Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Centre Mediates Historic Inter-State Disputes Through Cooperative Federalism
India’s central government and several state governments have been trying to solve old disagreements.
Assam and Nagaland signed an agreement with the Centre.
Six states also agreed to restart a large dam project that had been delayed for eight years.
Rajasthan and Haryana reached an agreement after waiting 32 years to use an earlier Yamuna basin arrangement.
Four states settled money owed under the Narmada Award.
Bihar and Jharkhand ended a 25-year disagreement about the Sone River.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana agreed to work on dividing assets and liabilities.
Himanta Biswa Sarma says these agreements show how talking and cooperating can help states make progress together.
Himanta Biswa Sarma says Narendra Modi has consistently promoted cooperation between India’s states and the Centre.
The Union Home Ministry has formalised agreements addressing several long-running inter-state disputes.
Assam and Nagaland signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding on June 11.
Six states revived the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project after an eight-year deadlock.
Recent agreements also addressed Upper Yamuna water-sharing, Narmada dues, the Sone River dispute, and unresolved Andhra Pradesh–Telangana assets and liabilities.
- Who
- The Union government, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the governments of Assam, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
- What
- They have formalised or advanced agreements resolving long-running inter-state disputes involving water, infrastructure, financial dues, and the division of assets and liabilities.
- When
- The agreements were reached over the last few months; the Assam–Nagaland memorandum of understanding was signed on June 11.
- Where
- Across the affected Indian states and the Centre, including the Assam–Nagaland border region, the Yamuna basin, the Narmada basin, and the Sone River region.
- Why
- The stated aim is to advance cooperative federalism, resolve differences, and enable states and the Centre to pursue common development.
- Policy framework
- Cooperative federalism between the Centre and India’s states.
- First agreement cited
- A tripartite memorandum of understanding among the Centre, Assam, and Nagaland, signed on June 11.
- Kishau project
- The Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project was revived after an eight-year deadlock.
- Upper Yamuna agreement
- Rajasthan and Haryana agreed to operationalise the 1994 Upper Yamuna Basin agreement after a 32-year wait.
- Narmada settlement
- Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan reached a one-time settlement of dues under the Narmada Award.
- Sone River dispute
- Bihar and Jharkhand signed a pact ending a 25-year dispute.
- Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
- The two states agreed to resolve pending issues concerning the division of assets and liabilities.