
The Indian Constitution is divided into three lists: the Union List, the State List, and the Concurrent List. These lists enumerate the subject matters on which the Parliament or the State Legislature has the power to make laws. The Union List contains subjects of national importance, such as defence, foreign affairs, and banking, over which only the central government has legislative power. The State List includes 66 items of local and state interest, such as public health, police, and forests, where the state government has exclusive legislative power. The Concurrent List includes 52 subjects where both the union and state governments share legislative power, such as criminal law, marriage and divorce, and education.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Lists | 3 |
| Types of Lists | Union List, State List, Concurrent List |
| Number of Subjects in Concurrent List | 52 |
| Subjects in Union List | Defence, foreign affairs, railways, banking, currency, union taxes, etc. |
| Number of Subjects in Union List | 97 or 98 |
| Subjects in State List | Public health, police, forest, health, etc. |
| Number of Subjects in State List | 66 |
| Subjects in Concurrent List | Criminal law, criminal procedure, preventive detention, marriage and divorce, welfare of labour, education, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
- The Union List: 97 items of national importance, including defence, currency and foreign affairs
- The State List: 66 items of local and state interest, including public health and police
- The Concurrent List: 52 items, including criminal law and marriage/divorce
- Distribution of legislative powers: the 7th Schedule provides a clear division between centre and states
- Legislative Assemblies and Parliament: Article 246 outlines the powers of each to make laws

The Union List: 97 items of national importance, including defence, currency and foreign affairs
The Indian Constitution is divided into three lists: the Union List, the State List, and the Concurrent List. The Union List, also known as List-I, initially contained 97 items of national importance, including defence, currency, and foreign affairs.
The Union List is a list of 97 subjects over which the Parliament has the power to make laws. This list covers a range of topics, from defence and foreign affairs to banking and currency. It also includes subjects such as the deployment of armed forces, industries necessary for defence, and the delimitation of cantonment areas.
The defence of India and its preparation for war are specifically mentioned in the Union List, including the prosecution of war and effective demobilization afterward. The list also covers all armed forces of the Union, such as naval, military, and air forces.
In addition to defence-related matters, the Union List also addresses foreign affairs. This includes India's relationship with foreign countries, participation in international organizations, and the implementation of treaties and agreements.
The Union List also covers important economic matters, such as banking and currency. It includes the incorporation, regulation, and winding up of trading corporations, as well as trade and commerce with foreign countries.
The Union List also mentions institutions of national importance, such as the National Library, the Indian Museum, and various universities. It also covers ancient and historical monuments, archaeological sites, and surveys of India.
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The State List: 66 items of local and state interest, including public health and police
The State List, one of the three lists in the Indian Constitution, comprises 66 items covering various areas of local and state-level interest. This list, outlined in the You may want to see also The Concurrent List, also known as List III, is one of the three lists in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India, which outlines the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States. It includes 52 items, or subjects, that fall under the purview of both the Union and State governments, allowing for shared legislative powers. This list was designed to prevent excessive rigidity in the distribution of powers between the Union and State governments, fostering collaboration and flexibility. The Concurrent List covers a range of important topics, including criminal law and procedure, preventive detention, and the removal of prisoners and accused persons between states. It also encompasses marriage and divorce laws, matters related to infants, minors, and adoption, as well as wills, intestacy, and succession. This list ensures that both the Union and State governments have a say in these significant areas, allowing for a more balanced approach to governance. Another key aspect of the Concurrent List is its focus on the administration of justice and the organisation of courts, excluding the Supreme Court and High Courts. This includes matters such as evidence, oaths, recognition of laws, public acts, records, and judicial proceedings. The list also addresses civil procedure, contempt of court (excluding the Supreme Court), lunacy, and mental deficiency, including provisions for the treatment of individuals with these issues. Furthermore, the Concurrent List addresses labour welfare, including conditions of work, provident funds, employers' liability, workmen's compensation, and pension and maternity benefits. It also covers education, including technical, medical, and university education, as well as vocational and technical training for labourers. This ensures that both the Union and State governments have a shared responsibility in shaping the future of the country's workforce through education and skill development. The Concurrent List plays a crucial role in maintaining a harmonious balance of powers between the Union and State governments in India, ensuring that neither becomes too powerful and that important subjects are addressed collaboratively. This unique feature of India's federal system of government promotes efficiency and cooperation at both the central and state levels of the nation. You may want to see also
