Features of Indian Polity

Choose the Correct Answer

Correct Answer : Option c

Explanation
Political scientists have classified governments into unitary and federal on the basis of the nature of relations between the national government and the regional governments.

- A unitary government is one in which all the powers are vested in the national government and the regional governments, if at all exist, derive their authority from the national government.

- A federal government is one in which powers are divided between the national government and the regional governments by the Constitution itself and both operate in their respective jurisdictions independently.

- The Constitution of India provides for a federal system of government in the country.

- The Indian federal system is based on the ‘Canadian model’ and not on the ‘American model’. The ‘Canadian model’ differs fundamentally from the ‘American model’ in so far as it establishes a very strong centre. The Indian federation resembles the Canadian federation (i) in its formation (i.e., by way of disintegration); (ii) in its preference to the term ‘Union’ (the Canadian federation is also called a ‘Union’); and (iii) in its centralising tendency.

Constitutional features(Unitary features) give greater power to the central government than the State government.
1. Strong Centre
2. Destructible states
3. Single Constitution
4. Flexibility of the Constitution
5. No Equality of State Representation
6. Emergency Provisions
7. Single Citizenship
8. Integrated Judiciary
9. All-India Services
10. Integrated Audit Machinery
11. Integrated Election Machinery
12. Appointment of Governor
Bicameralism, Supremacy of the Constitution and Dual polity strengths the federal features and restrict the arbitrary power of central government. Hence the correct Answer is option C.