- UNION LIST:
List I or the Union List includes 99 items including residuary powers. Most of them are related to matters which are exclusively within the jurisdiction of the Union. These are subjects of National importance requiring uniform legislation for the country as a whole. Some important examples are defence, armed forces, arms and ammunition, atomic energy, foreign affairs, coinage, banking and insurance.
Certain items in the Union List are of such a nature that they enable Parliament to assume a role in certain spheres in regard to subjects which are normally intended to be within the jurisdiction of the States.
- STATE LIST:
List II or the State List, comprises 61 items or entries over which the State Legislature has exclusive power of legislation. The subject of local importance, where variations in law in response to local situations may be necessary, has been included in the State List. Some subjects of vital importance in the list are State taxes and duties, police, administration of justice, local self-government, public health, agriculture, forests, fisheries, industries and minerals.
- CONCURRENT LIST:
The Concurrent List consists of 52 items, such as criminal law and procedure, civil procedure, marriage, contracts, port trusts, welfare of labour, economic and social planning. These are items where both state and central Government can make laws. In certain matters in which Parliament may not find it necessary or expedient to make laws, a Sate can take the initiative, and if other States follow and the matter assumes national importance, Parliament can intervene and bring about a uniform piece of legislation to cover the entire Union Territory.