NCERT notes ( Study Material ) on important topics for the UPSC civil services exam. These notes will also be useful for other competitive exams like, UPSC Civil Services, State Civil Services exams, Bank PO, SSC and so on. Check Other NCERT Notes Here
The Constitution of India has provided for a division of powers between the Central and state governments. Under the Seventh Schedule, there are three lists – the Union, State and Concurrent.
- The Union List has a range of subjects under which the Parliament may make laws. This list contains 97 items and comprises of the subjects which are of national importance and admit of uniform laws for the whole of the country. This includes defence, foreign affairs, railways, banking, among others.
- The State List lists subjects under which the legislature of a state may make laws. This list contains 66 items and speaks about the subject matters those are related to local or state interest. Public order, police, public health and sanitation; hospitals and dispensaries, betting and gambling are some of the subjects that come under the state.
- The Concurrent List includes subjects that give powers to both the Centre and State governments. Among the 47 items enumerated in the list, all can be legislated by both union parliament and the state legislature. Subjects like Education including technical education, medical education and universities, population control and family planning, criminal law, prevention of cruelty to animals, protection of wildlife and animals, forests etc.
However, given that there can be conflict when it comes to laws passed by Parliament and state legislatures on the same subject, the Constitution provides for a central law to override a state law.
The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 ensured that State List subjects like education, forest, protection of wild animals and birds, administration of justice, and weights and measurements were transferred to the Concurrent List.
