Federalism with a Unitary Tilt
Key terms and provisions explaining why India is called a quasi-federal state.
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Questions Covered in This Set
10 cards to master
Why did the Constituent Assembly choose the phrase 'Union of States'?
Ambedkar explained it shows India's federation is not the result of an agreement among states, and no state has the right to secede.
What are the three lists in the Seventh Schedule?
Union List (~97 entries: defence, foreign affairs, currency, railways), State List (~66: police, public health, agriculture, land), and Concurrent List (~47: criminal law, marriage, education, forests).
Who gets residuary powers in India, and under which Article?
The Union, under Article 248 — the opposite of the United States, where residuary powers go to the states.
What happens when a Union law and a State law clash on a Concurrent List subject?
The Union law prevails (Article 254).
Name three ways Parliament can legislate on a State List subject.
Article 249 (Rajya Sabha resolution in the national interest), Article 252 (two or more States request it), Article 253 (to implement an international treaty).
What do Articles 352, 356 and 360 provide?
National Emergency (Parliament may legislate on any State subject), President's Rule (State government dismissed and run from Delhi), and Financial Emergency (Centre directs States on money matters).
How does Article 3 show the Centre's dominance?
Parliament can redraw, rename, merge or split States without the affected State's consent — e.g., Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014 despite the Assembly rejecting the Bill.
Who called India 'quasi-federal'?
K. C. Wheare, describing it as 'a unitary state with subsidiary federal features'.
What is the Governor's role as a unitary feature?
The Governor is appointed by and holds office at the pleasure of the Centre, and can reserve State Bills for the President under Article 200.
Which federal features does India's Constitution clearly possess?
Two levels of government, a written supreme constitution, division of powers via the Seventh Schedule, an independent judiciary (Article 131), and bicameralism with the Rajya Sabha representing States.
