Question

Which of the following statements are correct regarding the federalism of India?

1. Indian Federation is "an indestructible Union of destructible states"
2. Indian Federation is "an indestructible Union of indestructible states"
3. The term 'federation' has nowhere been used in the Constitution
4. The Parliament can make laws on any matter in the State List for implementing the international treaties, agreements or conventions

• A. i only
• B. i, ii
• C. None of these
• D. i, iii, iv

Answer 1

Answer:

D. i, iii, iv

Indestructible Union of Destructible States

• The phrase "Indestructible union of destructible states" often used to express the nature of the Indian federation and to highlight the dual characteristics of the Indian federal system. 
• It refers to the constitutional provision in India that guarantees the territorial integrity of the country, but not necessarily of individual states within the country.
• It means that while India as a whole is considered to be an indestructible union, the individual states within the country are destructible and their territorial integrity is not guaranteed by the Constitution.
• The Indian Constitution guarantees the territorial integrity of India as a whole, but individual states within the country can be reorganized or even dissolved if the need arises.
• This provision is enshrined in the Constitution under Article 3, which states that the Parliament may by law, form a new state by separation of territory from any state or by uniting two or more states or parts of states or by uniting any territory to a part of any state.
• This provision gives the Parliament the power to alter the boundaries of states and create new states, but it does not guarantee the territorial integrity of individual states within the country.
• This means that a state can be divided or its boundaries altered without its consent, as long as the Parliament passes a law to that effect.

The term 'Federation'

• The term "federation" is not explicitly used in the text of the Indian Constitution.
• Instead, the Indian Constitution refers to India as a "Union of States."
• This terminology reflects the unique nature of the Indian federal system, which combines federal and unitary features.

Article 253 

• Article 253 of the Indian Constitution provides the Parliament of India the power to make laws on any matter that is in the State List (List II of the Seventh Schedule) if it is necessary for implementing international treaties, agreements, or conventions.