The characteristics of joint family in India: In brief, the joint family in India is marked by the following characteristics:

1. It has an authoritarian structure: The power to take decisions regarding matters related to family and individuals lie in the hands of the head of the family. His/her decision is taken as final and everyone has to abide by it.

2. It has familistic organization: It implies that the interest of the family as a whole is more important than the individual's interest. One has to sacrifice one's personal wishes, likes and dislikes, these go against family norms or rules or traditions.

3. Status of members is determined by their age and relationship: The status of a person higher in age is higher in a joint family than a person lower in age. 

Similarly, a person is respected more because of the higher status in terms of marital or blood ties. A husband, an uncle, an aunt and the in-laws are respected because of higher status in a relationship. A person's ability and achievement are not given importance in determining status.

4. Blood relationship gets preference over marital relationship: It implies that the husband-wife relationship is subordinate to father-son or brother-brother relationship.

5. The family functions on the ideal of joint responsibility: Everyone shares the problems of other members of the family and tries to help in whatever manner one can.

6. All members get equal attention: The family income is pooled together and needs of the individual members are met according to their needs and not according to their contribution. However, the description of the joint family along with its characteristics as given above constitutes an ideal picture. In reality, joint family functions are less than ideal, having lost many of their ideal characteristics, at least partly.