Question map
Not attempted Correct Incorrect ★ Bookmarked
Loading…
Q100 (IAS/2017) Polity & Governance › Federalism & Emergency Provisions › Indian federalism features Official Key

Which one of the following is not a feature of Indian federalism ?

Result
Your answer: —  Âˇ  Correct: D
Explanation

Article 1 of the Constitution describes India as 'Union of States', and according to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, this phrase has been preferred to 'Federation of States' to indicate that the Indian federation is not the result of an agreement among the states like the American federation, and the states have no right [1]to secede from the federation.[1] Federations have commonly resulted from an agreement between independent or at least autonomous governments, surrendering a defined part of their sovereignty or autonomy to a new central organism.[2] However, India's federal system evolved differently—the Union of India cannot be said to be the result of any compact or agreement between autonomous States.[3]

In contrast, the other options are indeed features of Indian federalism: the Indian Constitution is marked by traditional characteristics of a federal system, namely, supremacy of the Constitution, division of power between the Union and the States and existence of an independent judiciary.[4] Regarding unequal representation, the seats are allotted to the states in the Rajya Sabha on the basis of population[5], making option C a feature of Indian federalism. Therefore, option D is the correct answer as it is **not** a feature of Indian federalism.

Sources
  1. [1] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 14: Federal System > Federal System > p. 138
  2. [2] Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 5: NATURE OF THE FEDERAL SYSTEM > NATURE OF THE FEDERAL SYSTEM > p. 60
  3. [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. 61
  4. [4] 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. [5] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > Composition of Rajya Sabha > p. 223
How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
Community Performance
Out of everyone who attempted this question.
79%
got it right
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest preview
Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Which one of the following is not a feature of Indian federalism ? [A] There is an independent judiciary in India. [B] Powers have been…
At a glance
Origin: From standard books Fairness: High fairness Books / CA: 10/10 ¡ 0/10
You're seeing a guest preview. The Verdict and first statement analysis are open. Login with Google to unlock all tabs.

This is a 'Gatekeeper Question'—getting this wrong disqualifies you from the race. It is a direct lift from the introductory chapters of Laxmikanth (Salient Features/Federal System) and NCERT Class XI. The core distinction between the 'American Compact' model and the 'Indian Union' model is fundamental to Article 1.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Is an independent judiciary a feature of Indian federalism?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 4: Salient Features of the Constitution > II Integrat ed and Independent Judiciary > p. 30
Presence: 5/5
“II Integrat ed a nd Independent Judiciary The Indian Constitution establishes a judicial system that is integrated as well as independent. The Supreme Court stands at the top of the integrated judicial system in the country. Below it, there are high courts at the state level. Under a high court, there is a hierarchy of subordinate courts, that is, district courts and other lower courts. This single system of courts enforces both the central laws as well as the state laws, unlike in USA, where the federal laws are enforced by the federal judiciary and the state laws are enforced by the state judiciary.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly describes the Indian Constitution as establishing a judicial system that is both 'integrated' and 'independent'.
  • Explains the single judicial hierarchy (Supreme Court → high courts → subordinate courts) enforcing both central and state laws, indicating judicial independence at the apex.
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
Presence: 5/5
“whether it belongs to the Federation or to the component States, is subordinate to and controlled by the Constitution. • (iv) Authority of Courts. In a Federal State, the legal supremacy of the Constitution is essential to the existence of the federal system. It is essential to maintain the division of powers not only between the coordinate branches of the government, but also between the Federal Government and the States themselves The Supreme Court has observed that the Indian Constitution is basically federal in form and is marked by the traditional characteristics of a federal system, namely, supremacy of the Constitution, division of power between the Union and the States and existence of an independent judiciary.”
Why this source?
  • Notes the Supreme Court's observation that the Indian Constitution is federal in form and includes the 'existence of an independent judiciary' as a traditional federal characteristic.
  • Directly links the concept of judicial independence with the nature of the Indian federal system.
Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 4: Salient Features of the Constitution > 4. Federal System with Unitary Bias > p. 29
Presence: 4/5
“features of a federal system, viz., two governments, division of powers, written Constitution, supremacy of Constitution, rigidity of Constitution, independent judiciary and bicameralism. However, the Indian Constitution also contains many unitary or non-federal features, viz., a strong Centre, single Constitution, single citizenship, flexibility of Constitution, integrated judiciary, appointment of state governor by the Centre, India services, emergency provisions and so on. Moreover, the term 'Federation' has nowhere been used in the Constitution. Article 1, on the other hand, describes India as a 'Union of States', which implies two things: one, the Indian Federation is not the result of an agreement by the states; and two, no state has the right to secede from the federation.”
Why this source?
  • Lists 'independent judiciary' among the classic features of a federal system.
  • Also highlights the Indian Constitution's mix of federal features and unitary/ integrated traits, showing the concept's relevance to discussions on Indian federalism.
Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

Login with Google to unlock all statements.

Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

Login with Google to unlock all statements.

Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

Login with Google to unlock all statements.

How to study

This tab shows concrete study steps: what to underline in books, how to map current affairs, and how to prepare for similar questions.

Login with Google to unlock study guidance.

Micro-concepts

Discover the small, exam-centric ideas hidden in this question and where they appear in your books and notes.

Login with Google to unlock micro-concepts.

The Vault

Access hidden traps, elimination shortcuts, and Mains connections that give you an edge on every question.

Login with Google to unlock The Vault.

✓ Thank you! We'll review this.

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CDS-I ¡ 2022 ¡ Q49 Relevance score: 5.01

Which one of the following is not a characteristic feature of Indian Federalism ?

CAPF ¡ 2022 ¡ Q68 Relevance score: 5.00

Which one of the following is not a feature of Indian federalism?

CAPF ¡ 2016 ¡ Q85 Relevance score: 4.88

Which one of the following is not a feature of Indian federalism?

NDA-I ¡ 2015 ¡ Q97 Relevance score: 3.35

Which among the following is not a basic feature of the Constitution of India ?

IAS ¡ 2021 ¡ Q66 Relevance score: 3.32

Which one of the following in Indian polity is an essential feature that indicates that it is federal in character?