The Indian Constitution is a federal system of government, meaning that it divides power between the central government and the states. However, it also has unitary features, meaning that it gives the central government significant control over the states. This combination of federal and unitary characteristics is often referred to as "federal in form, unitary in spirit."
One of the key features of the Indian Constitution that reflects its federal nature is the division of powers between the central government and the states. The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution lists three categories of powers: those that are reserved for the central government (Union List), those that are shared between the central government and the states (Concurrent List), and those that are reserved for the states (State List). This division of powers allows the states to have a certain degree of autonomy and independence, while also ensuring that there is a system of checks and balances between the central government and the states.
Despite its federal structure, the Indian Constitution also has several unitary features that give the central government significant control over the states. For example, the Constitution grants the central government the power to declare a state of emergency and take over the administration of a state in the event of a natural disaster, war, or internal disturbance. The central government also has the power to appoint governors to the states, who are responsible for representing the President of India in the states and ensuring that the state governments follow the Constitution and the laws of the country.
Another unitary feature of the Indian Constitution is the supremacy of the central government in certain matters. For example, the Constitution gives the central government the power to make laws on any matter listed in the Union List, even if the states have the power to make laws on the same matter. Additionally, the Constitution gives the central government the power to override any state law that is deemed to be in conflict with a central law.
In conclusion, the Indian Constitution is federal in form and unitary in spirit. It divides power between the central government and the states, but also gives the central government significant control over the states in order to ensure that the country is governed in a consistent and unified manner.
Unitary Tendencies in India
India has a federal government as the power is divided between center and state. The powers of the Central Government and State Governments, Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy have been clearly defined in the Constitution and there is very little possibility of conflict. Income tax on the income other than that from the agricultural land, is included in this category. UNITARY AND FEDERAL NATURE There have been a lot of debates going around about the nature of the Constitution India possesses. B R Ambedkar stood very much clear and strong on his stance for a strong center and reacted to the criticism very firmly. No individual, institution, functionary of the government or even government can work against the provisions of the Constitution. The central government has many revenue sources and the state has to depend upon the center, mostly, for the revenue.
Is Indian Constitution Federal in Nature?
. To begin with, only a portion of the Constitution is inflexible, and alterations to this section require the permission of half of India's states. Division of Powers: Like other federal constitutions, the Constitution of India provides division of powers between the Central Government and the Governments of the states. At ForumIAS, we have a dream. The four features of the Indian Constitution that give greater power to the Central government than the State governments, are given below: 1. A culture of trust, cooperation, mutual respect and restraint amongst the people of the different units is a sine qua non for the smooth functioning of the federation. Thus, India became a Union of states, not a federation of states.
“The Indian Constitution is federal in form but unitary in substance”. Comment
The Union looks after the matter that is of national importance mentioned in the Union List and the State looks after the matters of regional and local importance mentioned in the State list. So it is neither Federal or Unitary, rather it is a mixture of the both. India is a vast country inhabited by people of different religions, languages, castes and culture, etc. Federal system will hinder easier economic transaction between two different regions that have distinct types of resources. All these necessities are present in India. Therefore, the States are dependent on the Centre financially.
Unitary and Federal Character of the Indian Constitution
Although five more subjects have been included in this list 4 subjects from the State List as mentioned above and judicial administration being the fifth , yet the figure of 47 remains the same and it has been not changed by any amendment. The powers are divided into three lists— i Union List, ii State List, and iii Concurrent List. Similarly, the Federal scheme is taken from the British Government of India Act, 1935. The brief description of both is given below: Federal Features of Indian Constitution: 1. It is feared that some MLAs from the other parties may be lured to support a political party in return for money. Today thousands of aspirants have joined the elite services such as IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS and other central and state services with the right inputs provided by ForumIAS. The ratification of at least fifty percent States is also required for the purpose.
The consent of the states is not required for making adjustments to other portions of the Constitution. Some other taxes are such as levied and collected by the centre but those are distributed between centre and the states. These subjects include police, jails, public health, agriculture and local self-government, etc. . Judgement of the case: —The Supreme Court held that the decentralization of authority in India was primarily to facilitate the smooth governance of a large country and, therefore, it also contained many central features.
