Question

How many subjects are there in the federal list?
A.105
B.97
C.90
D.87

Answer 1

Hint: Unlike the British Parliament, the Indian Parliament does not have unlimited power to legislate. The Seventh Schedule (Articles 245-246) of the Indian Constitution provides that the Parliament can make laws for the whole or any part of India within its area of competence as defined under the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and States. The constitutional provisions on the subject of the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and States contain three lists: Union or Federal List, State List and Concurrent List. The Parliament has exclusive right to legislate on those items mentioned in the Union or Federal List and the state legislatures have the exclusive right to legislate on items in the State List. Both the Parliament and state legislatures can legislate on items mentioned in the Concurrent List.

Complete Step by Step answer: Option A: 105 is incorrect.
Option B: 97 is correct since there are 97 numbered items on the Federal List that the Parliament can exclusively legislate upon. Some examples of these items are matters related to defence and armed forces of India, foreign affairs, diplomacy, war and peace, citizenship, railways, national highways, national waterways, maritime shipping, posts and telegraph, currency, banking, interstate trade and commerce, industries, economy, etc.
Option C: 90 is incorrect.
Option D: 87 is incorrect.

Note: The State List contains (originally) 66 numbered items including matters related to public order, police, public health and sanitation, hospitals, etc. The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 shifted five subjects from the State List to the Concurrent List which were: education, forests, protection of wild animals and birds, weights and measures and administration of justice.