The constitution describes India as 'Union of States. However, in essence, India is a federal state.
→ There are two sets of government for the Union and the States.
→ The specific provisions regarding relationship between the Union and the States have been made in the constitution.
→ The states do not have right to secede from the Union.
→ There is division of power between the Union and the States.
→ The Union has been given greater power than the states for the preservation of the national interests.
→ The Union List consists of 97 subjects which are of national importance.
→ The State List consists of 66 subjects of local significance.
→ The Concurrent List consists of 47 subjects. The Union and the States have been given power to enact laws. However, the law of the Union prevails over the law(s) of state(s) in case of differences between the two.
→ Residuary powers i.e.. those subjects which are not included in any of the lists have been assigned to the Union.
→ The sources of revenue have been distributed between the two. There is also provision for the Union giving grants to the states.
→ There is provision for single citizenship-Indian citizenship except in Jammu and Kashmir whose citizens have dual citizenship.
→ The constitution provides for automatic transformation of the federal state into a unitary state during the times of national emergency.