Indian Polity — Schedules of the Indian Constitution

Figure 1: The Indian Constitution has 12 Schedules that provide detailed provisions and are frequently tested in UPSC examinations.

1. Schedules of the Indian Constitution

Schedule	Features of Schedules
First Schedule	It contains the names of States and Union Territories. Territorial Jurisdiction of states is also included.
Second Schedule	The provisions in relation to allowances, privileges, and emoluments of: President of India Governors of Indian States Speaker of Lok Sabha & Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha Chairman of Rajya Sabha & Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Legislative Assemblies of Indian States Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Legislative Councils of the Indian States Supreme Court Judges High Court Judges Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG)
Third Schedule	It contains the forms of oath or affirmation for: Parliament Election Candidates Members of Parliament (MPs) Union Ministers of India State Legislature Elections' Candidates State Legislature Members State Ministers Supreme Court Judges High Court Judges Comptroller and Auditor General
Fourth Schedule	It contains the provisions in relation to the allocation of seats for States and Union Territories in the Rajya Sabha.
Fifth Schedule	It contains provisions in relation to the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes.
Sixth Schedule	It contains provisions in relation to the administration of Tribal Areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
Seventh Schedule	This schedule deals with the three legislative lists: Union, State and Concurrent.
Eighth Schedule	It deals with the 22 official languages recognized by the Constitution of India: 1. Assamese12. Kannada 2. Bengali13. Marathi 3. Bodo14. Nepali 4. Dogri15. Odia 5. Gujarati16. Punjabi 6. Hindi17. Sanskrit 7. Kashmiri18. Santhali 8. Konkani19. Sindhi 9. Maithili20. Tamil 10. Malayalam21. Telugu 11. Manipuri22. Urdu
Ninth Schedule	It deals with the state acts and regulations that deal with land reforms and the abolition of the zamindari system. It also deals with the acts and regulations of the Parliament dealing with other matters. This schedule was added by the 1st Amendment (1951) to protect the laws included in it from judicial review on the grounds of violation of fundamental rights. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the laws included in this schedule after April 24, 1973, are open to judicial review.
Tenth Schedule	It contains provisions relating to the disqualification of the members of Parliament and State Legislatures on the grounds of defection. This schedule was added by the 52nd Amendment Act of 1985, also known as the Anti-Defection Law.
Eleventh Schedule	It contains the provisions that specify the powers, authority, and responsibilities of Panchayats. It has 29 matters.
Twelfth Schedule	It deals with the provisions that specify the powers, authority, and responsibilities of Municipalities. It has 18 matters.

KNOWLEDGE NUGGET

• Total Schedules: 12
• First Schedule: States and Union Territories with territorial jurisdiction
• Second Schedule: Emoluments and allowances of constitutional functionaries
• Third Schedule: Forms of oath/affirmation
• Fourth Schedule: Rajya Sabha seat allocation
• Fifth Schedule: Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes
• Sixth Schedule: Tribal Areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram
• Seventh Schedule: Union, State, Concurrent Lists
• Eighth Schedule: 22 Official Languages
• Ninth Schedule: Land reforms — added by 1st Amendment (1951)
• Tenth Schedule: Anti-Defection Law — added by 52nd Amendment (1985)
• Eleventh Schedule: Panchayats — 29 matters (73rd CAA, 1992)
• Twelfth Schedule: Municipalities — 18 matters (74th CAA, 1992)

📝 UPSC PREVIOUS YEAR FOCUS

• Ninth Schedule: Added by 1st Amendment, 1951 — Laws after 24 April 1973 open to judicial review (I.R. Coelho Case, 2007).
• Tenth Schedule: Added by 52nd Amendment, 1985 — Anti-Defection Law.
• Eleventh Schedule: Added by 73rd Amendment, 1992 — 29 matters for Panchayats.
• Twelfth Schedule: Added by 74th Amendment, 1992 — 18 matters for Municipalities.
• Eighth Schedule: 22 languages — Sindhi added by 21st CAA (1967); Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali by 71st CAA (1992); Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali by 92nd CAA (2003).
• Seventh Schedule: Union List (100 subjects), State List (61 subjects), Concurrent List (52 subjects).

