Which among the following subject matters is included in Residuary Power, on which Union Government alone has the power to make laws?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Cyber Laws
The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution divides law-making subjects into the Union List, the State List and the Concurrent List. A subject that is in none of the three lists is a residuary subject, and under Article 248 (with entry 97 of the Union List) only Parliament can make laws on it.
Cyber laws deal with computers and the internet, which the makers of the lists could not foresee. The subject is in none of the lists, so it falls under the residuary power; the Information Technology Act, 2000 was passed by Parliament.
The other three subjects are listed:
Agriculture — State List
Forest — Concurrent List (moved from the State List by the 42nd Amendment, 1976)
Prison — State List