Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Indian Federalism?

1. The word federalism is mentioned in Article 1 of the Indian Constitution. 

2. India is a holding together type of federalism.

The correct answer is 2 only.Key Points

• Federalism can be formed by way of integration (US) or disintegration (Canada). 
• Indian federalism resembles “CANADIAN MODEL”.
• Article 1 describes India as a UNION of states. 
• It is not a result of an agreement between states and states have no right to secede from the federation. 
• It’s an Indestructible union of destructible states.
• KC Wheare described it as “Quasi federalism”.
• Granville Austin called it “Cooperative federalism” (need for national integrity and unity).
• Morris Jones defined it as 'Bargaining Federalism'.
• 'Federalism with Centralizing tendency' by Ivor Jenning.
• India is a holding together type of Federation in which some States have more power than others. Hence statement 2 is correct.
  • The central government has more power than the state government. 
• Parliament has the power to make changes in the territory as well as the name of states under articles 1 to 4 of the Indian Constitution.
• Article 1 describes India that is Bharat is a union of the state rather than a Federation of the state as India is a holding together type of Federation rather than coming together type of Federation like the USA. Hence, Statement 1 is incorrect.
• In case of collision of decisions in terms of the concurrent list under schedule 7 the union decision making power prevails over the State Power. 
• The residuary power is vested upon the Union government.
• Unitary bias (dominance of centre in financial powers, central grants, Niti Aayog).

Important Points

• In SR Bommai case SC characterized “Federalism” as part of “Basic structure”.