The Constitution divides state power through five schedules. Instead of learning five long lists, learn the pattern first and a few anchor examples from each list. That is enough for nearly every objective question.
The pattern
| Schedule | Whose power | Number of items | Anchor examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Federation only | 35 | Defence and army, foreign affairs, central bank and currency, citizenship and passport, federal police, telecom, customs, Supreme Court |
| 6 | Province only | 21 | Province police, province civil service, radio/FM and TV, province statistics, land registration fee, university and libraries in the province, province highways |
| 7 | Federation + province (concurrent) | 25 | Criminal and civil procedure, supply of essential goods, family planning and population, social security and employment, media |
| 8 | Local level only | 22 | Town police, basic and secondary education, basic health, local roads, local taxes, ward services |
| 9 | Federation + province + local (concurrent) | 15 | Cooperatives, education, health, agriculture, services, forests and water use, disaster management, royalty from natural resources |
Memory tip: Read the numbers as “35-21-25-22-15”. The federal list is the longest; the shared-by-all list is the shortest.
Residual power
Anything not in any schedule, and not given to any level elsewhere in the Constitution, belongs to the federation (Article 58). This is called residual power.
When laws clash
- On Schedule 7 subjects, a province law that clashes with federal law is void to the extent of the clash.
- On Schedule 9 subjects, local and province laws must follow federal law, and local laws must follow province law.
Common mistakes
- Thinking residual powers go to provinces (as in some other federations). In Nepal they go to the federation.
- Mixing Schedule 7 (two levels) with Schedule 9 (all three levels).
Practice questions
Residual powers in Nepal belong to:
- a) Provinces
- b) Local levels
- c) Federation
- d) Shared by all
Show answer
Answer: c. Article 58.
Schedule 7 lists powers shared by:
- a) federation and local levels
- b) federation and provinces
- c) all three levels
- d) provinces and local levels
Show answer
Answer: b. Federation and provinces.
How many items are in Schedule 9?
- a) 15
- b) 21
- c) 22
- d) 25
Show answer
Answer: a. 15 subjects shared by all three levels.
Province police is listed in:
- a) Schedule 5
- b) Schedule 6
- c) Schedule 7
- d) Schedule 8
Show answer
Answer: b. Schedule 6.