Q. Which one of the following is not a feature of Indian federalism? (UPSC Prelims 2017)
Answer: It is the result of an agreement among the federating units.
Notes: The correct answer is [D] It is the result of an agreement among the federating units. This question highlights the fundamental distinction between the "Federation" of the United States and the "Union" of India.

• Agreement among units (Statement D – Incorrect Feature): Unlike the American federation, which was formed by an agreement between independent states, the Indian federation is not the result of a contract or agreement. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar famously stated that the Indian Union is "indestructible," and no state has the right to secede from it.
• Independent Judiciary (Statement A – Correct Feature): To resolve disputes between the Centre and the States, or between two States, an independent judiciary is essential. In India, the Supreme Court acts as the "Umpire" and the guardian of the Constitution.
• Division of Powers (Statement B – Correct Feature): The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution clearly demarcates the legislative domains through three lists: the Union List, the State List, and the Concurrent List. This is a core characteristic of any federal system.
• Unequal Representation in Rajya Sabha (Statement C – Correct Feature): In many federations (like the US), all states have equal representation in the upper house. However, in India, seats in the Rajya Sabha are allotted based on the population of each state. This is a federal feature of the Indian system, as per the Fourth Schedule.

India is often described as a "Quasi-federal" state (by K.C. Wheare) or a "Union with a strong centralizing tendency" because, while it has federal features, it also possesses strong unitary features (like a single Constitution, All India Services, and the appointment of Governors).