THE SECURITY IMPERATIVE: RE-EVALUATING CENTRE-STATE SYNERGY IN MANAGING INTERNAL CONFLICTS

Abstract

The security environment in the twenty-first century has transformed from localised law and order problems to intricate, international dangers, including organised crime, cyberterrorism, and cross-border insurgencies. The old federal government systems, whose strict division of powers frequently results in operational silos, are severely tested by these dynamic difficulties. This paper re-examines federalism as a practical requirement for maintaining national stability rather than only as a constitutional framework. The nature of contemporary internal conflicts requires a paradigm shift from "dual federalism" to a more integrated "cooperative security federalism," even though "public order" and "police" are still state subjects. The deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), intelligence-sharing procedures, and the authority of central agencies like the NIA are among the grounds of contention between the Union and the States that are critically examined in this study. It contends that quick security reactions are frequently hampered by political differences and jurisdictional ambiguity. The study emphasises that institutionalising Centre-State collaboration beyond ad hoc measures is essential to the sustainability of the federal structure through an analysis of current internal tensions. It suggests a dynamic framework for governance that balances the Centre's mandate for national security with the state's police autonomy.