2. Quick Reference: Schedules at a Glance

Schedule	Key Feature	Added By / Year
First	States and UTs with territorial jurisdiction	Original
Second	Emoluments of President, Governors, Judges, CAG etc.	Original
Third	Forms of oath/affirmation	Original
Fourth	Rajya Sabha seat allocation	Original
Fifth	Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes	Original
Sixth	Tribal Areas (Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram)	Original
Seventh	Union, State, Concurrent Lists	Original
Eighth	22 Official Languages	Original
Ninth	Land reforms — Judicial immunity (1st CAA, 1951)	1st Amendment, 1951
Tenth	Anti-Defection Law (52nd CAA, 1985)	52nd Amendment, 1985
Eleventh	Panchayats — 29 matters (73rd CAA, 1992)	73rd Amendment, 1992
Twelfth	Municipalities — 18 matters (74th CAA, 1992)	74th Amendment, 1992

Key Takeaways for UPSC

• Total Schedules: 12
• Ninth Schedule: Added by 1st Amendment, 1951 — Laws after 24 April 1973 open to judicial review (I.R. Coelho Case, 2007).
• Tenth Schedule: Added by 52nd Amendment, 1985 — Anti-Defection Law.
• Eleventh Schedule: Added by 73rd Amendment, 1992 — 29 matters for Panchayats.
• Twelfth Schedule: Added by 74th Amendment, 1992 — 18 matters for Municipalities.
• Eighth Schedule: 22 languages — Sindhi (21st CAA, 1967); Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali (71st CAA, 1992); Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali (92nd CAA, 2003).
• Seventh Schedule: Union List (100 subjects), State List (61 subjects), Concurrent List (52 subjects).
• Second Schedule: Emoluments of President, Governors, Judges, CAG etc.
• Sixth Schedule: Tribal Areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram.

High-Yield Interactive UPSC Quiz (Schedules of the Constitution)

Q1. Which Schedule contains the names of States and Union Territories?

Correct Answer: B. The First Schedule contains the names of States and Union Territories along with their territorial jurisdiction.

Q2. Which Schedule deals with the emoluments of the President, Governors, and Judges?

Correct Answer: B. The Second Schedule deals with the allowances, privileges, and emoluments of the President, Governors, Judges, CAG, and other constitutional functionaries.

Q3. The forms of oath or affirmation are contained in which Schedule?

Correct Answer: C. The Third Schedule contains the forms of oath or affirmation for MPs, Ministers, Judges, and other constitutional functionaries.

Q4. Which Schedule deals with the allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha?

Correct Answer: D. The Fourth Schedule contains provisions for the allocation of seats for States and Union Territories in the Rajya Sabha.

Q5. The Anti-Defection Law is contained in which Schedule?

Correct Answer: C. The Tenth Schedule contains the Anti-Defection Law, added by the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985.

Q6. The Ninth Schedule was added by which amendment?

Correct Answer: C. The Ninth Schedule was added by the 1st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1951, to protect land reform laws from judicial review.

Q7. Which Schedule deals with the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram?

Correct Answer: B. The Sixth Schedule deals with the administration of tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.

Q8. How many official languages are recognized in the Eighth Schedule?

Correct Answer: C. The Eighth Schedule recognizes 22 official languages. Sindhi was added by the 21st CAA (1967); Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali by the 71st CAA (1992); Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali by the 92nd CAA (2003).

Q9. The Eleventh Schedule deals with which of the following?

Correct Answer: B. The Eleventh Schedule specifies the powers, authority, and responsibilities of Panchayats with 29 matters, added by the 73rd CAA, 1992.

Q10. According to the Supreme Court, laws included in the Ninth Schedule after which date are open to judicial review?

Correct Answer: C. The Supreme Court ruled that laws included in the Ninth Schedule after April 24, 1973 (the date of the Kesavananda Bharati judgment), are open to judicial review (I.R. Coelho Case, 2007).