Understanding India: Episode 8

The State of the Indian Union today: Federalism, Reform and Technology

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From centre–state friction (including GST) and the debate over “One Nation, One Election” to proposals affecting elected representatives across tiers of government, this episode unpacks what these shifts could mean for democratic accountability and governance.

The episode also tackles the controversy around the recent SIR in Bihar, pragmatic pathways for judicial and constitutional reform, and how India is approaching digital personal data protection amid rapid AI adoption.

Key questions explored:

• What is the true state of the Indian Union today?

• Are current electoral and constitutional proposals at cross-purposes?

• Was the Bihar SIR necessary, or could it have been done differently?

• Which judicial/constitutional reforms would make the biggest difference?

• How well are India’s data and AI regimes protecting citizens in practice?

Bringing together constitutional insights and forward-looking analysis on technology and governance, this episode offers a thoughtful lens on India’s institutional resilience and its readiness to meet emerging challenges.

The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the positions or opinions of Osborne Partners. Osborne Partners bares no liability or responsibility to any contents, statements, claims or representations made in this episode.
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