Schedules of the Indian Constitution: Complete Guide, Key Provisions & Importance

The Indian Constitution, adopted on 26th January 1950, is one of the lengthiest and most comprehensive constitutions in the world. It provides a framework for governance, rights, duties, and institutions of the country. Among its structural components, the Schedules of the Indian Constitution play a crucial role.

The Constitution originally contained eight schedules, but today it includes twelve schedules after several constitutional amendments. These schedules organize and simplify the constitutional provisions by categorizing information like division of powers, salaries of officials, recognition of languages, and even anti-defection rules.

 

Schedules of the Indian Constitution

1️⃣ What Are the Schedules of the Indian Constitution?

Schedules in the Constitution act as annexures or supplements that provide detailed lists, rules, or tables that the main text of the Constitution refers to.

• ✅ Originally: 8 Schedules
• ✅ Current: 12 Schedules (after amendments like the 1st, 4th, 42nd, and 52nd)

They make the Constitution systematic, organized, and easy to reference.

 

2️⃣ List of the 12 Schedules of the Indian Constitution

Here is an overview of all 12 schedules:

Schedule	Subject Matter
1st Schedule	Names of States & Union Territories; their territories
2nd Schedule	Salaries, allowances, and privileges of high officials
3rd Schedule	Forms of oaths and affirmations
4th Schedule	Allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
5th Schedule	Administration & control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes
6th Schedule	Administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura & Mizoram
7th Schedule	Division of powers – Union List, State List, Concurrent List
8th Schedule	Official languages recognized by the Constitution
9th Schedule	Laws immune from judicial review (related to land reforms)
10th Schedule	Anti-defection provisions for MPs & MLAs
11th Schedule	Powers, authority, and responsibilities of Panchayats
12th Schedule	Powers, authority, and responsibilities of Municipalities

 

3️⃣ Detailed Explanation of Each Schedule

📜 1st Schedule – Names of States and Union Territories

• Lists all States and Union Territories (UTs) of India and their territorial boundaries.
• Originally: 29 states & UTs
• Today: 28 states & 8 UTs (after reorganization like creation of Telangana in 2014, and bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir in 2019).
• Vital for federal structure and governance.

 

📜 2nd Schedule – Salaries & Allowances

Covers salaries, privileges, allowances, and pensions of:
✅ President & Governors
✅ Judges of Supreme Court & High Courts
✅ Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Chairman & Deputy Chairman of Parliament
✅ Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG)

• Divided into five parts (A to E).
• Ensures transparency and fairness in compensating constitutional functionaries.

 

📜 3rd Schedule – Oaths & Affirmations

• Contains forms of oaths for:
  ✅ Union & State Ministers
  ✅ MPs & MLAs
  ✅ Judges of SC & HCs
  ✅ CAG
• Oaths ensure loyalty to the Constitution and allegiance to uphold sovereignty.

 

📜 4th Schedule – Allocation of Rajya Sabha Seats

• Specifies number of seats each State/UT has in the Rajya Sabha.
• Based on population, ensuring proportional representation.
• Example: Uttar Pradesh has the highest seats; smaller UTs like Andaman & Nicobar may have none.

 

📜 5th Schedule – Scheduled Areas & Tribes

• Deals with the administration & governance of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes (except NE States).
• Provides for Tribal Advisory Councils (TAC) in each state with such areas.
• Governor plays a key role in overseeing these areas.

 

📜 6th Schedule – Tribal Areas of NE States

• Covers Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
• Creates Autonomous District Councils to safeguard culture, customs, and self-governance of tribal communities.

 

📜 7th Schedule – Division of Powers

• One of the most important schedules as it defines the distribution of powers between Union & States.
• Contains 3 lists:
• ✅ Union List – Subjects on which only Parliament can legislate (e.g., defense, foreign affairs).
• ✅ State List – Subjects on which State Legislatures can legislate (e.g., police, health).
• ✅ Concurrent List – Subjects on which both Parliament & States can legislate (e.g., education, forests).

