UPSC Prelims 2023 Q32: Indian Polity – Federalism & Centre - State Relations
- (a) Both Statement - I and Statement - II are correct and Statement - II is the correct explanation for Statement - I
- (b) Both Statement - I and Statement - II are correct and Statement - II is not the correct explanation for Statement - I
- (c) Statement - I is correct but Statement - II is incorrect
- (d) Statement - I is incorrect but Statement - II is correct
Answer: (a) Both Statement - I and Statement - II are correct and Statement - II is the correct explanation for Statement - I
Explanation
Prisons in India — a State subject
| Point | Fact |
|---|---|
| Constitution | 'Prisons' is Entry 4, List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule |
| Main law | Prisons Act, 1894 — a colonial law that put prisons under provincial governments |
| Day-to-day running | Each State has its own Jail Manual and rules |
| Model law | Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023 — a central guide for States |
| Centre's role | Advice, funds for modernisation, Model Prison Manual (2016) |
Statement I — correct. States manage prisons with their own rules.
Statement II — correct, and it explains I. The Prisons Act, 1894 kept prisons with the provinces, and the Constitution later put the subject in the State List. That is why States run prisons today.
Answer: (a) Both Statement - I and Statement - II are correct and Statement - II is the correct explanation for Statement - I.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. The Prisons Act, 1894 placed prisons with provincial governments, which is why States manage them today.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement II is the historical reason for State control, so it does explain Statement I.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement II is true; the 1894 Act still governs prisons and gave control to provinces.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement I is true; prisons are a State List subject.
Key point
Prisons = State List (Entry 4); governed by the Prisons Act, 1894; Model Prisons Act 2023 guides reforms.
Remember
Prisons are a State subject, governed by the Prisons Act, 1894.
Common mistakes
- Thinking prisons are a Union or Concurrent subject; they are in the State List.
- Forgetting the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023, which replaces the 1894 Act as a model for States.
- Choosing (b) without seeing the historical link between the Act and State control.
Exam tip
Police and Prisons are both State List subjects. Learn the pair together.
Sources
- Constitution of India — Seventh Schedule, List II, Entry 4
- Prisons Act, 1894
- Ministry of Home Affairs — Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023