Overview The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has responded to a Rajya Sabha query regarding remission of prisoners. It confirmed that no case under Article 72 is pending with the Ministry, and reiterated that remission decisions lie with the respective states and Union Territories. Key Developments Latest prison data are compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and published for the year 2023 in “Prison Statistics India”. No pending remission case under Article 72 has been referred to MHA. Prison administration is a State List subject; therefore, states/UTs decide remission per their laws. MHA prepared the Model Prison Manual 2016 , which includes a dedicated chapter on remission and was shared with all states and UTs in May 2016. The Sentence Review Board of NCT Delhi has recommended remission in a case, but it is not pending with MHA. Important Facts • The NCRB’s annual “Prison Statistics India” report is the only centrally collated source of prison data; however, it does not maintain a separate database on remission cases. • The constitutional competence for prisons rests with states and Union Territories (Entry 4, List II, Seventh Schedule). • The Model Prison Manual 2016 provides uniform guidelines, but implementation is at the discretion of individual state governments. UPSC Relevance Understanding the division of powers between Centre and states is crucial for GS‑2 (Polity). The remission mechanism illustrates how constitutional provisions (Article 72) intersect with state‑level administration. Aspirants should note the role of the NCRB as a data‑source for crime‑related questions, and the significance of model guidelines like the Model Prison Manual in standardising prison reforms across the federation. Way Forward • States and UTs should align their remission policies with the recommendations of the Model Prison Manual 2016 to ensure uniformity. • The Centre could consider establishing a central remission register within the NCRB framework for better transparency. • Periodic review of the Model Prison Manual by the MHA, incorporating feedback from state prison authorities, would strengthen the prison reform agenda.