Q.Why do States want more autonomy? What is the difference between autonomy and secession?

A demand for autonomy is a demand by a state -- or by a political party representing a state's interests -- for greater freedom from central control, without going so far as demanding separation from the country altogether. In India, such demands have taken several distinct forms over the years, since "autonomy" can mean different things depending on who is raising the demand.

One common form is a demand to shift the constitutional balance of powers itself further toward the states. A second and closely related form is the demand for financial autonomy -- states wanting more independent sources of revenue and greater control over the resources generated within their own borders, rather than depending heavily on the centre for funds. A third form concerns administrative autonomy, where states object to how much control the centre exercises over the machinery that actually runs day-to-day administration within the state. A fourth form is cultural and linguistic in character, arising when a state feels its own language or culture is being overshadowed -- for example, …