question_answer

India is a Federal Democratic Republic. Though India is described as a “"Union of States"”, it has all the features of a federal set-up. The Constitution envisages a National Government and the State Governments. The Constitution is the supreme authority for governance in India. Both the Centre and the State Governments derive its power from it. There is a federal Judiciary to act as the guardian of the Constitution and to settle disputes between the Centre and States. However, since the Union has supremacy over the States, India is also called quasi-federal State, India three bodies and divides the powers of governance among them. There is a Legislature whose task is to make laws. There is a Judiciary whose task is to interpret laws and decide disputes between parties. And there is an Executive whose task is the daily administration of State bureaucracy. Legislature is headed by the Prime Minister; the Judiciary is headed by the Chief Justice of India; and the Executive is headed by the President of India.

India is a Sovereign State

India is internally supreme and externally free. State authority of India is supreme over all men and all associations within India’s territorial boundary. India makes its own laws and Indian citizens are governed by the laws that India makes. This is India’s internal sovereignty. Externally India is free from all external controls. India'’s membership of the Commonwealth or of the United Nations does not impose any external limit on her sovereignty. No country can compel India to pass any law or enter into any agreement with any other State.

India is a Socialist State

The term “"socialist”" was added to the Preamble of the Constitution by 42nd Amendment in 1976. The basic framework of socialism is to provide a decent standard of life to the working people and especially to provide security from cradle to grave. Even the judicial freedom is subordinated to the interest of the community. Since India follows the ideal of socialism, therefore, complete free market cannot be allowed in India. The State can interfere in the market transactions for the best interest of the common man. The State can also take control of some businesses to the exclusion of all others.

In India socialism alms at providing all opportunities for pursuing the educational activity. The opportunity to be fully educated is not to be denied in India merely because of the lack of financial resources. India aims at providing free or heavily subsidised education at all levels. After the education is completed, socialism aims at equality in pursuit of excellence in the chosen avocation without consideration of caste, colour, sex or religion. Everyone is given full opportunity to reach at the top. The resources of the nation are so distributed that a less equipped person is assured of a decent minimum standard of life. A protection from exploitation is ensured, and an effort is made to help the people who are the poorest in the country so that their standard of living, medical aid, freedom from want, freedom from fear and the enjoyable leisure, relieving them from the humility of dependence in old age. The State is required to take actions to free the society from feudal exploited slave conditions. Unlike some countries where socialism is adopted with a doctrinaire approach, in India socialism is adopted with a pragmatic approach. In India wherever there is State ownership or the monopoly of means of production, it is for the reason that it is expedient to do so and not for the reason that as a matter of principle the State should have monopoly over the means of production.

When did India declare itself to be a socialist state?

A) Immediately after independence

B) When the constitution came into existence

C) During the time of emergency

D) India never declared itself to be a socialist state