UPSC CSE Prelims
Administrative Relations Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

Prisons are a State subject under List-II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, giving State Governments the power to manage prisons with their own rules and regulations. The Prisons Act, 1894, which governs prisons in India, expressly vested the control of prisons in Provincial Governments (now State Governments), thus explaining why states have this administrative authority.

✅ Statement-I – Correct: Prisons are managed by State Governments as it is a State subject under Entry 4 of List-II of the Seventh Schedule, allowing states to frame their own rules and regulations for prison administration.

✅ Statement-II – Correct: The Prisons Act, 1894, the primary legislation governing prisons in India, expressly placed prisons under the control of Provincial Governments (now State Governments), and Statement-II correctly explains the constitutional basis for Statement-I.

📝 Short Notes: Prison Administration in India

• Legislative Framework: The Prisons Act, 1894 is the oldest and primary central legislation governing prisons in India, though it is implemented by states.
• Constitutional Position: 'Prisons' falls under Entry 4 of List-II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule, making it exclusively a state subject.
• State Authority: Each state has its own Prison Manual and Rules framed under the Prisons Act, 1894, leading to variations in prison administration across states.
• Central Role: The Union Government provides guidance through the Model Prison Manual (2016) and Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), but has no direct administrative control.
• Judicial Oversight: Supreme Court guidelines (e.g., in cases like Sunil Batra v. Delhi Administration) have significantly reformed prison conditions and prisoner rights.
• Recent Developments: The Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023 has been proposed to replace the colonial-era Prisons Act, 1894, with a focus on rehabilitation and reformation.