Fill in the blanks: Under Article 249, the Rajya Sabha can empower Parliament to legislate on subjects in the ______ List.

Explanation

The correct answer is (A) State Explanation: • Article 249 of the Indian Constitution is a special power of the Rajya Sabha. It allows the Rajya Sabha to pass a resolution, supported by not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting, declaring that it is necessary or expedient in the national interest that Parliament should make laws with respect to any matter enumerated in the State List. • This provision highlights the federal nature of the Indian Constitution with a strong unitary bias, as it allows the Central Parliament to encroach upon the state's legislative domain under specific circumstances. • Such a resolution remains in force for a period not exceeding one year, but it can be renewed any number of times for a further period of one year. Information Booster: • Article 250: Gives Parliament power to legislate with respect to any matter in the State List if a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation. • Article 252: Parliament can legislate for two or more states by their consent. • Article 253: Parliament can make laws for the whole or any part of India for implementing any treaty, agreement, or convention with any other country. Additional Knowledge: • Union List (Option B): Parliament already has exclusive power to legislate on matters in the Union List (Article 246). • Concurrent List (Option C): Both Parliament and State Legislatures can legislate on the Concurrent List, so no special Rajya Sabha resolution is needed for Parliament to act here. • Residuary (Option D): Under Article 248, the power to legislate on residuary subjects (matters not mentioned in any of the three lists) is already vested exclusively in Parliament.