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What to Study: On what basis are governments classified as unitary or federal? Understand how power is held in each type, and remember a few countries that follow each model. Also know the other names used for the national and regional governments in a federation.
Asked in UPSC PrelimsUPSC 2021
What to Study: How does a federal government differ from a unitary one on these seven points: number of governments, written constitution, division of powers, supremacy of the constitution, rigidity, independent judiciary and a two-house legislature? For the unitary side, remember the country examples (for instance, which unitary country has an unwritten or flexible constitution).
What to Study: Which Latin word does 'federation' come from, and what does that word mean? Remember what the units of a federation are called in the USA, Switzerland and Canada.
What to Study: What are the two ways in which a federation can be formed? Understand the difference, using the USA and Canada as examples. Canada's place in this pair is a commonly used classification, not settled fact. Remember the year each of these two federations was formed (for the USA, the year its Constitution was framed), which is the oldest federation in the world, and how many states or provinces each began with and has now.
What to Study: Why did the framers choose a federal system for India? Remember the two main reasons, and understand how a federal system helps keep the nation united while giving the regions autonomy.
Asked in UPSC PrelimsUPSC 2017
What to Study: The word 'federation' is not used anywhere in the Constitution. Why does Article 1 call India a 'Union of States' instead? You should be able to explain Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's two reasons for this choice, and why he called the Indian federation indestructible.
What to Study: How does the Canadian model of federation differ from the American model? Know the three ways in which Indian federalism resembles the Canadian federation (in how it is commonly said to have been formed, the name it prefers, and the balance of power between the Centre and the units).