Article 246 — Article 246 — Subject-Matter of Laws Made by Parliament and by Legislatures of States

(1) Notwithstanding anything in clauses (2) and (3), Parliament has exclusive power to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List I in the Seventh Schedule (Union List). (2) Notwithstanding anything in clause (3), Parliament, and, subject to clause (1), the Legislature of any State also, have power to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List III in the Seventh Schedule (Concurrent List). (3) Subject to clauses (1) and (2), the Legislature of any State has exclusive power to make laws for such State or any part thereof with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List II in the Seventh Schedule (State List).

Source: Constitution of India, as published by the Ministry of Law and Justice.

The three-list structure was drawn from the Government of India Act 1935, itself modelled on the Australian constitution's division of powers. The Constituent Assembly gave Parliament substantially more subjects than state legislatures, reflecting the framers' view that a new nation needed strong central coordination. Over time, the Centre has also used the Concurrent List and Article 249 to expand its legislative reach into state subjects.

• Article 245
• Article 248
• Article 249
• Article 253

Last reviewed: 3 July 2026