NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad has released the Annual Survey of State Laws in India 2023. The Survey documents and analyses legislative activity across all States and Union Territories. It provides an evidence-based account of lawmaking in India.
The Survey examines trends in legislation, legislative processes, and the working of Indian federalism. Legal and policy scholarship has disproportionately focused on Union-level lawmaking. Edited by Dr Amita Dhanda, Professor Emerita at NALSAR, the Survey seeks to give States and Union Territories their due place in legal analysis.
Speaking on the release, Dr Dhanda said, “The Annual Survey of State Laws seeks to redirect attention to the States, where a significant part of lawmaking takes place. By documenting legislative activity year after year, the Survey aims to build an evidence-based understanding of Indian federalism and the rule of law.”
The Survey follows a participatory and inclusive research methodology. Contributors were identified through an open call and represent different regions of India. The Survey covers statutes, ordinances, and delegated legislation enacted during 2023.
It also identifies broader patterns in lawmaking. These include reduced legislative deliberation, the increasing use of executive lawmaking, and the growing impact of centralisation on state autonomy.
Among other things, the Survey documents the frequent use of ordinances and delegated legislation, such as rules, guidelines, circulars, and notifications. This trend diminishes the role of elected legislatures and increases executive control over the lawmaking process. Several States were found to rely on retrospective legislation to validate past executive actions, raising concerns for the rule of law. The Survey further highlights growing centralisation in legislative priorities, with States increasingly mirroring Union laws and policies, particularly in fiscal, education, and regulatory domains.
The Vice-Chancellor of NALSAR University of Law, Prof. Srikrishna Deva Rao, welcomed the publication. He said, “This Survey reflects NALSAR's commitment to rigorous and socially relevant legal research. By focusing on state legislatures, it makes an important contribution to debates on democracy, federalism, and constitutional governance.”
The Annual Survey of State Laws in India is envisaged as an annual publication. The surveys for the years 2024 and 2025 are expected to be published later this year. The Survey is intended to serve as a resource for scholars, practitioners, policymakers, journalists, and the wider public.
The Survey has been published as a Creative Commons project and is freely accessible at:https://nalsar.ac.in/sites/default/files/Annual-Survey-of-State-Laws-in-India -2020-2.pdf
NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, is a leading public law university engaged in legal education, research, and public discourse.
For further information, please contact:Email: assl@nalsar.ac.in