Under the Constitution of India, economic planning for the country is included in which of the following lists of legislative subjects?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Concurrent List

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The Constitution of India divides legislative powers between the Union and the states through three lists: the Union List, the State List and the Concurrent List. Economic and social planning is an important subject for both levels of government. This question asks you to recall in which list economic planning has been placed.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The subject is economic planning.
  • We need to identify the correct constitutional list.
  • The options contain the Union List, State List, Concurrent List and broad alternatives.
  • We assume the standard reading of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.


Concept / Approach:
Entry 20 of the Concurrent List covers economic and social planning. Being in the Concurrent List means that both Parliament and state legislatures can make laws on the subject, although Union law prevails in case of conflict. The idea is that planning requires coordination between central and state governments, so neither level has exclusive control.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the three lists: Union List, State List and Concurrent List.Step 2: Identify that economic and social planning is specifically mentioned in the Concurrent List.Step 3: Understand that if it were in the Union List, only Parliament could legislate on it.Step 4: If it were in the State List, only state legislatures would have power, which is not the case for planning.Step 5: Therefore, conclude that economic planning lies in the Concurrent List.


Verification / Alternative Check:
Constitutional law textbooks and summaries of the Seventh Schedule mention that entry 20 in the Concurrent List is economic and social planning. This is often cited in exam preparation material explaining why planning commissions or related bodies require cooperation between both levels of government. This clear statement confirms that the correct answer is the Concurrent List.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
If economic planning were in the Union List, state governments would have no independent legislative role in this vital area, which is contrary to the actual constitutional design. The State List is reserved for matters where states should have primary control, such as police and public health, not for national economic planning as a whole. Options D and E are not precise and do not reflect the constitutional text, so they must be rejected.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes guess Union List because national plans and central institutions are very visible. Others guess State List due to the important role of states in implementing schemes. The safest way is to remember the exact entry number in the Concurrent List and the idea that planning is a shared responsibility, which is why it is placed there rather than exclusively with one level of government.


Final Answer:
Economic planning is included in the Concurrent List of the Constitution of India.

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