UNITARY FEATURES OF THE CONSTITUTION. [ PART 1 ]: UPSC Daily Important Topic | 24 November 2021

□ Strong centre

◇ The division of powers is in favour of the Centre and highly inequitable from the federal angle.

• Firstly, the Union List contains more subjects than the State List.

•  Secondly, the more important subjects have been included in the Union List.

• Thirdly, the Centre has overriding authority over the Concurrent List.

• Finally, the residuary powers have also been left with the Centre, while in the US, they are vested in the states.

□  States Not Indestructible

◇ Unlike in other federations, the states in India have no right to territorial integrity. The Parliament can by unilateral action change the area, boundaries or name of any state.

◇ Moreover, it requires only a simple majority and not a special majority.

◇ Hence, the Indian Federation is “an indestructible Union of destructible states”.

□  Single Constitution

◇  The Constitution of India embodies not only the Constitution of the Centre but also those of the states.