Union List, State List, Concurrent List and Residuary List – Class 10 Social Science Notes with PYQs
Introduction
In Class 10 Social Science (Political Science/Civics), one of the important topics under Federalism is the division of powers between the Union Government and State Governments. Students often face confusion in MCQs or short answer questions when asked:
- “Is education a subject of the Union List, State List, or Concurrent List?”
- “Police and public order fall under which list?”
- “What is the Residuary List?”
Such questions frequently appear in CBSE Board Exams, and even toppers sometimes make mistakes because NCERT books do not always provide an exhaustive list of subjects. This article will cover all four lists (Union, State, Concurrent, Residuary) in detail, with major subjects highlighted, so that Class 10 students can answer these confidently in exams.
Historical Background of Union, State & Concurrent Lists
The concept of dividing subjects between Union and State Governments is not new. It was first introduced in Government of India Act, 1935 by the British, which divided powers into three lists – Federal, Provincial, and Concurrent. After independence, the makers of the Indian Constitution adopted this system and modified it according to the needs of a democratic federal country.
This shows that the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution (which contains Union, State, and Concurrent Lists) has its roots in India’s colonial governance but was adapted to promote cooperative federalism.
Examples of Questions that Often Confuse Students
Many students, including toppers, get confused in exams when asked to identify which subject belongs to which list. Let’s see some tricky examples:
- Education → Earlier it was in the State List, but after the 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976), it was shifted to the Concurrent List.
- Forests → Same as education; shifted to Concurrent List in 1976.
- Marriage and Divorce → Always in Concurrent List, not in State List (a common mistake).
- Police & Public Order → These are strictly State List subjects, even though they are important for national security.
- Telecommunication, IT, and Space → These are not mentioned in any of the three lists, so they fall under the Residuary List (Union power).
Easy Memory Tricks for Students
- Union List → Think “One Nation” → Defence, Railways, Currency, Banking.
- State List → Think “One Region” → Police, Agriculture, Health, Local Trade.
- Concurrent List → Think “Both Governments” → Education, Marriage, Forests, Electricity.
- Residuary List → Think “Modern Subjects” → IT, Cyber Laws, Space, Nuclear Energy.
Such mnemonics help in quick revision before exams.
Importance in Exams (Why CBSE Asks This Frequently)
The CBSE includes questions on these lists because they test:
- Understanding of Federalism – Students must know how power is divided in India.
- Awareness of Amendments – Example: shifting of education and forests to Concurrent List.
- Application in Real Life – Students should know why police is under State List but defence is under Union List.
In fact, in many previous year board exams, questions have appeared like:
- “Why is education included in the Concurrent List?”
- “Explain the importance of Residuary List.”
- “Which subjects are included in the Union List and why?”
The Division of Powers in the Indian Constitution
The Indian Constitution establishes a federal structure with a clear division of powers between the Union (Central) Government and the State Governments. To avoid confusion and ensure smooth governance, subjects of legislation are divided into three lists under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
- Union List
- State List
- Concurrent List
Additionally, subjects not covered in these three lists are included in the Residuary List.
1. Union List
- The Union List contains subjects on which only the Central Government (Union Parliament) can make laws.
- These are matters of national importance, where a uniform law is required throughout the country.
- Currently, the Union List has 98 subjects (originally 97).
Major Subjects in Union List (Important for Exams)
- Defence (Army, Navy, Air Force)
- Foreign Affairs (relations with other countries, diplomacy)
- Atomic Energy
- Railways
- Banking
- Post and Telegraph
- Highways and National Transport
- Citizenship
- Space Research
- Currency, Coinage and Legal Tender
- Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
👉 Remember: Anything related to national security, foreign relations, currency, railways, communication falls under Union List.
2. State List
- The State List contains subjects on which only the State Legislatures can make laws.
- These are matters of local and regional importance, requiring state-specific rules.
- Currently, the State List has 59 subjects (originally 66).
Major Subjects in State List (Important for Exams)
- Police
- Public Order
- Prisons
- Agriculture
- Fisheries
- Markets and Trade within the State
- State Public Services
- Road Transport (within the state)
- Health and Sanitation
- State Lotteries
👉 Remember: Anything related to police, law and order, agriculture, trade within the state is under State List.
3. Concurrent List
- The Concurrent List contains subjects on which both Union and State Governments can make laws.
- In case of a conflict between Central and State laws, the Union law prevails.
- Currently, the Concurrent List has 52 subjects (originally 47).
Major Subjects in Concurrent List (Important for Exams)
- Education (earlier in State List, moved to Concurrent List in 1976)
- Forests
- Trade Unions
- Marriage and Divorce
- Adoption and Succession
- Electricity
- Criminal Law and Procedure
- Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
- Economic and Social Planning
👉 Remember: Anything related to education, forests, marriage, criminal law falls under Concurrent List.
4. Residuary List
- Residuary subjects are those that are not included in Union, State, or Concurrent Lists.
