Which one of the following in Indian polity is an essential feature that indicates that it is federal in character?
Show answer
Answer: A. A federation divides powers between the Centre and states, and an independent judiciary is needed to settle disputes between them and protect the division. So safeguarding judicial independence is an essential federal feature.
Watch for: Representation from states sounds federal, but the essential feature is an independent umpire.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Wrong because elected representatives from units are not unique to federations.
- C. Wrong because regional parties in the cabinet is a political fact, not a federal feature.
- D. Wrong because enforceable fundamental rights are not a federal feature.
Source to check: Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, chapter Federal System; NCERT Class 11, Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 7 Federalism
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.