Previous Year Question

Single Citizenship is not a federal feature of the Indian Constitution; it is generally regarded as one of its unitary or centralising features. India has only Indian citizenship, unlike some classical federations such as the United States where citizenship may operate at both federal and State levels. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar described India's constitutional model as a dual polity with single citizenship.

In S. R. Bommai v. Union of India, the Supreme Court also identified single citizenship among the features that distinguish the Indian constitutional structure from a classical federation, noting the absence of separate State citizenship.

Option (a) is a federal feature. Constitutional distribution of powers between the Centre and the States is a basic characteristic of a federal arrangement. India's Seventh Schedule distributes legislative subjects through the Union, State and Concurrent Lists.

Option (b) is also a federal feature. A written Constitution is important in a federation because it formally defines the powers and limits of the different levels of government.

Option (d) is also a federal feature. An independent judiciary protects constitutional supremacy and adjudicates constitutional disputes between the Union and the States.

Thus, remember—

Federal features → Written Constitution + Distribution of Powers + Independent Judiciary
Unitary/Centralising feature → Single Citizenship