Schedules of Indian Constitution, List of 12 Schedules & Articles

Table of Contents☰

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.

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 towars Anti-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 constitutional 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): Moved five subjects form the State List to the Concurrent List – education, forests, weights and measures, protection of wild animals and birds, and administration of justice.
Fifty-second Amendment (1985): Added the Tenth Schedule, introducing provisions for the disqualification of MPs and MLAs under the anti-defection law.
Eighty-sixth Amendment (2002): Inserted a new entry in the Eleventh Schedule, making education a fundamental duty.
Ninety-first Amendment (2003): Inserted provision under Anti-Defection Law for the Disqualification from appointment to remunerative political post until re-elected.
Ninety-third Amendment (2006): Amended the Ninth Schedule to include certain laws for reservation in educational institutions.