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Q70 (CAPF/2011) Polity & Governance › Constitutional Basics & Evolution › Constitutional structure Answer Verified

In the Constitution of India, the word 'Federal' is used in

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: D
Explanation

The Constitution of India does not use the word 'Federal' or 'Federation' anywhere in its text [2]. Instead, Article 1 describes India as a 'Union of States' [5]. This terminology was intentionally chosen by the Constituent Assembly to signify that the Indian federation is not the result of an agreement between states and that no state has the right to secede [1]. While the Supreme Court has recognized federalism as a 'basic feature' of the Constitution and the document contains traditional federal characteristics—such as a written constitution, division of powers, and an independent judiciary—the specific term 'Federal' is absent from the Preamble, Part III (Fundamental Rights), and Article 368 (Amendment procedure) [3]. The Indian system is often described as 'federal in form but unitary in spirit' due to its unique combination of federal and unitary features [4].

Sources

  1. [1] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 4: Salient Features of the Constitution > 4. Federal System with Unitary Bias > p. 29
  2. [2] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 4: Salient Features of the Constitution > 4. Federal System with Unitary Bias > p. 29
  3. [5] https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/southasia/2025/09/15/the-dynamics-of-federalism-in-the-constitution-of-india/
  4. [3] Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 5: NATURE OF THE FEDERAL SYSTEM > NATURE OF THE FEDERAL SYSTEM > p. 59
  5. [4] Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 4: OUTSTANDING FEATURES OF OUR CONSTITUTION > 42nd Amendment, 1976. > p. 49
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