UPSC Prelims 2017 GS Paper I · Q100 of 100 Polity & Governance medium

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

  1. (a) There is an independent judiciary in India.
  2. (b) Powers have been clearly divided between the Centre and the States.
  3. (c) The federating units have been given unequal representation in the Rajya Sabha.
  4. (d) It is the result of an agreement among the federating units. ✓ UPSC's answer

Why the answer is (d)

• The question asks which is NOT a feature of Indian federalism.

• Indian federation is not the result of an agreement among pre-existing sovereign units (unlike the USA); the States were created by the Constitution and Parliament can alter their boundaries (Article 3) — so option (d) is not a feature.

• An independent judiciary (a) and a clear division of powers via the Seventh Schedule (b) are federal features; unequal representation of States in Rajya Sabha (c), based on population, is indeed a feature of the Indian model, distinguishing it from the US Senate.

• Hence option (d).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) There is an independent judiciary in India.
Independent judiciary is a feature of Indian federalism.
(b) Powers have been clearly divided between the Centre and the States.
Division of powers is a feature of Indian federalism.
(c) The federating units have been given unequal representation in the Rajya Sabha.
Unequal Rajya Sabha representation is indeed a feature of the Indian model.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2017, held on 18 June 2017. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

Reading the answer is not the same as getting it right under a clock. Practise this question with UPSC's negative marking, and anything you miss goes into an error notebook until you get it right twice.

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