Subject-matter of laws made by Parliament and by the Legislatures of States
included in editionWhat does this mean?
The Union, State and Concurrent Lists distribute legislative subjects between Parliament and State legislatures. The priority rules here and special provisions elsewhere determine the result where fields overlap.
Who can make laws and how Union and State executive responsibilities interact.
For a proposed law, first identify its subject in the legislative lists, then check special constitutional rules.
Why is this provision here?
A federation needs a legal division of lawmaking subjects and rules for overlap rather than unrestricted competing legislative claims.
This Article number belongs to the original constitutional framework, but its present wording may include later amendments or substitutions. A provision-specific original Assembly debate has not been verified here. The explanation of function above is editorial inference from the text, not an attributed single motive of the framers. The original draft-making archive is a research resource, not proof of a particular historical reason.
The explanation of purpose is an editorial reading of the provision. A drafting motive is attributed only where a linked historical source supports it.
Limits, exceptions & reading carefully
Educational summary of the linked source text. Exceptions, provisos, implementing laws and applicable judgments must be read before applying it to a real case.
Read the official constitutional text
Source-page notes · may concern neighbouring Articles
1. The words and letters "specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule" omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1-11-1956). 2. Subs. by s. 29 and Sch., ibid., for "in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule" (w.e.f. 1-11-1956). 3. Ins. by the Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016, s. 2 (w.e.f. 16-9-2016).
Extracted from the Legislative Department’s May 2026 edition. Page footnotes may refer to neighbouring provisions; check their markers in the PDF. Inclusion in this edition does not by itself establish commencement or judicial effect.