Seventh Schedule
The Union List, State List and Concurrent List — dividing law-making subjects between Parliament and State legislatures. · Article 246
The constitutional basis for India's federal division of powers: three lists dividing which government — Union, State, or both — can legislate on which subjects.
The Union List (List I) covers subjects only Parliament can legislate on. The State List (List II) covers subjects only state legislatures can (ordinarily) legislate on. The Concurrent List (List III) covers subjects both can legislate on — where a genuine conflict exists, the Union law generally prevails (Article 254).
Illustrative Entries (Union List)
- Defence of India
- Foreign affairs
- Railways
- Currency and coinage
- Banking
- Income tax
- Customs and export duties
- Atomic energy
- Citizenship
- Elections to Parliament and state legislatures
Illustrative Entries (State List)
- Public order and police
- Local government
- Public health and sanitation
- Agriculture
- Land — rights, tenure, revenue
- State taxes on land and buildings
Illustrative Entries (Concurrent List)
- Criminal law and procedure
- Marriage and divorce
- Education
- Forests
- Protection of wildlife
- Economic and social planning
- Electricity
Scope note: The full Seventh Schedule runs to roughly 97 Union List entries, 61 State List entries (some now repealed/renumbered), and 52 Concurrent List entries — far more than can be responsibly reproduced from general knowledge without transcription risk. What's shown above is a representative, high-confidence sample of well-known entries in each list, not the complete Schedule — always check legislative.gov.in for the full text.
This is the answer to "which government is actually responsible for this?" — whether it's roads, healthcare, or criminal law, the Seventh Schedule is where that division of responsibility is legally fixed.
How courts have applied this
Adhikar is an independent citizen-awareness platform, not a Government of India website. This is a plain-English explanation for general information, not legal advice — always check the bare Constitution text (legislative.gov.in) or a qualified advocate before relying on this for an actual legal situation.