 

📜 8th Schedule – Official Languages

• Lists 22 recognized languages of India.
• Originally had 14 languages; later additions include Konkani, Manipuri, Bodo, Santhali, Dogri, etc.
• Promotes linguistic diversity while ensuring national unity.

 

📜 9th Schedule – Laws Beyond Judicial Review

• Added by 1st Constitutional Amendment (1951).
• Contains laws related to land reforms, abolition of zamindari system, etc.
• Initially protected from judicial review, but Supreme Court in I.R. Coelho case (2007) held that laws violating Basic Structure Doctrine can be reviewed.

 

📜 10th Schedule – Anti-Defection Law

• Added by 52nd Amendment (1985).
• Deals with disqualification of MPs/MLAs if they defect from their political party.
• Strengthens political stability and discourages opportunistic switching.

 

📜 11th Schedule – Panchayati Raj

• Added by 73rd Amendment (1992).
• Lists 29 subjects (like rural housing, sanitation, roads, irrigation) to empower Panchayats.
• Promotes grassroots democracy.

 

📜 12th Schedule – Municipalities

• Added by 74th Amendment (1992).
• Lists 18 subjects (urban planning, waste management, public health, etc.) for Municipalities.
• Enhances urban local governance.

 

4️⃣ Evolution of the Schedules

• 1950: 8 Schedules in original Constitution.
• Today: 12 Schedules, thanks to multiple amendments (1st, 4th, 42nd, 52nd, 73rd, and 74th).
• Why amendments? – To adapt to social, political, and economic changes in India.

 

5️⃣ Importance of Schedules in the Constitution

✔ Simplifies the Constitution by putting details in annexures.
✔ Ensures easy amendments without disturbing main articles.
✔ Provides a framework for governance from the Union to the village level.
✔ Protects tribal, linguistic, and cultural rights.

 

6️⃣ Key Facts for Students & Exams

• Longest Schedule? – 7th Schedule (Union, State & Concurrent Lists).
• Smallest Schedule? – 3rd Schedule (Oaths & affirmations).
• Recent addition? – 12th Schedule (1992).

 

Conclusion

The Schedules of the Indian Constitution are not just legal annexures—they are the backbone of constitutional detail and functionality. From defining powers to preserving cultural rights, from salaries of officials to ensuring grassroots democracy, these 12 schedules ensure India’s governance remains dynamic, inclusive, and comprehensive.

 

✅ Top 10 FAQs

1. How many schedules are there in the Indian Constitution?

There are 12 schedules in the Indian Constitution. Originally there were 8 schedules, but constitutional amendments added four more over time.

2. What is the First Schedule of the Constitution?

The First Schedule lists the names and territorial details of all States and Union Territories in India.

3. Which schedule deals with the salaries of top officials?

The Second Schedule specifies salaries, allowances, and pensions of the President, Governors, Judges, Speaker, CAG, etc.

4. What is the 7th Schedule known for?

The 7th Schedule divides powers between the Union and States through the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List.

5. How many languages are listed in the 8th Schedule?

The 8th Schedule recognizes 22 official languages of India, including Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Urdu, and others.

6. Which schedule introduced the Anti-Defection Law?

The 10th Schedule, added by the 52nd Amendment (1985), contains the Anti-Defection Law.

7. What is the difference between the 5th and 6th Schedules?

The 5th Schedule deals with Scheduled Areas and Tribes across most of India, while the 6th Schedule is specific to tribal areas in Northeast states like Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.

8. Which schedules were added by the 73rd and 74th Amendments?

The 11th Schedule (Panchayats) and 12th Schedule (Municipalities) were added in 1992 to strengthen local governance.

9. What is the significance of the 9th Schedule?

The 9th Schedule protects certain laws (mainly land reform laws) from judicial review. However, the Supreme Court can still review them if they violate the Basic Structure Doctrine.

10. Why are schedules important in the Constitution?

Schedules organize detailed provisions like lists, salaries, and laws. They make the Constitution easier to read, amend, and implement.