Step 1: Understanding the Nature of Indian Union.
Article 1 of the Indian Constitution describes India as a "Union of States." This means that India is not a federation in the strict sense like the USA but rather a union of states under a central government. The Constitution provides a system that allows for both central and state powers, with some degree of autonomy for states.
Step 2: Explanation of the options.
- (a) Federation of States: This is incorrect, as the Indian Constitution does not define India as a federation.
- (b) Quasi federal: This is also incorrect. While India has features of a federal system, it is officially called a Union of States.
- (c) Union of states: This is the correct answer, as defined in Article 1 of the Constitution.
- (d) Unitary state of a special type: This is incorrect; while India has a unitary aspect, it is still a Union of States, not a purely unitary state.
Step 3: Conclusion.
Thus, the correct answer is (c) Union of states.