India’s federal system balances central authority and state autonomy, ensuring unity in diversity through constitutional provisions while maintaining a strong Centre for national integrity.

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• The Indian federal system divides powers between the Union and states, ensuring administrative efficiency while maintaining unity in a culturally diverse and geographically vast country.
• India is described as a “Union of States” under Article 1, highlighting that the federation is indestructible and states do not have the right to secede.
• The system is inspired by the Canadian model, featuring a strong central government with a clear division of powers under Articles 245 to 255.
• Unlike the USA, Indian federalism emerged through disintegration of a unitary system, not through agreement among independent states.
• The Constitution ensures a balance between regional autonomy and national unity, allowing flexibility during emergencies and strengthening central authority when required.
• Federal features include written constitution, division of powers, independent judiciary, and bicameral legislature, ensuring checks and balances within governance.
• Unitary features like single citizenship, emergency provisions, and strong Centre powers make India a quasi-federal system with central dominance.
• The system promotes cooperative federalism, where both Union and states work together to address issues like regional disputes, development, and governance challenges.