- The power to make laws on residuary subjects lies only with the Union Government.
- This provision was included to deal with new and emerging fields.
Major Examples of Residuary Subjects
- Computer Software and IT
- Cyber Laws
- Space Technology
- Television and Broadcasting
- Nuclear Energy
👉 Remember: Anything new and not mentioned in the three lists automatically becomes part of the Residuary List (Union power).
Comparison Table – Union List, State List, Concurrent List, Residuary List
| List | Who makes the laws? | Examples of Subjects | Exam Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union List | Only Parliament (Central Government) | Defence, Railways, Currency, Foreign Affairs, Banking | National importance |
| State List | Only State Legislatures | Police, Agriculture, Trade within state, Health, Markets | Local importance |
| Concurrent List | Both Union & State Governments (Union law prevails in conflict) | Education, Forests, Marriage, Electricity, Criminal Law | Shared subjects |
| Residuary List | Only Parliament (Central Government) | Cyber Laws, Space, IT, Nuclear Energy | New subjects not in lists |
Why This Division is Important?
- Ensures division of responsibilities between central and state governments.
- Prevents overlapping of laws.
- Gives flexibility to deal with new challenges through the Residuary List.
- Balances national unity with regional diversity.
Previous Year Questions (PYQs) – CBSE Boards
1 Mark Questions
Q.1. Which list includes the subject of "Defence"?
- (Ans: Union List)
Q.2. Education is included in which list after the 42nd Amendment? (CBSE 2017)
- (Ans: Concurrent List)
Q.3. Police comes under which list? (CBSE 2020)
- (Ans: State List)
3 Mark Questions
Q.4. Explain the significance of the Concurrent List in the Indian Constitution. (CBSE 2019)
Answer: The Concurrent List allows both Union and State Governments to legislate on important subjects like education, forests, and marriage. This ensures cooperation between central and state authorities. However, in case of conflict, the Union law prevails, maintaining national unity.
5 Mark Questions
Q.5. Explain the division of powers between Union and State Governments in India. (CBSE 2018)
Answer:
- The Constitution divides powers into Union List, State List, and Concurrent List.
- Union List includes subjects of national importance like defence and foreign affairs.
- State List includes subjects of local importance like police and agriculture.
- Concurrent List includes subjects like education and forests on which both can legislate.
- Residuary powers are given to the Union Government for new subjects like IT and space.
Practice MCQs
Q.1. Which of the following subjects is in the State List?
a) Defence
b) Banking
c) Police
d) Education
Answer: c) Police
Q.2. Which subject was shifted from State List to Concurrent List by the 42nd Amendment (1976)?
a) Forests
b) Police
c) Agriculture
d) Currency
Answer: a) Forests (and also Education)
Q.3. Which list deals with new and emerging subjects like cyber laws?
a) Union List
b) State List
c) Concurrent List
d) Residuary List
Answer: d) Residuary List
Q.4. Marriage and Divorce come under which list?
a) Union List
b) State List
c) Concurrent List
d) Residuary List
Answer: c) Concurrent List
FAQs on Union, State, Concurrent and Residuary List (Class 10)
Q1. What is Union List in Class 10 Social Science?
Union List contains subjects of national importance like defence, foreign affairs, currency, railways, and banking. Only the Parliament can make laws on these subjects.
Q2. What is the State List in Class 10 Civics?
The State List includes subjects of local importance like police, public order, agriculture, health, and trade within the state. Only State Legislatures can make laws on these.
Q3. What is Concurrent List in Class 10 Civics?
Concurrent List contains subjects like education, forests, marriage, divorce, electricity, and criminal law on which both Union and State Governments can legislate. In case of conflict, Union law prevails.
Q4. What is the Residuary List in Class 10 Social Science?
The Residuary List includes subjects not mentioned in Union, State, or Concurrent Lists such as IT, cyber laws, space technology, and nuclear energy. Only Parliament has the power to legislate on these.
Q5. Which subjects are most important for exams from these lists?
Important subjects to remember:
- Defence (Union List)
- Police (State List)
- Education (Concurrent List)
- IT and Cyber Laws (Residuary List)
These topics are frequently asked in CBSE Board exams as MCQs or short-answer questions.
Conclusion
Understanding the Union List, State List, Concurrent List, and Residuary List is essential for Class 10 Social Science Board Exams. Questions from these lists may appear as MCQs, Very Short Answers, or even 5-mark questions. Students must remember:
- Union List → National importance (Defence, Railways, Currency).
- State List → Local importance (Police, Agriculture, Health).
- Concurrent List → Shared subjects (Education, Forests, Marriage).
- Residuary List → New fields (IT, Space, Cyber Laws).
By practicing the PYQs and MCQs included here, students can confidently tackle such tricky questions in their CBSE exams.
NOTE - The given data may not be 100% Correct, but it provides a brief knowledge of various subjects. The number of subjects changes time to time.
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