Schedules of Indian Constitution, List of 12 Schedules & Articles

02-01-2025

04:28 AM

GS II

Sub-Categories:

Polity Notes for UPSC

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Table of Contents

Schedules of Indian Constitution Overview
Purpose of Schedules in the Indian Constitution
List of 12 Schedules Subject Related Articles
Key Amendments Impacting Schedules

Prelims: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc

Mains: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure

The Schedules of the Indian Constitution are lists that organize and categorize administrative and legislative details. Initially, the Constitution had 8 Schedules, but over time, their number increased to 12 through amendments. They cover diverse topics like land reforms, allocation of powers, official languages, and emoluments of officials.

Schedules ensure organized implementation of constitutional provisions, aiding governance, division of powers, and responsibilities across various entities.

Schedules of Indian Constitution Overview

The Indian Constitution was ratified on January 26, 1950. The Indian Constitution originally contained 8 schedules, which have now expanded to 12 through amendments. Each schedule elaborates on specific governance, administrative, or legislative aspects, ranging from territorial organization to local governance and official languages.

Purpose of Schedules in the Indian Constitution

Schedules in the Indian Constitution are essential components that simplify and enhance the document's functionality. Initially, the Constitution included eight schedules, which have expanded to twelve through subsequent amendments. These schedules serve several critical purposes:

Simplifying Legal Complexity: Schedules streamline the Constitution by presenting information in a structured and easily understandable format, reducing the overall complexity.
Providing Clarity and Reference: They act as a reference point, offering additional details or clarifications for specific constitutional provisions, ensuring better comprehension and implementation.
Facilitating Amendments: The inclusion of schedules allows for targeted updates or revisions to specific sections, eliminating the need to rewrite entire articles, thereby ensuring adaptability without compromising the Constitution's integrity.

List of 12 Schedules, Subject, Related Articles

The Indian Constitution includes various schedules that organize detailed provisions on various aspects of governance. The following table provides an overview of the schedules, their subject matter, and their related articles:

SCHEDULE	SUBJECT MATTERS	RELATED ARTICLES
First Schedule	It lists the states and union territories and their corresponding territories.	Articles 1 and 4
Second Schedule	It outlines emoluments, allowances, and privileges for: The President of India State Governors Lok Sabha Speaker and Deputy Speaker Rajya Sabha Chairman and Deputy Chairman Legislative Assembly Speaker and Deputy Speaker (States) Legislative Council Chairman and Deputy Chairman (States) Supreme Court Judges High Court Judges Comptroller and Auditor General of India	Articles 59(3), 65(3), 75(6), 97, 125, 148(3), 158(3), 164 (5), 186 and 221
Third Schedule	It outlines oaths and affirmations for: Union and state ministers Candidates for Parliament and state legislature elections Members of Parliament and state legislatures Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts Comptroller and Auditor General of India	Articles 75(4), 99, 124(6), 148(2), 164(3), 188 and 219
Fourth Schedule	Details the distribution of seats among states and union territories in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) based on population.	Articles 4(1) and 80(2)
Fifth Schedule	It deals with the control and administration of scheduled areas and scheduled tribes in various states.	Article 244(1)
Sixth Schedule	It primarily deals with the administration of tribal areas in the northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.	Articles 244(2) and 275(1)
Seventh Schedule	It includes three lists to help determine legislative authority over different subject matters. Union List: National subjects like defence and foreign affairs for central government legislation. (100 subjects, originally 97) State List: State and local topics like police and public health for state government legislation. (61 subjects, originally 66) Concurrent List: Shared subjects like education and marriage for both federal and state legislation. (52 subjects, originally 47)	Article 246
Eighth Schedule	It contains thelist of recognized languages in India. Namely: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu.	Articles 344(1) and 351
Ninth Schedule	Contains laws exempted from judicial scrutiny, primarily aimed at land reforms and socio-economic justice.	Article 31B
Tenth Schedule	Establishes provisions to curb political defection, ensuring party discipline and stability in legislatures. It was added by the Constitution (Fifty-second Amendment) Act of 1985 to combat the evil of political defections.	Articles 102(2) and 191(2)
Eleventh Schedule	Introduced by the 73rd Amendment, it defines the functions, powers, and responsibilities of Panchayati Raj institutions. It contains 29 functional items of the panchayats, some of which are Agriculture, Land improvement, implementation of land reforms, land consolidation, soil conservation, etc.	Article 243G
Twelfth Schedule	Added by the 74th Amendment, it enumerates 18 functions of municipalities, focusing on urban planning, infrastructure, and governance. It contains 18 functional items of the municipalities that are Urban planning, including town planning, Regulation of land use and construction of buildings, etc.	Article 243W

Key Amendments Impacting Schedules

Over time, several amendments have modified the Schedules of the Indian Constitution to address the dynamic needs of the nation. Below are key amendments that have significantly impacted the Schedules:

First Amendment (1951): Modified the Ninth Schedule to protect land reform and other laws from judicial review.
Seventh Amendment (1956): Reorganized states and altered the First and Fourth Schedules concerning territorial divisions and representation in Parliament.
Forty-second Amendment (1976): Added the Tenth Schedule, introducing provisions for the disqualification of MPs and MLAs under the anti-defection law.
Fifty-second Amendment (1985): Strengthened the Tenth Schedule by formalizing the anti-defection law.
Eighty-sixth Amendment (2002): Inserted a new entry in the Eleventh Schedule, making education a fundamental duty.
Ninety-third Amendment (2006): Amended the Ninth Schedule to include certain laws for reservation in educational institutions.

Schedules of the Indian Constitution UPSC PYQs

Question 1: If a particular area is brought under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which one of the following statements best reflects the consequence of it? (UPSC Prelims 2022)

This would prevent the transfer of land of tribal people to non-tribal people.
This would create a local self-governing body in that area.
This would convert that area into a Union Territory.
The State having such areas would be declared a Special Category State.

Answer: (a)

Question 2: The Ninth Schedule was introduced in the Constitution of India during the prime ministership of (UPSC Prelims 2019)

Jawaharlal Nehru
Lal Bahadur Shastri
Indira Gandhi
Morarji Desai

Answer: (a)

Question 3: Consider the following statements: (UPSC Prelims 2018)

The Parliament of India can place a particular law in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
The validity of a law placed in the Ninth Schedule cannot be examined by any court and no judgement can be made on it.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (a)

Question 4: The provisions in the Fifth Schedule and Sixth Schedule in the Constitution of India are made in order to (UPSC Prelims 2015)

protect the interests of Scheduled Tribes
determine the boundaries between states
determine the powers, authorities, and responsibilities of Panchayats
protect the interests of all the border States

Answer: (a)

Schedules of the Indian Constitution FAQs

Q.1 What are the 12 schedules of the Constitution of India?
Ans. The 12 schedules define administrative, legislative, and operational frameworks, covering land reforms, Panchayati Raj, anti-defection, and governance.

Q.2 What is a schedule in the Constitution?
Ans. A schedule organises detailed lists or provisions related to specific constitutional aspects like governance, privileges, and responsibilities.

Q.3 What are 448 articles in 25 parts and 12 schedules?
Ans. The Indian Constitution consists of 448 articles, 25 parts, and 12 schedules detailing governance principles, rights, duties, and administrative frameworks.

Q.4 How many parts and schedules are in the Indian Constitution?
Ans. The Constitution has 25 parts and 12 schedules, covering various subjects like federal relations, administration, and legal rights.

Q.5 How many items are there in the 12th schedule?
Ans. The 12th schedule contains 18 items, primarily focusing on municipal governance and urban planning.