Federalism in Times of Crisis: Insights from India's COVID-19 Response

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the significance of empowering local authorities to respond to health emergencies. This policy brief, drawing on a comparative analysis of four Indian states, shows that a successful pandemic response depends on factors such as local governance, community engagement, and decisive leadership. As India's federal system has demonstrated, an undue centralisation of authority combined with a decentralisation of responsibility without adequate resources can undermine the efficacy of a crisis response. Political polarisation can be a formidable obstacle, obstructing coordination and exacerbating the inefficiency of crisis response. Kerala's and Odisha's crisis management during the COVID-19 pandemic has been commendable, with dedicated leadership, coordinated efforts between the respective state and local administrations, and active public engagement contributing to their success. Despite having a weaker healthcare system, Odisha's response to the crisis was comparable to Kerala's, while Uttar Pradesh's was hindered by uncommitted leadership and polarisation along political and communal lines. Karnataka, with a stronger healthcare infrastructure than Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, performed only marginally better than Uttar Pradesh, primarily due to a lack of committed leadership, cooperation, and trust across government agencies. Decision-makers in federal systems worldwide, and in the European Union in particular, can benefit from studying India's COVID-19 response. To achieve a successful response, policymakers should prioritise horizontal and vertical coordination and encourage subnational innovation. India's state-level experiences suggest the importance of leveraging networks between different levels of government and civil society. Key factors for success include strong infrastructure, committed leadership, collaboration across government departments, empowerment of grassroots initiatives, and active community engagement.