The Indian Constitution divides the powers between the central government and the state governments. The list of subject which comes under exclusive authority of center are listed under Union List, The one which comes under the purview of both center and state under concurrent list and third one the state list where states have been given the authority to make law.
Let us learn about each of them in detail
Union List
The Union List in the Indian Constitution includes subjects on which the central government has exclusive authority to legislate. The current list of items under the Union List is as follows:
- Defence
- Foreign Affairs
- Banking
- Currency
- Insurance
- Communication and Postal Services
- Atomic Energy
- Copyrights, patents, and trademarks
- Railways
- Airways
- Navigation and shipping
- Inter-State trade and commerce
- Taxes on Income other than agricultural income
- Customs and Excise duties
- Corporation Tax
- Union duties of excise
- Atomic Energy
- Census
- Union Public Service Commission and the State Public Service Commissions
- Elections to Parliament, the State Legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President of India
- Prevention of the extension of infectious or contagious diseases from one state to another
- The regulation and development of oil fields and mineral resources
- Taxes on capital value of assets of individuals and companies
- Fees in respect of any of the matters in this List
- Any matter not enumerated in List II or List III.
Concurrent List
The Concurrent List in the Indian Constitution includes subjects on which both the central government and the state governments can legislate. The current list of items under the Concurrent List is as follows:
- Education
- Forests
- Protection of Wild animals and birds
- Administration of justice
- Weights and measures
- Marriage and divorce
- Adoption
- Succession
- Transfer of property other than agricultural land
- Contractual and actionable wrongs
- Bankruptcy and insolvency
- Trusts and trustees
- Civil Procedure Code and Limitation of Actions
- Drugs and poisons
- Economic and social planning
- Price control and regulation of essential commodities
- Trade unions
- Labour welfare
- Electricity
- Newspapers, books and printing presses
- Cinematography
- Patents, designs, and trademarks
- Foodstuffs and adulteration thereof
- Drugs and medicines
- Prevention of the extension from one state to another of infectious or contagious diseases or pests affecting men, animals or plants.
It should be noted that while both the central and state governments can legislate on these subjects, in case of a conflict, the central law prevails over the state law.
State List
The Indian Constitution divides the powers between the central government and the state governments. The subjects that come under the purview of the state governments are listed under the State List (also known as List II). Here is a comprehensive list of subjects under the State List:
- Public order
- Police
- Local government
- Public health and sanitation
- Agriculture
- Animal husbandry and veterinary
- Fisheries
- Water supply
- Irrigation and canals
- Land and land reforms
- Forests
- Protection of wild animals and birds
- Paddy and other cereals
- Beverages
- Drugs
- Fertilizers
- Burials and burial grounds
- Electricity
- Trade unions
- Economic and social planning
- Price control
- Education, including technical education
- Cultural activities
- Libraries
- Sports and games
- State public services
- State taxation
- Stamp duty
- Registration of deeds and documents
- Excise (excluding opium)
- Weights and measures (excluding standards)
- Relief of the disabled and unemployable
- Social welfare, including welfare of the handicapped and mentally retarded
- Juvenile delinquency and neglected children
- Protection of women and children
- Development of backward classes
- Protection of monuments and places of historical interest.
It is important to note that the State List is subject to the overriding powers of the Union List and Concurrent List.
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