Question

India is a federation . How it is related to the features of federalism?

Answer 1

The Sovereign Democratic Republic of India is a “Union of States.” The term ‘Union instead’ of a ‘Federation’ was intended to connote a higher degree of integration. Various federal constitutions were ransacked. Federation as contemplated under the Government of India Act, 1935, was also in view. After great deliberations, the foundations of the Indian Federation were laid, as envisaged under the Constitution Act of 1935 and its structure was erected after the Canadian pattern. It was deemed to be the best suited to the genius of the Indian masses.

Dr. Ambedkar, the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, eulogized the term “Union of the States” on the plea that it indicated two important facts:

(a) Federalism in India had not been the result of an agreement among the units and

(b) The constituent units of the Indian Federation had no right to secede from it.