What are the key features of India's Constitution with regard to federalism

Explain the main principles and structures of federalism in India's Constitution, including the division of power between the central government and state governments.
The key features of India's Constitution with regards to federalism are as follows:
  • Division of powers between the central government and state governments, as outlined in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
  • The Constitution grants important powers to both the central and state governments, and both have the power to make laws within their respective spheres.
  • The Constitution establishes a federal structure where the central government and the state governments have their separate jurisdiction and powers, but the central government hold the power of overriding certain state legislations and directly intervene in states in certain critical situations.
  • The Constitution mandates the existence of a bicameral legislature, with the Rajya Sabha representing the states and the Lok Sabha representing the people at large.
  • The Constitution provides for a federal judiciary with the Supreme Court as the highest court of appeal for all disputes between the central government and the state governments.
  • The Constitution also creates a system of inter-state councils to resolve any interstate disputes that may arise.
Overall, the Constitution seeks to strike a balance between a strong central government and the autonomy of the states.
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