Evolution of India's Federalism and Education Policy

Scholarship on education in India has frequently addressed the sociopolitical determinants of the education system. It has drawn attention to colonial policies, independent India’s developmental imperatives, party politics and caste configurations in underlining the need to view the education system in terms of the larger processes shaping Indian democracy.

M R Kolhatkar’s Education and Federalism in India is an important addition to this growing body of literature. Informed by the view that education is the master-determinant of development, it unravels the politics of federalism and its impact on India’s education policy since colonial times. The author’s own experience in bureaucracy and government contributes significantly to this comprehensive account of the historical evolution of educational policymaking in India.