The study of political science begins and ends with the state. The state is the central object of all political inquiries. But what is state? It is now indiscriminately used as a synonym for ‘Government’, ‘Nation’, ‘Society’ etc. It is even used to refer to the regions or units of a federal state like the Indian union and the U. S. A. we must, therefore have a clear idea about the meaning and nature of the state. A state means a community or a society politically organised through a government within a definite territory. The political scientist, Garner provides a comprehensive definition of the state. It is “a community of persons, more or less numerous, permanently occupying a definite territory, independent or nearly so, of external controls, and possessing an organised government to which the .great body of inhabitants render habitual obedience.”