How Many Subjects are There in the Concurrent List

Introduction

Since Independence, the Indian Constitution has been amended several times to accommodate the growing needs of the nation. One of the most significant changes was the addition of the concurrent list, which gives both the parliament and state legislature the power to make laws. The concurrent list includes items of national importance that require uniformity across the country, such as education, transport, and healthcare. At the same time, it also recognises the need for state autonomy on matters that are of regional or local importance. The concurrent list is an important part of the Indian federal system and helps to ensure that both the central and state governments can function effectively.

Parliament

The Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India. The Prime Minister of India is the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha and is the head of the government. The Parliament has two houses: the Lok Sabha (the House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (the Council of States). The dissolution od lok sabha is done by the president. The Parliament has the power to make laws for any part of India. The Parliament of India is sovereign in India. It can make or amend any law. However, the Parliament cannot make a law that is repugnant to the Constitution of India. The Parliament is not subject to any court. The Parliament can also remove the Vice President of India from office. The Parliament of India has the power to declare war and make peace. It can also make treaties and agreements with other countries.

State Legislature

The Indian state legislature is the legislature of the Indian states and union territories. The Indian state legislature is composed of the governor of each state, who is the head of the state government. At present only 6 states have a state legislature. The state legislature is unicameral in some states and bi-cameral in others. The unicameral state legislature has one house: the state legislative assembly. The bicameral state legislature has 2 houses: the state legislative assembly and the state legislative council. Usually, the states having bicameral state legislatures are the bigger states.

Seventh Schedule in The Indian Constitution

The Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the Union (federal) and the State (provincial) legislative competencies. It is divided into three parts. The first part contains a list of the Union legislative competencies, which are the primary subjects of legislation for the Parliament of India. The Union List includes 98 items, the most important of which are defence, foreign affairs, currency, banking, communications, rails and shipping.

The second part of the Seventh Schedule is the State List, which enumerates the Subjects of legislation for the State Legislatures. There are 59 items on this list, the most important of which are education, agriculture, trade and commerce, police, and land revenue.

The third and final part of the Seventh Schedule is the Concurrent List, which contains 52 items of legislation that are within the competence of both the Union and State Legislatures. The Concurrent List includes such items as criminal law, marriage, bankruptcy, and elections.

The Seventh Schedule is an important part of the Constitution of India as it delineates the powers of the Union and State Governments. It helps to maintain a federal structure of government in India and ensures that the Union Government does not usurp the powers of the State Governments.

Number of Subjects in The Concurrent List

The concurrent list is given in the seventh schedule to the constitution which has 52 subjects. Initially, there were only 47 subjects, but the 42nd amendment act 1976, added 5 more subjects.

Some Important Subjects

1. Education

2. Weights & Measures

3. Administration of Justice

4. Protection of Wild Animals and Birds

5. Forests

6. Factories

7. Boilers

8. Electricity

9. Actionable wrongs

10. Contempt of court, but note it does not include contempt of the supreme court.

State List and Union List

There are two lists in the Indian Constitution apart from the concurrent list – the State List and the Union List. The State List contains items of state importance such as police, trade, commerce, agriculture, and irrigation. The Union List contains items of national importance such as defence, foreign affairs, and railways.

Conclusion

The concurrent list is where both the centre and the state government have jurisdiction to make a law. It is for making laws for areas that are a common interest of both the centre and the state. But in case of any conflict between the laws made by the centre and the state, the law of the centre will prevail.