Question 3 - Past Year Questions - 5 Marks - Chapter 2 Class 10 Political Science - Federalism - Political Science

Describe the three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union Government and State Governments of India.

Answer:

Points to Remember

The threefold distribution of powers between the Union and the State govt refers to the distribution of subjects which the respective government governs. The three lists are-

1. Union List
   Subjects of national importance
   Governed by Union Govt
   Defence, Communication, Currency,  etc
   
   
2. State List
   Subjects of State and local importance
   Police, Trade, Commerce etc.
   
   
3. Concurrent list
   Subjects mutual to Union as well State
   Forest, Trade Unions, Marriage etc.

Answer to be written in exam 

The Union Government and the State Governments were given a clear threefold division of legislative authority under the Constitution.

The 3 main lists are-

A. Union List

• Subjects of national importance such as defence, foreign affairs, banking, communications and currency .
• Uniformity is essential to govern these matters.
• Only the Union government is responsible to make and amend laws for these subjects in Union List.
  
  

B. State List

• Subjects of State and local importance are included.
• Police, trade, commerce, agriculture, and irrigation are a few main subjects.
• Only the State govt of a particular state can form laws about these subject matters.
  
  

C. Concurrent List

• Subjects of mutual interest to both- the Union and the State govt are included.
• Education, forests, trade unions, marriage, adoption, and succession are a few main subjects.
• Both the Union as well the State govern these subjects and the law by the Union govt is enforceable in an event of a conflict.