The Schedules of the Constitution are lists that organise detailed information in a tabular form. The original Constitution had eight schedules. At present, there are twelve schedules. This topic is commonly asked in objective exams.
What Are Schedules
Schedules contain details that support the main articles. They cover subjects like salaries, languages, division of powers and lists of states. New schedules have been added by amendments over the years.
First to Sixth Schedule
- First Schedule – names of states and union territories.
- Second Schedule – salaries and allowances of officials like the President and judges.
- Third Schedule – forms of oaths and affirmations.
- Fourth Schedule – allocation of Rajya Sabha seats to states.
- Fifth Schedule – administration of scheduled areas and tribes.
- Sixth Schedule – tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
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Seventh to Twelfth Schedule
- Seventh Schedule – Union, State and Concurrent Lists.
- Eighth Schedule – official languages; currently 22 languages.
- Ninth Schedule – laws protected from judicial review (added by 1st Amendment).
- Tenth Schedule – Anti-Defection Law (added by 52nd Amendment).
- Eleventh Schedule – panchayat powers, 29 subjects (73rd Amendment).
- Twelfth Schedule – municipal powers, 18 subjects (74th Amendment).
Added Schedules
The 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th schedules were added later by amendments. The original eight grew to twelve as new needs arose in governance.
Quick Revision Points
- The Constitution now has 12 schedules (originally 8).
- Seventh Schedule has the three legislative lists.
- Eighth Schedule has 22 languages.
- Ninth Schedule protects laws from judicial review.
- Tenth Schedule is the Anti-Defection Law.
- Eleventh Schedule – 29 subjects; Twelfth Schedule – 18 subjects.
- Schedules 9, 10, 11 and 12 were added by amendments.