India is considered a federal country due to several key features embedded in its Constitution and political structure:

• Multiple Levels of Government : India has three levels of government - the Union (central), State, and local governments - each with its own jurisdiction in legislation, taxation, and administration

• Distribution of Powers : The Constitution clearly divides powers between the Union and State governments through three lists in the Seventh Schedule:
  • Union List : Subjects of national importance like defense, foreign affairs, banking, and communications, where only the Union government can legislate.
  • State List : Subjects of state and local importance such as police, agriculture, and irrigation, under the exclusive jurisdiction of State governments.
  • Concurrent List : Subjects on which both Union and State governments can legislate, such as forests, marriage, and adoption

• Written Constitution : India has a detailed, rigid yet amendable written Constitution that guarantees the division of powers and protects the autonomy of each government level

• Independent Judiciary : The Supreme Court of India acts as the guardian of the Constitution and has the power to adjudicate disputes between the Union and States, ensuring the federal structure is maintained

• Bicameral Legislature : The Parliament consists of two houses, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, the latter representing the States, which ensures state interests are considered at the central level

• Constitutional Supremacy and Rigidity : The Constitution cannot be altered unilaterally by any one level of government, maintaining the balance of power

• Financial Autonomy : The Constitution specifies sources of revenue for different government levels, though States depend partially on the Centre for funds

• Quasi-Federal Nature : India combines federal and unitary features, with a strong central government to maintain unity but respecting state autonomy, making it a "quasi-federal" system

These features collectively make India a federal country, characterized by a division of powers and responsibilities between the Centre and the States, with constitutional safeguards to maintain this balance.