Question

Describe any four characteristics of federal structure of India.

Hint:

India's federal structure is unique due to the strong centralization and the use of the term 'Union' rather than 'Federation' in the Constitution.

Answer 1

India follows a federal structure of government, where power is divided between the central government and state governments. Four key characteristics of India's federal structure are: 1. Division of Powers:
The Indian Constitution provides a clear division of powers between the central government and the state governments through three lists: the Union List, the State List, and the Concurrent List. The Union List contains subjects on which only the central government can legislate, the State List contains subjects under the jurisdiction of the states, and the Concurrent List contains subjects on which both central and state governments can legislate. 2. Supremacy of the Constitution:
The Indian Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Any conflict between the central and state laws is resolved in favor of the central law, as per the provisions of the Constitution. The judiciary also plays a crucial role in interpreting and protecting the Constitution. 3. Independent Judiciary:
India's judiciary is independent of the legislature and executive. The judiciary has the power of judicial review, meaning it can declare laws passed by the central and state governments unconstitutional if they violate the provisions of the Constitution. 4. Financial Relations:
The distribution of financial powers between the central and state governments is another important characteristic. The central government has greater financial resources and responsibilities, while the states have limited resources. The Finance Commission is responsible for recommending the distribution of financial resources between the center and the states.