Identify the correct option base on given statements:
Assertion (A): The Union Government alone can legislate on matters related to the deployment and jurisdiction of armed forces within Indian states.
Reason (R): The Constitution includes the deployment of Union forces in aid of civil power, regulation of cantonments, and control over arms and atomic energy in the Union List
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
A and R are correct, and R is the correct reason for A
Explanation
Assertion (A) is correct because under the Constitution of India, the exclusive power to legislate on matters related to the defense of the country, armed forces, and the deployment of any other armed forces of the Union within the states and their jurisdiction rests solely with the Parliament, which means the Central Government. State governments cannot make laws on this subject.
Reason (R) is also correct and it serves as the appropriate explanation for Assertion (A). The Union List of the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution includes crucial subjects related to defense and armed forces, such as the deployment of armed forces of the Union in any state in aid of civil power, regulation of cantonment areas, control over atomic energy, and arms.
Since all these subjects are explicitly placed in the Union List by the Constitution, only the Union Government is fully competent to legislate on them. This is why both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
Key Points
The Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution provides for three lists.
The deployment of armed forces and the regulation of cantonments come entirely under the Union List.
The exclusive right to make laws on the subjects of the Union List rests only with the Parliament of India.
Additional Facts
Under Article 246 of the Constitution, the Parliament has the exclusive power to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the Union List.
Deployment in aid of civil power means that when the law and order situation in a state goes beyond control, central armed forces can be deployed to assist the local administration.
Subjects related to atomic energy and arms are linked to the sovereignty and security of the country, which is why they have been kept solely under the Center.
Important Questions
Question: Which schedule of the Indian Constitution mentions the division of powers (lists) between the Center and the States?
Answer: Seventh Schedule.
Question: The deployment of Union forces in states in aid of civil power is a part of which list of the Seventh Schedule?
Answer: Union List.