SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I · 21 September 2025, Shift 1 · General Awareness · Question 16 of 99

We transcribed this text from the pictures on a candidate's response sheet for this shift; the answer is the key SSC colour-marked on that sheet. Solution last reviewed 13 September 2026.

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Fill in the blanks: The Rajya Sabha’s special power under Art 249 allows it to authorise Parliament to legislate on a ______ List subject.

(a)State
(b)Union
(c)Concurrent
(d)Residuary

Answer

Why

Correct — A. Article 249 lets the Rajya Sabha declare, by resolution, that it is necessary or expedient in the national interest for Parliament to make laws on a matter in the State List.

The resolution needs at least two-thirds of the members present and voting. It stays in force for up to one year and can be renewed → option (a).

Why the others are wrong

(b)
Union — Union List subjects need no authorisation. Article 246 already gives Parliament exclusive power over them, so a Rajya Sabha resolution would add nothing.
(c)
Concurrent — Parliament can already legislate on the Concurrent List under Article 246, alongside the States. Article 249 exists for the list Parliament cannot normally touch.
(d)
Residuary — Residuary power is Parliament's outright under Article 248, for any matter not in the State or Concurrent List. No resolution is needed.

Concept

The Constitution divides law-making power across three lists in the Seventh Schedule: Union, State and Concurrent. The State List normally belongs to the States.

Article 249 is one exception. The Rajya Sabha is the Council of States, so the House that represents the States must agree before Parliament enters their list.

A law made this way lapses six months after the resolution stops being in force.

The two-thirds majority is of the members present and voting, not of the House's total strength.

Key facts

Article 249: a Rajya Sabha resolution backed by at least two-thirds of the members present and voting lets Parliament legislate on a State List matter in the national interest.
Such a resolution lasts up to one year and can be renewed a year at a time.
A law made under Article 249 ceases to have effect six months after the resolution lapses.
Article 312 gives the Rajya Sabha a similar two-thirds resolution for creating new All India Services.

Study next

Article 250: Parliament's power over the State List during a Proclamation of EmergencyArticle 252: legislation for two or more States at their requestArticle 312: the Rajya Sabha's resolution for new All India Services

Common traps

Counting the two-thirds against the House's total strength — Article 249 counts members present and voting.
Choosing Residuary — Parliament already holds that power under Article 248, with no resolution needed.

The same power is asked at 17 Sep 2025, 09:00, GA Q.15 (which Article, keyed Article 249) and at 24 Sep 2025, 12:30, GA Q.15, whose first statement tests the resolution's one-year life.

Another Rajya Sabha power, Article 312, is asked at 17 Sep 2025, 12:30, GA Q.22 and 15 Sep 2025, 09:00, GA Q.25.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

Topic: General Policy — all 308 SSC CGL questions on it, every solved shift.