The Schedules of the Constitution
The Schedules are the Constitution's lists and tables: territories, salaries, oaths, seats, lists of subjects, protected laws and more.
What the paper can ask
- When the Constitution came into force in 1950 it had 395 Articles, 22 Parts and some Schedules, fewer than it has now; it is among the longest written national constitutions in the world.
- The Second Schedule deals with the salaries and allowances of the President, Governors, presiding officers of legislatures, judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, and the CAG.
- The Eleventh and Twelfth Schedules are a pair: one lists subjects for rural local bodies, the other for urban ones, each tied to its own Part of the Constitution.
Latest
Twelve Schedules today; the last two came with the 73rd and 74th Amendments on panchayats and municipalities, in force in 1993.
Why exams ask
Setters ask the total count, which Schedule holds the languages, the lists, the anti-defection law, Rajya Sabha seats or panchayat subjects, and which amendment added a Schedule.
The full story
A Schedule is a list or table attached to the Constitution so that detail stays out of the Articles. Some are administrative tables (pay, oaths, seat shares); others hold rules: the three lists of law-making subjects, the recognised languages, laws shielded from court challenge, anti-defection and local-body subjects.
Test yourself
1.How many Schedules does the Constitution of India contain at present?
Correct. The Constitution now has twelve Schedules; the original 1950 text had eight. The Ninth (1951), Tenth (1985), Eleventh and Twelfth (1992) were added later.
Not quite. The Constitution now has twelve Schedules; the original 1950 text had eight. The Ninth (1951), Tenth (1985), Eleventh and Twelfth (1992) were added later. It goes into your error book.
2.The anti-defection law is contained in which Schedule of the Constitution?
Correct. The Tenth Schedule, inserted by the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985, provides for disqualification of members on the ground of defection.
Not quite. The Tenth Schedule, inserted by the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985, provides for disqualification of members on the ground of defection. It goes into your error book.
3.How many languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution at present?
Correct. The Eighth Schedule has 22 languages; the last four (Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali) were added by the 92nd Amendment Act, 2003.
Not quite. The Eighth Schedule has 22 languages; the last four (Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali) were added by the 92nd Amendment Act, 2003. It goes into your error book.