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The legislative powers between the Union and the States in India are divided into three lists, as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, 1950: the Union List, the State List, and the Concurrent List. The Seventh Schedule provides a clear division of powers between the centre and states, preventing conflict and maintaining peace and harmony. The Union List, which falls under Article 246 (1) of the Constitution, includes 97 subjects over which the Union Parliament has exclusive power to legislate. These subjects are of national importance and include defence, foreign affairs, railways, banking, atomic energy, and more. The State List, on the other hand, gives supreme power to the State Legislature over 61 items. This list covers areas such as public health, agricultural education, state public services, and the production, transport, manufacture, and sale of intoxicating liquors. The Concurrent List is unique in that it includes 52 subjects (originally 47) where both the Union Parliament and the State Legislature have concurrent powers of legislation. This list serves as a "twilight zone", allowing states to take the initiative on less important matters, while the Parliament can do so on more critical issues. Subjects in this list include criminal law and procedure, forests and their flora and fauna, industrial disputes, and population control. The Seventh Schedule, with its three lists, provides a clear framework for the distribution of legislative powers between the centre and states in India. It ensures that each level of government is conscious of its respective role and prevents the centre from unilaterally changing the fundamentals of the constitution. This division of powers is an essential feature of provincial autonomy and helps to reduce disputes over the scope of jurisdiction between the Union and the States. You may want to see also The Indian Constitution establishes a federal system as the framework for the country's governance. It divides legislative and executive authority between the centre and the states. Article 246 of the Indian Constitution outlines the powers of the legislative assemblies and parliament to make laws. The article is part of a series of provisions (Articles 245-254) that deal with the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States. Article 246 should be read in conjunction with the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, which contains three lists that define the subjects on which different bodies have the authority to make laws. The three lists outlined in the Indian Constitution are the Union List, the State List, and the Concurrent List. The Union List (List I of the Seventh Schedule) contains matters on which only the Parliament can make laws. This includes subjects that require uniformity across the country, such as defence, foreign affairs, and currency. The State List (List II) gives exclusive power to the state legislatures to make laws on subjects that are specific to a particular state, such as law and order, local government, and state public services. The Concurrent List (List III) includes subjects on which both Parliament and state legislatures can make laws, such as criminal law, civil law, and labour welfare. However, in case of a conflict between a Central Government law and a State Government law, the Central Government law prevails. The division of powers between the Union and State legislatures under Article 246 aims to create a balance between centralisation and federalism. The Indian Constitution, influenced by the Government of India Act, 1935, envisages a strong centre with sufficient powers to protect the nation's unity and integrity. At the same time, it grants significant powers to the states, allowing them to operate independently within their defined spheres. This federal structure ensures that the states are not subordinate to the centre but rather have their own legislative and executive authority, as envisioned by Dr B.R. Ambedkar during the Constitutional Assembly debates. Article 246, along with the three lists, provides a clear framework for the division of legislative powers in India. It ensures that the central and state governments have distinct responsibilities and authority over specific subjects, allowing for effective governance and addressing the specific needs of each state. This system of distribution of powers is a key feature of India's federalism, which aims to balance unity and diversity in a large and diverse country. You may want to see also The three lists given in the Indian Constitution are the Union List, the State List, and the Concurrent List. The Union List contains 97 or 98 items, including subjects of national importance such as defence, foreign affairs, railways, and banking. Only the central government has the power to exercise these powers. The State List includes 66 items, covering subjects of interest to local and state governments, such as public health, police, forests, and health.Exploring the Constitution's Draft Evolution

The Concurrent List: 52 items, including criminal law and marriage/divorce
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