Which constitutional scholar famously described the Indian Constitution as a quasi federal system rather than a strictly federal or strictly unitary one?

Introduction / Context:
The nature of the Indian Constitution has always been a topic of debate among constitutional scholars. While it clearly has a federal structure with division of powers between the Union and the states, it also contains strong unitary features, especially during emergencies. To capture this mixed character, one famous scholar used the phrase quasi federal. This question asks who that scholar was. Knowing this attribution helps students correctly interpret how experts view the design of Indian federation and is frequently tested in Indian Polity exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is the descriptive term quasi federal applied to the Indian Constitution.
• The question mentions that the constitution is neither purely federal nor purely unitary.
• Four well known writers on constitutional law or Indian government are listed.
• The learner must recall which one coined or popularised this particular description.

Concept / Approach:
Indian federation differs from classical federal systems like those of the United States or Australia. The centre is relatively stronger, and during emergencies the Union can assume extensive powers over states. To describe this combination of federal structure and unitary tilt, K. C. Wheare, a leading authority on federal constitutions, called the Indian Constitution quasi federal in form but unitary in spirit. Other scholars have offered different characterisations, but this particular phrase is strongly associated with Wheare in exam oriented literature. Therefore, the approach is to match the term quasi federal with K. C. Wheare.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the keyword quasi federal in the question and link it mentally with discussions on Indian federalism. Step 2: Recall that K. C. Wheare authored influential works on federal constitutions and analysed the Indian model using that phrase. Step 3: Recognise that D. D. Basu, Ivor Jennings, and M. V. Pylee also wrote on Indian constitutional law, but different quotes and formulations are associated with them. Step 4: Compare the options and point to K. C. Wheare as the scholar most closely linked with the quasi federal description. Step 5: Choose K. C. Wheare as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A candidate can verify this by checking any standard Indian Polity textbook, where the nature of the Constitution is discussed under chapters on federalism. In these sections, the author usually cites K. C. Wheare and repeats his phrase describing India as a quasi federal state. Some books even directly quote him as saying that the Indian Constitution is quasi federal but with a unitary bias. As the same quotation appears across multiple reference works, this provides strong confirmation that K. C. Wheare is the correct answer to this question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
D. D. Basu: A respected Indian jurist and author of a standard commentary on the Constitution, but his name is not linked specifically with the quasi federal label. Ivor Jennings: A British constitutional expert who commented on the Indian Constitution, yet his best known remarks are different and not the source of this exact phrase in exam usage. M. V. Pylee: An Indian scholar who wrote on governance and constitutional topics, but again not commonly cited for coining quasi federal. As a result these three options do not match the specific quotation being tested.

Common Pitfalls:
Examinees sometimes confuse which quote belongs to which scholar, especially because several experts have commented on Indian federalism. Under time pressure, they may choose a familiar Indian name like D. D. Basu instead of the foreign scholar who actually coined the phrase. Another pitfall is mixing up quasi federal with other descriptions such as cooperative federalism or federation with a strong centre. To avoid these mistakes, students should make a short list of important quotations and match them with the correct authors as part of their revision strategy.

Final Answer:
The constitutional scholar who famously described the Indian Constitution as a quasi federal system is K. C. Wheare.