Question

Subjects that were placed on the Union List were _________, _________ and _________.

Answer 1

Answer: The correct answers are foreign affairs, defence and taxes.

• Subjects mentioned in the Union List would be the sole responsibility of the Central Government.
• Many days were spent by the Constituent Assembly discussing the division of powers between the State Governments and the Central Government.
• Some of the members were of the opinion that more powers should be given to the Centre. They argued that only a centre with sufficient power will be able to think and plan about the development and well-being of the entire nation.
• Other members of the Constituent Assembly were of the opinion that only provinces should be given greater freedom and autonomy.
• A member from Madras wanted the initial responsibility to rest with the government at the provincial level.
• A member from Mysore feared that democracy would be centred in Delhi and the situation would not be the same in the rest of the country.
• Hence the Constituent Assembly came up with the Union List, Concurrent List and State List.
• The Centre and the states would have joint responsibility for the subjects which come under the Concurrent List. Examples are forests and agriculture.