Adopted on January 26, 1950, the Indian Constitution is a comprehensive document that delineates the framework for governance within the country. The Constitution has many features, one of which is a series of Schedules of Indian Constitution that describe different facets of the legal and administrative framework of the nation. These schedules are essential for classifying and arranging the duties and authority of the federal and state governments.
Introduction to Schedules of the Indian Constitution
Important details regarding territories, the distribution of Rajya Sabha seats, the management, and sovereignty of scheduled areas and tribes, the division of powers between the central and state governments, and the benefits and privileges enjoyed by senior officials are all included in the schedules.
The constitution makes no mention of the schedules. Rather, they are kept up as independent records. It is important to acknowledge that the Indian Constitution’s Schedules are a part of the document even though they are not included in it. At the time of its adoption in November 1949, the Indian Constitution contained just eight schedules.
Later, the first Constitutional Amendment Act of 1951 added the ninth schedule. The tenth schedule of the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, which addresses the anti-defection law, was added in 1985. Following a span of seven years, in 1992, the 11th and 12th schedules were added to the Indian Constitution through two separate Constitutional Amendment Acts (73rd and 74th).
List Of 12 Schedules of Indian Constitution
Schedule | Subject Dealt | Articles Covered |
First Schedule |
| Article 1 Article 4 |
Second Schedule | It deals with the provisions relating to the emoluments, allowances and privileges of:
| Article 59 Article 65 Article 75 Article 97 Article 125 Article 148 Article 158 Article 164 Article 186 Article 221 |
Third Schedule |
| Article 75 Article 84 Article 99 Article 124 Article 146 Article 173 Article 188 Article 219 |
Fourth Schedule | It deals with provisions related to the allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha to the States and Union Territories | Article 4 Article 80 |
Fifth Schedule | It consists of the provisions related to the administration and control of scheduled areas and scheduled tribes in India | Article 244 |
Sixth Schedule | This schedule deals with the provisions related to the administration of tribal areas in the states of
| Article 244 Article 275 |
Seventh Schedule | It consists of three lists that divide the power between the Union and the States.
| Article 246 |
Eighth Schedule | It includes a list of the 22 Indian languages that the Indian Constitution recognizes.
| Article 344 Article 351 |
Ninth Schedule | This schedule outlines the laws and rules that the state legislatures passed about land reforms and the removal of the Zamindari System. This schedule also covers the acts and regulations of Parliament pertaining to other matters. | Article 31-B |
Tenth Schedule | It covers the parts of the anti-defection law that deal with the possibility of disqualification for defection among members of state legislatures and parliament. | Article 102 Article 91 |
Eleventh Schedule | This Schedule covers 29 topics about Panchayat authority, power, and responsibilities. | Article 243-G |
Twelfth Schedule | This Schedule describes eighteen issues about the authority, power, and responsibilities of municipalities. | Article 243-W |
FAQ of Schedules of Indian Constitution
Q1. What do a Constitution’s schedules mean?
Ans. Tables with extra information not covered in the articles are called schedules. There were originally eight schedules in our constitution.
Q2. Which act recognized municipalities under the Constitution?
Ans. Municipalities, or urban local bodies, were granted constitutional recognition by the 74th Amendment Act of 1992.
Q3. What is the number of different schedule types?
Ans. The terms “capacity schedule,” “resource schedule,” and “service schedule” refer to the three different schedule types.
Q4. What is the Constitution’s fourth schedule?
Ans. The provisions about the distribution of Rajya Sabha seats among the States and Union Territories are covered by the fourth schedule.