Question

What form of government exists in India?
A. Unitary
B. Federal
C. Dictatorial
D. None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: India adopted the Westminster model of the United Kingdom but the basic principle and ideals are borrowed from a number of other countries around the world including Russia, US, France and Ireland. The President of India is regarded as the Head of the State.

Complete Step by Step answer:
The Constitution of India was framed by a Constituent Assembly which was established in 1946 under the Cabinet Mission Plan. The Constituent Assembly took two years eleven months and eighteen days to prepare the Constitution thereafter the Constitution was adopted on 26th November 1946. It came into force on 26th January 1950.

The Constitution of India provides for the establishment of a federal form of government. It contains all the features. Though the word federation has not been used in any of the Articles, yet the Indian Constitution establishes a federal form of government in India where the powers are distributed between the national government and the regional governments and both operate in their respective jurisdictions.
Now let us examine the options:
Option A - In a Unitary form of government there is no division of powers. All powers are vested in the national government. For example in countries like France and Britain.
Option B - In a federal form of government there is division of powers between the national and regional government. But it should be noticed that the Constitution of India is federal in form, but unitary in spirit. During emergency, it changes into a unitary Constitution.
Option C - In a Dictatorial form of government, absolute power is rested in the hands of a leader. It is a state in which the rulers have unlimited powers and are not responsible before the people, which is not the case in India. The government in India is responsible before its people and are indirectly elected by the people.
Option D - This option is not application as the Constitution of India establishes a federal form of government in which the powers are divided between the national and regional governments.

Thus, the correct answer is option (B).

Note: The form of government that exists in India is an agreement between the centre and states and the conditions of the agreement are written in the Constitution. The Constitution of India also provides for a parliamentary form of government in both the centre and the states.