The federal system of government in India has been most heavily influenced by the federal system of which of the following countries?

Introduction / Context:
India is described as a Union of States with a federal structure but a strong centre. While the Constitution of India borrowed ideas from many foreign constitutions, its model of federalism closely resembles that of a particular country. This question tests whether you can correctly identify the foreign federal system that exerted the most influence on India's own federal design.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about the federal system of India, not about other features like fundamental rights or judicial review.
• The options are Canada, Australia, United States, and U.S.S.R.
• We assume basic awareness that the Indian Constitution borrowed features from multiple sources.
• We focus on centralised federalism, where the centre has relatively more powers than the units.

Concept / Approach:
In federal systems, power is divided between a central authority and constituent units, but the degree of centralisation varies. The United States is often described as a classical federal system with a strong emphasis on State autonomy. Canada, by contrast, has a more centralised federation where the federal government enjoys significant powers, including the residuary power of legislation. The Indian Constitution adopted a similar pattern by granting residuary powers to the Union, allowing strong control over certain subjects, and giving the Union a decisive role during emergencies. Therefore, the Indian federal system is said to be greatly influenced by Canadian federalism.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that India has a federal structure with a strong centre, often described as quasi-federal.Step 2: Recall that the United States has a more balanced federal system, with many powers reserved for the States and residuary powers often seen as belonging to the States.Step 3: Note that in Canada, the federal government holds residuary powers and has stronger authority over provinces.Step 4: Compare this with India, where the Union also has residuary powers and strong control in times of emergency.Step 5: Conclude that Canada is the federal model that most influenced the design of Indian federalism.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard references on the Constitution of India, including well-known polity textbooks, explicitly state that the Indian federal system has been greatly influenced by the Canadian model, particularly with regard to the division of powers and the presence of a strong centre. While the United States influenced features like judicial review and the written Constitution, and other countries contributed different elements, the federal structure itself, especially the balance tilted towards the centre, is most closely associated with Canada.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Australia: The Australian Constitution influenced aspects like the Concurrent List and certain federal features, but the overall pattern of centralised federalism in India more closely resembles Canada.
• United States: The United States contributed many ideas, such as a written Constitution and judicial review, but its federalism is less centralised than India's, making it a less direct model for India's federal structure.
• U.S.S.R.: The Soviet Union was a union of socialist republics with a different ideological and constitutional framework; it was not a primary model for India's federal system.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often assume that because the United States is the best-known federation, it must be the model for all federal systems. This leads to mistakenly choosing the US whenever a question mentions federalism. To avoid this error, you should remember that Canada is the classic example of a federation with a strong centre and that India drew heavily from this model. Linking the idea of residuary powers and strong central authority to Canada will help you answer similar questions correctly.

Final Answer:
The Indian federal system is most strongly influenced by the federal system of Canada.