Question

Explain why India is characterised as a quasi-federal state.

Answer 1

The Indian Constitution established a federal Structure of government e.g., two governments, division of power, Independent Judiciary but it also has a large number of unitary features e.g., Strong Center, single citizenship, Single Constitution, emergency provisions( which converts the nation into Unitary form of government), under distribution of power the center is made powerful by giving it residuary power and authority of its law over state law etc.

Moreover, Article 1 declares India as a "Union of States".

Hence it is called" Federal in form but Unitary in spirit" or "Quasi- Federal".

The renowned Jurist Granville Austin has called Indian Constitution as "Cooperative Federalism".