Mention any four reasons to prove that India is a federal country.
Answer:
Answer by Student
The following are the reasons which prove that India is a federal country:
- Division of Powers: The Constitution of India clearly demarcates the powers and functions of the central and state governments. The Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution lists the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List, which define the exclusive, shared, and common areas of jurisdiction of both levels of government.
- Independent Judiciary: India has an independent judiciary with the power of judicial review. The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial authority in the country and has the power to interpret the Constitution and resolve disputes between the central and state governments. The judiciary can also enforce fundamental rights and issue writs to safeguard them.
- Representation of States: The Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament, represents the states and union territories of India. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the state legislatures for six-year terms. The Rajya Sabha gives equal representation to all states irrespective of their population or size.
- Special Status to States: Some states in India enjoy special status and have been granted more autonomy than others. For example, Jammu and Kashmir have their own constitution and a separate flag, and Nagaland has its own constitution and special status under Article 371A of the Indian Constitution.
These factors contribute to India being a federal country where power is divided between the central and state governments.
Detailed Answer by Teachoo
India is a federal country because:
- It has a written constitution that defines the powers and functions of the central and state governments. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and cannot be changed easily by any one level of government. The constitution also provides for amendments by a special majority of both houses of parliament and ratification by at least half of the states.
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It has a
division of powers between the central and state governments
, with some subjects being under the exclusive jurisdiction of either level, and some being under the concurrent jurisdiction of both. The constitution lists three types of subjects: union list, state list, and concurrent list. The union list contains subjects like defense, foreign affairs, currency, etc. that are under the sole authority of the central government. The state list contains subjects like agriculture, health, education, etc. that are under the sole authority of the state governments. The concurrent list contains subjects like environment, labor, electricity, etc. that are under the shared authority of both levels of government.
- It has an independent judiciary that can settle disputes between the central and state governments, and protect the rights of citizens. The judiciary consists of the Supreme Court at the apex level, followed by high courts at the state level and subordinate courts at the district and lower levels. The judiciary can interpret the Constitution and strike down any law or action that violates it. The judiciary can also enforce fundamental rights and issue writs to safeguard them.
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It has a
representation of states
at the central level, with the Rajya Sabha representing the states and the Lok Sabha representing the people. The Rajya Sabha is composed of members elected by the state legislatures for six-year terms. The Rajya Sabha gives equal representation to all states irrespective of their population or size. The Lok Sabha is composed of members elected by the people for five-year terms. The Lok Sabha gives representation to states according to their population or size. Both houses have to pass bills for them to become laws.
- Special status to states means that some states in India have been granted more autonomy and privileges than others by the Constitution or by an order of the President. These states have some special provisions that are different from the general provisions applicable to other states. Initially, three states; Assam, Nagaland, and Jammu & Kashmir were granted special category status but later more states were added to the list. For example, Jammu and Kashmir have their own constitution and a separate flag, and Nagaland has its own constitution and special status under Article 371A of the Indian Constitution.
