Major federal features of the Indian constitution are as follows: 1. dual polity, 2. distribution of power, 3. special position of judiciary, 4. written and rigid constitution
(i) Dual Polity:
In a federal system there are two governments, one is known as federal or national government and other is known as the government of the states.
The powers of each government are demarcated in the Constitution. Both exist according to their own constitutional rights. None can interface in the allotted sphere of the other.
(ii) Distribution of Power:
Another feature of the federal system is the distribution of power between the federal government and the government of the states.
Some powers are given to the federal government and some other remaining powers are given to the government of states. The federal government is powerful over the matter of national (or) general importance. Both federal and state governments functioning strictly within the sphere demarcated for them.
The Indian Constitution made a clear division of power into three lists—the Union list, the state list, the concurrent list. The subjects included in the Union or Federal list can be controlled by the Union Government alone.
The state legislatures possess the exclusive right to legislate on subjects included in the state list. On concurrent subjects, the legislations of both the Union and the state enjoy concurrent power to make laws.
(iii) Special Position of Judiciary:
The third feature of federalism is provision of a Supreme Court to act as the guardian of the Constitution. It interprets the controversial clauses and decides all constitutional disputes between the central and the state governments.
(iv) Written and Rigid Constitution:
The another feature of federalism is written and rigid Constitution. A written constitution makes it easy and simple for the federal state to function successfully. The amendment of the constitution in a federal state is deliberately made difficult. It is not easy either for the federal government (or) the state government to change the constitution.