HistoryModern India: Framing the Constitution

Identify the odd one out from the following features of the Draft Con…

Identify the odd one out from the following features of the Draft Constitution:

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 4

The correct answer is Option (4) → Subjects of the second list vested with the states

Option (1) Many more items placed under exclusive Union control than in other federations — Incorrect. This strengthened the Centre. Many more items were under exclusive Union control than in other federations.

Option (2) Union control of minerals and key industries — Incorrect. This also went to the Centre: the Union had control of minerals and key industries.

Option (3) More items placed on the Concurrent list than desired by the provinces — Incorrect. This too favoured the Centre, since the provinces wanted fewer shared items.

Option (4) Subjects of the second list vested with the states — Correct. This is the odd one. The second list gave subjects to the states.

NCERT (2026-27): “4. The Powers of the State …
The Draft Constitution provided for three lists of subjects: Union, State, and Concurrent. The subjects in the first list were to be the preserve of the Central Government, while those in the second list were vested with the states. As for the third list, here Centre and state shared responsibility. However, many more items were placed under exclusive Union control than in other federations, and more placed on the Concurrent list too than desired by the provinces. …”