance

Land acquisition in India represents an important intersection of federalism, development needs, and property rights. The complex constitutional framework on center-state relations establishes various opportunities and challenges for land governance. This research will examine the ability of state legislative autonomy on federalism in India and recent changes to land acquisition legislation in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, identifying prominent tensions between development needs and constitutional protections.