From the constitution of which country did India mainly borrow the basic scheme and structure of its federal system with divided powers?

Introduction / Context:
The Constitution of India is often described as a borrowed or composite document because the framers studied many foreign constitutions and selectively adopted features that suited Indian conditions. This question asks from which country India borrowed the basic scheme of its federal system. Understanding this helps students link Indian federalism with comparable models and remember which features came from which foreign source, a common topic in Indian polity questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The focus is on the scheme of Indian federation, that is, how powers are divided between centre and states.

Options include the constitutions of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

We assume familiarity with standard polity tables that match Indian features to foreign sources.

Concept / Approach:
India has a federal system with a strong centre. While the idea of federalism in general often reminds students of the United States, the specific model of a federation where residuary powers rest with the centre and where the central government is relatively stronger in certain matters is more closely aligned with the Canadian constitution. The framers openly acknowledged borrowing the basic scheme of Indian federation from Canada, while also adapting it to Indian needs.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the federal system in India divides powers into Union, State and Concurrent Lists. Step 2: Recognise that in India, residuary powers are with the Union government, a feature similar to the Canadian model. Step 3: Standard polity references explicitly state that the basic scheme of Indian federation and the idea of a strong centre are taken from the Canadian constitution. Step 4: The United States provided other features, such as judicial review and a written constitution, but not the exact federal scheme India follows. Step 5: Therefore, Canada is the correct answer for the source of the federal scheme.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, recall the common exam table that matches features with sources. Federal system with strong centre and residuary powers with the centre are listed under Canada. Parliamentary system and the concept of rule of law are associated with the United Kingdom. Directive Principles of State Policy are linked to Ireland. From the United States, India borrowed the idea of a written constitution, fundamental rights and judicial review. This classification confirms that the scheme of federation in India is borrowed primarily from Canada.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
USA: Although India borrowed several important ideas from the United States, such as fundamental rights and judicial review, the exact pattern of a federation with a strong centre and residuary powers with the centre is not taken from it.
United Kingdom: The United Kingdom has an unwritten constitution and a unitary parliamentary system. India borrowed the parliamentary form of government and cabinet system from the UK, not the federal scheme.
Ireland: From Ireland, India borrowed mainly the Directive Principles of State Policy and methods like the nomination of members to the Rajya Sabha, not the federal structure itself.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often confuse the federal model of the United States with the Canadian model. The United States has a more balanced federal structure with clear separation of powers and strong states, whereas the Canadian model allows for a stronger central government and residuary powers with the centre. When revising, it is useful to group features by country in a small table and revise them repeatedly, so that questions like this can be answered almost automatically in the exam.

Final Answer:
India mainly borrowed the scheme of its federal system from the constitution of Canada.