Topic 02 of 6 · Chapter 03 · Indian Polity
Federal System with Unitary Bias
Federal features, unitary features, quasi-federal nature, and why India is called “federal with unitary bias.”
📋 In This Article
1. What is Federalism?
Federalism is a system of government where power is divided between a central (national) government and regional (state) governments. Both levels of government are independent within their own spheres.
💡 India’s Position: India is neither purely federal nor purely unitary. It is described as “federal with unitary bias” or “quasi-federal”. K.C. Wheare called India’s Constitution “quasi-federal.” Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called it “federal in form but unitary in spirit.”
2. Federal Features of Indian Constitution
🔵 Federal Features
- Written Constitution
- Supremacy of Constitution
- Division of powers (Union, State, Concurrent Lists)
- Independent Judiciary
- Bicameral Legislature (Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha)
- Rigid Constitution (special amendment procedure)
- Dual government — Centre and States
🔴 Unitary Features (Unitary Bias)
- Strong Centre — residuary powers with Centre
- Single Constitution for Centre and States
- Single citizenship
- Integrated judiciary
- All India Services (IAS, IPS, IFS)
- Governor appointed by President
- Parliament can change State boundaries
- Emergency provisions — Centre takes over States
- Integrated Election Machinery (ECI)
- Integrated Audit Machinery (CAG)
⭐ Key Exam Point: India has more unitary features than federal features. That is why it is called “federal with unitary bias” — the Centre is stronger than the States in India’s constitutional scheme.
3. Quasi-Federal Nature — Scholars’ Views
- K.C. Wheare — Called India’s Constitution “quasi-federal”
- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar — Called it “federal in form but unitary in spirit”
- Granville Austin — Called it a “cooperative federalism”
- Paul Appleby — Called India “extremely federal”
- Morris Jones — Called it a “bargaining federalism”
✅ Current View: The Supreme Court in the S.R. Bommai case (1994) held that federalism is a basic feature of the Constitution and cannot be destroyed even during emergencies.
4. Key Points for Exam
🔑 Must-Remember Facts
- India is “federal with unitary bias” — not purely federal
- K.C. Wheare called it “quasi-federal”
- Dr. Ambedkar: “federal in form but unitary in spirit”
- Federal features: Written Constitution, Division of powers, Independent Judiciary, Bicameral Legislature
- Unitary features: Strong Centre, Single citizenship, Governor appointed by President, Emergency provisions
- Residuary powers with Centre (unlike USA where residuary powers are with States)
- S.R. Bommai case (1994): Federalism is a basic feature of the Constitution
- India borrowed federal system from Canada (strong Centre model)
- Single Constitution for both Centre and States (unlike USA)
- Integrated judiciary — one Supreme Court for whole country