SSC
The Indian model of federation with a strong Centre, in which the residuary powers are vested in the Centre, was largely borrowed from the constitution of:
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Answer: Option A — Canada
Detailed Solution
The Indian model of a federation with a strong Centre, in which the residuary powers (powers on subjects not mentioned in any list) are vested in the Centre, was largely borrowed from the Constitution of Canada.
The Canadian federation:
- Canada became a federation in 1867, under the British North America Act (now called the Constitution Act, 1867).
- It was formed by uniting several British colonies, with a strong central (federal) government in Ottawa.
- The makers of the Canadian Constitution had seen the American Civil War (1861-1865), and wanted to avoid the danger of states breaking away; so they made the central government strong.
- In Canada, the residuary powers belong to the federal government, unlike in the USA, where they belong to the states.
- The Lieutenant-Governors of the provinces are appointed by the federal government.
Similar features in India:
- India is described as a "Union of States", and the states have no right to secede.
- The Union has a larger and more important list of subjects than the States.
- The residuary powers are vested in the Union Parliament.
- The Governors of the states are appointed by the President, that is, by the Central government.
Why India chose a strong Centre:
- The makers of the Constitution had witnessed the partition of the country and the communal violence that followed.
- They wanted a strong Centre to maintain the unity and integrity of the country, and to promote economic development.
The Government of India Act, 1935:
The Act of 1935 had also provided for a federation with a strong Centre, and many of its provisions were adopted in the Constitution.
The American model:
The USA has a "coming together" federation, in which the states have more powers, and the residuary powers belong to the states.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The USA, Switzerland and Germany have federal systems, but the Indian model of a federation with a strong Centre and residuary powers with the Centre was mainly borrowed from Canada.
Quick tip
Remember: federation with a strong Centre and residuary powers with the Centre = borrowed from Canada (British North America Act, 1867).
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Preamble & Salient Features — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Preamble & Salient Features, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, the meaning of its key words (sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic, justice, liberty, equality and fraternity), and the salient features of the Constitution, such as its federal structure with a unitary bias and the parliamentary form of government. Remember that the words 'socialist', 'secular' and 'integrity' were added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, the only time the Preamble has been amended. Questions also test landmark cases on the Preamble: the Supreme Court held in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) that the Preamble is part of the Constitution. Practise the Preamble and salient features questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.