Explanation: In the Indian Constitution, the legislative powers are divided into three lists: the Union List, the State List, and the Concurrent List. These lists are part of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution and are designed to delineate the areas of legislative competence for the central and state governments.
The Union List, also known as List I, contains 99 subjects on which only the central government can make laws. These subjects are of national importance and include defense, foreign affairs, currency, and communications.
The State List, also known as List II, contains 61 subjects on which only the state governments can make laws. These subjects are of local or regional importance and include public health, agriculture, and local government.
The Concurrent List, also known as List III, contains 52 subjects on which both the central and state governments can make laws. These subjects are of mutual interest and include criminal law, marriage and divorce, and education.
The correct answer is that a state can make laws on subjects listed in both the State List and the Concurrent List. This means that the state has exclusive legislative power over the subjects in the State List and shared legislative power over the subjects in the Concurrent List. The central government also has the power to make laws on the subjects in the Concurrent List, but in case of a conflict between a central law and a state law on a Concurrent List subject, the central law will prevail.
Understanding the division of legislative powers is crucial for comprehending the federal structure of India and the distribution of authority between the central and state governments. This knowledge is essential for students preparing for competitive examinations such as the UPSC Civil Services and state PSC exams, as well as for those studying constitutional law and governance.