GK Question

polity hard fill_blank

Under Article 253, Parliament can legislate on any matter in the State List for implementing international agreements, treaties, or decisions of international conferences, enabling Union to fulfill international obligations even on State subjects.

  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Article 253 international agreements and State List: (a) Constitutional provision: Parliament has power to make laws for implementing international agreements, treaties, decisions of international conferences, even on State List subjects, (b) Rationale: (i) International obligations: Ensure India can fulfill treaty commitments uniformly across States, (ii) National interest: Enable coordinated response to global challenges (climate, trade, security), (iii) Federal flexibility: Balances State autonomy with Union's role in foreign affairs, (c) Applications: (i) Environmental laws: Wildlife Protection Act, Forest Conservation Act amendments to implement international conventions, (ii) Trade agreements: Legislation to implement WTO, FTAs affecting State subjects like agriculture, industry, (iii) Human rights: Laws implementing UN conventions on women, children, disabled rights, (d) Limits: (i) Implementation: States still responsible for enforcement; Union legislation sets framework, States implement, (ii) Federal balance: Article 253 enables Union legislation but doesn't abolish State role in implementation, (iii) Judicial review: Courts examine whether legislation genuinely implements international obligations, not pretext for Union overreach, (e) Illustrates adaptive federalism: Enables India to meet international commitments while respecting federal structure; Union sets framework, States implement, ensuring national compliance with global obligations.

Topic Article 253 International Agreements and State List Legislation
Exam Relevance Article 253 international agreements critical for UPSC Mains and advanced SSC exams