Schedules of the Indian Constitution, All 12 Schedules Explained

The Schedules of the Indian Constitution contain detailed lists, tables and supplementary provisions that help explain and implement different parts of the Constitution. They cover matters such as states and Union Territories, salaries of constitutional authorities, languages, administration of tribal areas, distribution of legislative powers and anti-defection rules.

The Constitution originally contained 8 Schedules when it came into force on 26 January 1950. Four additional Schedules were introduced through constitutional amendments, taking the total to 12 Schedules.

List of all 12 Schedules of the Indian Constitution

The following table summarises each Schedule, its main subject and the relevant constitutional Articles.

First Schedule — States and Union Territories

The First Schedule lists the States and Union Territories of India and specifies their territorial extent. It is linked to Articles 1 and 4, which deal with the Union of States and the formation or alteration of States.

‹ ›

Second Schedule — Salaries and Allowances

The Second Schedule contains provisions concerning the emoluments, allowances and related conditions of specified constitutional authorities, including the President, Governors, presiding officers of legislatures, judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

Third Schedule — Oaths and Affirmations

The Third Schedule prescribes the forms of oaths and affirmations for specified constitutional office-holders and elected representatives. These include Union and State Ministers, Members of Parliament, members of State Legislatures, and judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.

Fourth Schedule — Rajya Sabha Seats

The Fourth Schedule provides for the allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha, the Council of States, among the States and eligible Union Territories.

Fifth Schedule — Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes

The Fifth Schedule deals with the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in States other than the tribal areas covered by the Sixth Schedule. It provides for mechanisms such as Tribes Advisory Councils and special responsibilities for Governors.

Sixth Schedule — Tribal Areas in Four Northeastern States

The Sixth Schedule provides special arrangements for the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. It provides for Autonomous District Councils and, where applicable, Regional Councils, with specified legislative, judicial and administrative powers.

Seventh Schedule — Distribution of Legislative Powers

The Seventh Schedule divides legislative subjects between the Union and the States through three lists.

• Union List: Subjects on which Parliament generally has exclusive legislative power, such as defence and foreign affairs.
• State List: Subjects on which State Legislatures generally legislate, such as public order and police, subject to constitutional exceptions.
• Concurrent List: Subjects on which both Parliament and State Legislatures can legislate, such as education and forests. In cases of repugnancy, Article 254 provides the general rule, subject to its exceptions.

Eighth Schedule — Recognised Languages

The Eighth Schedule lists 22 languages recognised by the Constitution. It is relevant to Article 344, which concerns the Commission and Committee of Parliament on official language, and Article 351, which directs the Union to promote the spread and development of Hindi.

Ninth Schedule — Certain Laws and Regulations

The Ninth Schedule was added by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951. It initially sought to protect specified laws, particularly land reform laws, from challenges on the grounds of violating certain Fundamental Rights.

However, inclusion in the Ninth Schedule does not provide absolute immunity from judicial review. In I.R. Coelho v. State of Tamil Nadu (2007), the Supreme Court held that laws inserted into the Schedule after 24 April 1973 can be reviewed if they damage or destroy the Constitution's basic structure.

Tenth Schedule — Anti-Defection Law

The Tenth Schedule was added by the Constitution (Fifty-second Amendment) Act, 1985. It provides for disqualification of Members of Parliament and State Legislatures on specified grounds of defection, subject to the exceptions and procedures in the Schedule.

The Ninety-first Amendment Act, 2003 removed the protection previously available for a split by one-third of a legislature party. The merger exception generally requires support from at least two-thirds of the legislature party.

Eleventh Schedule — Panchayats

The Eleventh Schedule was added by the Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992. It lists 29 subjects that may be devolved to Panchayats, including agriculture, minor irrigation, rural housing, drinking water, roads and poverty alleviation programmes.

Article 243G provides the constitutional framework for State Legislatures to endow Panchayats with powers and responsibilities, subject to the Constitution.

Twelfth Schedule — Municipalities

The Twelfth Schedule was added by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992. It lists 18 subjects relating to urban local governance, including urban planning, regulation of land use, roads, water supply, sanitation, public health, fire services and urban poverty alleviation.

Article 243W provides the framework for State Legislatures to endow Municipalities with powers and responsibilities.

Constitutional Amendments 

The Constitution originally had eight Schedules. The following amendments introduced the four additional Schedules.

Significance of the Schedules of the Indian Constitution

The Schedules help organise constitutional provisions and provide detailed frameworks for governance.

• Administrative clarity: The First and Second Schedules specify territorial and institutional details.
• Federal division of powers: The Seventh Schedule helps define the legislative responsibilities of the Union and the States.
• Protection of tribal communities: The Fifth and Sixth Schedules provide special arrangements for the administration of Scheduled Areas and tribal areas.
• Language recognition: The Eighth Schedule recognises India's linguistic diversity.
• Political stability: The Tenth Schedule seeks to address political defections by legislators.
• Decentralisation: The Eleventh and Twelfth Schedules provide subject lists for rural and urban local governance.