UPSC Prelims 2023·GS1·polity-and-governance·governance

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: In India, prisons are managed by State Governments with their own rules and regulations for the day-to-day administration of prisons. Statement-II: In India, prisons are governed by the Prisons Act, 1894 which expressly kept the subject of prisons in the control of Provincial Governments. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

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  1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-ICorrect
  2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
  3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
  4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Explanation

Let's analyze the statements: Statement-I: In India, prisons are managed by State Governments with their own rules and regulations for the day-to-day administration of prisons. This statement is correct. 'Prisons/Reformatories/Borstal Institutions and other institutions of a like nature, and persons detained therein; arrangements with other States for the use of prisons and other similar institutions' is Entry 4 under List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. This means states have primary legislative and administrative control over prisons. Statement-II: In India, prisons are governed by the Prisons Act, 1894 which expressly kept the subject of prisons in the control of Provincial Governments. This statement is also correct. The Prisons Act, 1894, is a central legislation that predates the Constitution. It laid down the framework for prison administration and placed the subject under the control of Provincial Governments, which after independence, became the State Governments. Relationship between statements: Statement-II provides the historical and legislative basis for Statement-I. The fact that the 1894 Act placed prisons under provincial control directly explains why, even today, they remain a state subject managed by State Governments. Thus, Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.
polity-and-governance: Consider the following statements: Statement-I: In India, prisons are managed by State Governments with their own rules

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