1
Which article of the Indian Constitution empowers Parliament to legislate on subjects in the State List in the national interest?
⚖️ Union & State Lists
Union & State Lists
By Priya Sharma · Static GK Expert
50 Questions Indian Polity
A comprehensive collection of 20 MCQs covering the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and States under the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
2
Under the Seventh Schedule, which of the following subjects is placed under the 'Concurrent List'?
3
Residuary powers of legislation under the Indian Constitution, which are not mentioned in any of the three lists, are vested with:
4
Which of the following items is categorized exclusively under the 'State List'?
5
If there is a conflict between a Central law and a State law regarding a subject in the Concurrent List, which law prevails?
6
Which constitutional amendment moved 'Education' from the State List to the Concurrent List?
7
The power to levy and collect 'Corporation Tax' lies with:
8
Which of the following is NOT a subject in the Union List?
9
Which of the following subjects is present in the Concurrent List?
10
When a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, the Parliament:
11
Which of the following is an entry in the State List?
12
The concept of the Concurrent List in the Indian Constitution was borrowed from the constitution of which country?
13
Which article deals with the distribution of revenues between the Union and the States?
14
Which of the following subjects falls under the 'Union List'?
15
What is the primary objective of the Seventh Schedule?
16
Parliament can legislate on a State List subject if:
17
Which of the following is considered an 'Entry' in the Concurrent List?
18
Who has the authority to decide if a particular matter falls under the Union, State, or Concurrent List?
19
Which of these subjects is currently in the State List?
20
Which of the following lists was originally designed to have the most items?
21
Which specific article of the Constitution provides for the 'Legislative Relations' between the Union and the States?
22
Which of the following matters is explicitly included in the Union List (List I) of the Seventh Schedule?
23
Under Article 250, the Parliament can legislate on a State List subject if:
24
Which constitutional provision allows Parliament to make laws for two or more states by their consent?
25
The subject 'Forests' was transferred from the State List to the Concurrent List by which amendment?
26
Which of the following is correctly classified as a 'State List' subject?
27
Which of the following subjects is part of the Concurrent List, allowing both Centre and State to legislate?
28
What happens if a State law on a Concurrent List subject conflicts with a previously passed Central law?
29
The 'Power to legislate on matters not mentioned in any of the three lists' is known as:
30
Which of the following items is categorized under the State List?
31
The phrase 'Legislative power of Parliament' regarding international agreements is found in which Article?
32
Which of the following is a subject on which the State Legislature can exclusively make laws?
33
Which of the following lists contains the maximum number of items?
34
Who has the final power to decide whether a matter falls under the Union List, State List, or Concurrent List in case of dispute?
35
Which of these is NOT a subject under the Concurrent List?
36
Which entry in the Union List deals with 'Naval, Military and Air Force works'?
37
The concept of the 'Concurrent List' was adopted from which country's constitution?
38
When can a law made by the State Legislature on a Concurrent List subject override a law made by Parliament?
39
Which of the following falls under the Concurrent List?
40
Article 249 empowers the Rajya Sabha to authorize Parliament to legislate on a State List subject if it is considered to be in the:
41
Which of the following items is explicitly included in the Union List (List I) of the Seventh Schedule?
42
Under the doctrine of 'Pith and Substance', what is the primary role of the Judiciary in cases of legislative overlap between Union and State lists?
43
Which entry in the Union List grants the Parliament the power to legislate on 'Post and Telegraphs; Telephones, Wireless, Broadcasting and other like forms of communication'?
44
The subject 'Police' falls under the State List. Which of the following is an exception where the Central Government may involve itself in police-related matters?
45
Which list contains the subject 'Weights and Measures' excluding those of standards?
46
Which constitutional provision empowers the Parliament to legislate on a State List subject for giving effect to international agreements?
47
In the context of the Seventh Schedule, the 'State List' consists of how many items originally, and how many are currently present?
48
Which of the following subjects is uniquely under the State List?
49
What is the consequence if a State law on a Concurrent List subject has been reserved for the consideration of the President and receives their assent?
50
Which of the following is correctly classified as a 'State List' subject concerning local governance?
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Important Notes — Union & State Lists
Constitutional Provisions: The Seventh Schedule
The distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States is a cornerstone of India’s federal structure. This division is enshrined in Article 246 of the Constitution, which delineates the legislative jurisdiction through the Seventh Schedule.
The Three-Fold Distribution
The Seventh Schedule categorizes legislative subjects into three distinct lists:
- Union List (List I): Contains subjects of national importance that require uniformity across the country. Only the Parliament has the exclusive power to legislate on these matters. Originally, it contained 97 subjects, but currently, it has 100 items. Key subjects include Defense, Foreign Affairs, Banking, Currency, Atomic Energy, and Post and Telegraph.
- State List (List II): Comprises subjects of local or regional importance. Generally, State Legislatures have the exclusive power to enact laws on these subjects. Originally containing 66 items, it now has 61 subjects. Important items include Public Order, Police, Public Health and Sanitation, Agriculture, and State Taxes.
- Concurrent List (List III): Contains subjects where both the Parliament and State Legislatures can enact laws. If there is a conflict between a Central law and a State law on a concurrent subject, the Central law prevails (under Article 254). It originally had 47 subjects and now contains 52 subjects. Key subjects include Criminal Law, Education, Forests, Trade Unions, and Marriage and Divorce.
Essential Rules and Residual Powers
For aspirants preparing for UPSC, SSC, and other competitive exams, understanding the following nuances is critical:
- Residuary Powers (Article 248): Any subject not explicitly mentioned in the three lists falls under the jurisdiction of the Parliament. These are known as residuary powers, and the final authority rests with the Union.
- Parliament’s Authority over State List: Under exceptional circumstances, Parliament can legislate on State List subjects:
- If the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution in the national interest (Article 249).
- During a National Emergency (Article 250).
- If two or more States request it (Article 252).
- To implement international treaties or agreements (Article 253).
- During President’s Rule in a State (Article 356).
- The 42nd Amendment (1976): This crucial amendment shifted 5 subjects from the State List to the Concurrent List:
1. Education
2. Forests
3. Weights and Measures
4. Protection of Wild Animals and Birds
5. Administration of Justice (constitutions and organization of all courts except the Supreme Court and High Courts).
Exam-Focused Quick Facts
- The Government of India Act, 1935, provided the blueprint for this three-fold distribution (Federal List, Provincial List, and Concurrent List).
- The concept of the Concurrent List was borrowed from the Constitution of Australia.
- In the event of a deadlock on a Concurrent List subject, the Union Law overrides the State Law, reinforcing the "Union-leaning" nature of Indian federalism.
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About the Author
PS
Priya Sharma Static GK Expert
Indian History · Geography · Polity & Economy Specialist
With 8+ years of teaching static GK for competitive exams, Priya has helped thousands of students master the foundational subjects that appear year after year in UPSC, SSC, and Railway exams. She focuses on making history, geography, and polity approachable through well-structured MCQs and memorable explanations.
