With the reference to a federal form of government which of the following statements is correct?

The correct answer is Option 3.

Key Points

• Federation as a system of government has many distinctive characteristics which include;
  • Constitutional Division of Power. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
  • Existence of the Supreme Court for Judicial Interpretation and Review.
  • Written and Rigid Constitution.
  • Existence of various Levels of Government etc.
• As per Schedule 7 of the Indian Constitution, the division of the powers between the Union and the States has been under three lists.
  • They are: (i) The Union list (ii) The State List and (iii) The Concurrent List. 
  • State and Union governments have exclusive jurisdiction over their respective subjects. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  • However, as per Article 249, if Rajya Sabha declared by a resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting that it was necessary or expedient, in the national interest that Parliament should make laws with respect to any matter enumerated in the State List specified in the resolution, it becomes lawful for Parliament to make laws for the whole or any part of the territory of India.
• Sri Lanka has a unitary form of government.
  • In a unitary state, the central government is the supreme power and the different units of the government work under its direction.
  • Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• Since the Existence of various Levels of Government is a distinctive characteristic of the Federation, the devolution of some powers of State government to local bodies makes India more inclined towards federalism.
  • Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.