Seventh Schedule: State, Union and Concurrent lists explained (2024)

New Delhi,UPDATED: Nov 1, 2021 20:38 IST

The constitution of India is a comprehensive document that covers all the aspects of governance of the country. The constitution also specifies the distribution of powers and responsibilities between the state and central governments. The Seventh Schedule is the most important part of the constitution in this regard. It specifies the role and responsibilities into three lists namely, Union List, State List and Concurrent List.

The three lists have been changed since they first came into being; the Union list contained 97 subjects and now is at 100 subjects, the state list contained 66 subjects but is now at 61 subjects, and concurrent list contained 47 subjects but now has 52 subjects on the concurrent list.

Union list of Seventh Schedule

• The Union List is a list of 100 subjects that the Union or Centre government enjoys supreme jurisdiction over.
• Simply put, it is a list of matters of national importance that the central government has the sole power to take decisions on.
• The Union list consists of subjects of National Importance like defence, foreign affairs, banking, atomic energy, railways, post etc.

State list of Seventh Schedule

• The state list is a list of 61 subjects that state legislatures enjoy jurisdiction over.
• In layman's terms, the state legislature can pass laws and govern the said subjects.
• The state list specifies jurisdiction over subjects like, public order, prisons, public health, production, manufacture, transport, purchase and sale of intoxicating liquors, agricultural education and research, fisheries, state public services etc.

Concurrent list under Seventh Schedule

• The concurrent list is a list of 47 subjects on which both the Union and State legislatures enjoy jurisdiction over.
• The constitution of India specifies subjects like, criminal law, criminal procedure, preventive detention, forests, protection of wild animals and birds, trade unions, industrial and labour disputes, population control and family planning etcetera to the concurrent list.

Residual Powers

• Residuary powers, put simply, refer to the power of jurisdiction upon subjects that are not mentioned in the state or concurrent list.
• The union government enjoys exclusive jurisdiction over such subjects.
• Article 248 of the constitution clearly states, “The Union Parliament has exclusive power to make any law with respect to any matter not enumerated in the Concurrent List or the State List.”

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