Topic 04 of 5 · Chapter 04 · Indian Polity
Three Lists — Union, State & Concurrent List (7th Schedule)
7th Schedule — Union List (97 subjects), State List (66 subjects), Concurrent List (47 subjects), and residuary powers.
📋 In This Article
1. Overview of Three Lists
The 7th Schedule of the Indian Constitution divides legislative powers between the Centre and States through three lists.
97
Union List (List I)
Only Parliament can legislate
66
State List (List II)
Only State Legislature can legislate
47
Concurrent List (List III)
Both Parliament and State can legislate
⭐ Note: These numbers are from the original Constitution. The actual current numbers may vary slightly due to amendments. The 7th Schedule was borrowed from Australia.
2. Union List (List I) — 97 Subjects
Only Parliament can make laws on subjects in the Union List. These are matters of national importance.
Key subjects in Union List:
- Defence, Armed Forces
- Foreign Affairs, Treaties
- Atomic Energy
- Railways, Airways, Shipping
- Posts and Telegraphs
- Currency, Coinage, Banking
- Income Tax, Customs, Excise
- Census, Elections
- Citizenship, Naturalisation
- Supreme Court, High Courts
3. State List (List II) — 66 Subjects
Only State Legislatures can make laws on subjects in the State List. These are matters of local/regional importance.
Key subjects in State List:
- Public Order, Police
- Land, Agriculture
- Local Government (Panchayats, Municipalities)
- Public Health, Hospitals
- Education (before 42nd Amendment)
- Roads, Bridges (within state)
- State taxes — land revenue, sales tax
- Prisons, Reformatories
💡 Parliament can legislate on State List in 5 situations: (1) National Emergency, (2) Rajya Sabha passes resolution by 2/3 majority, (3) Two or more states request Parliament, (4) International treaty/agreement, (5) President’s Rule in a state.
4. Concurrent List (List III) — 47 Subjects
Both Parliament and State Legislatures can make laws on subjects in the Concurrent List.
Key subjects in Concurrent List:
- Criminal Law and Procedure (IPC, CrPC)
- Civil Procedure (CPC)
- Marriage and Divorce
- Education (moved from State List by 42nd Amendment)
- Forests (moved from State List by 42nd Amendment)
- Weights and Measures
- Electricity
- Labour Laws
- Drugs and Poisons
- Newspapers, Books, Printing Presses
✅ 42nd Amendment (1976): Moved Education and Forests from State List to Concurrent List. This gave the Centre more power over these subjects.
5. Conflict Resolution
When there is a conflict between Central and State laws on a Concurrent List subject:
- The Central law prevails (Article 254)
- Exception: If the State law received Presidential assent before the Central law, the State law prevails in that state
- But Parliament can later override even such State law
6. Key Points for Exam
🔑 Must-Remember Facts
- Union List: 97 subjects — only Parliament can legislate
- State List: 66 subjects — only State Legislature can legislate
- Concurrent List: 47 subjects — both can legislate
- Residuary powers: with Centre (Parliament)
- 7th Schedule borrowed from Australia
- Conflict on Concurrent List → Central law prevails (Article 254)
- Education moved to Concurrent List by 42nd Amendment (1976)
- Forests moved to Concurrent List by 42nd Amendment (1976)
- Parliament can legislate on State List during National Emergency
- Parliament can legislate on State List if Rajya Sabha passes resolution by 2/3 majority