Constitution of India: Schedules, Parts and Article Ranges
The Constitution of India is organised into a Preamble, Parts, Articles and 12 Schedules. This study note gives a concise, updated overview of the subject matter of each Schedule and the present Parts of the Constitution, including omitted provisions that are often a source of confusion in entrance examinations and general constitutional-law study.
Important: Part VII of the Constitution was repealed by the Constitution
(Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956. Article 238, which formed that Part, was also omitted.
Article 329A was omitted by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, so the
current election Part is ordinarily stated as Articles 324-329.
1. The 12 Schedules of the Constitution of India
| Schedule | Principal Subject Matter |
|---|---|
| First Schedule | The States; the Union territories; their territories and territorial description. |
| Second Schedule | Provisions relating to emoluments, allowances, privileges and related matters concerning specified constitutional authorities, including the President, Governors, presiding officers of legislatures, Judges and the Comptroller and Auditor General. |
| Third Schedule | Forms of oaths and affirmations for Union and State Ministers, candidates for Parliament and State Legislatures, Members of Parliament and State Legislatures, Judges, and the Comptroller and Auditor General. |
| Fourth Schedule | Allocation of seats in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). |
| Fifth Schedule | Administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes, other than areas governed by the Sixth Schedule. |
| Sixth Schedule | Administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram through autonomous districts and regions and related institutional arrangements. |
| Seventh Schedule | Distribution of legislative subjects between the Union and the States through List I (Union List), List II (State List) and List III (Concurrent List). |
| Eighth Schedule | Languages recognised by the Constitution. It presently contains 22 languages. |
| Ninth Schedule | Specified Central and State laws placed in the Schedule under Article 31B. Although originally associated mainly with land-reform legislation, the Schedule contains a wider range of enactments. |
| Tenth Schedule | Disqualification of Members of Parliament and State Legislatures on the ground of defection - commonly called the anti-defection law. |
| Eleventh Schedule | 29 subjects relating to the powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayats under Part IX. |
| Twelfth Schedule | 18 subjects relating to the powers, authority and responsibilities of Municipalities under Part IXA. |
2. Parts of the Constitution and Article Ranges
| Part | Subject | Article Range |
|---|---|---|
| I | The Union and its Territory | Articles 1-4 |
| II | Citizenship | Articles 5-11 |
| III | Fundamental Rights | Articles 12-35 |
| IV | Directive Principles of State Policy | Articles 36-51 |
| IVA | Fundamental Duties | Article 51A |
| V | The Union | Articles 52-151 |
| VI | The States | Articles 152-237 |
| VII | Omitted - formerly "The States in Part B of the First Schedule" | Article 238 omitted |
| VIII | The Union Territories | Articles 239-242 |
| IX | The Panchayats | Articles 243-243O |
| IXA | The Municipalities | Articles 243P-243ZG |
| IXB | The Co-operative Societies | Articles 243ZH-243ZT |
| X | The Scheduled and Tribal Areas | Articles 244-244A |
| XI | Relations between the Union and the States | Articles 245-263 |
| XII | Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits | Articles 264-300A |
| XIII | Trade, Commerce and Intercourse within the Territory of India | Articles 301-307 |
| XIV | Services under the Union and the States | Articles 308-323 |
| XIVA | Tribunals | Articles 323A-323B |
| XV | Elections | Articles 324-329 |
| XVI | Special Provisions Relating to Certain Classes | Articles 330-342A |
| XVII | Official Language | Articles 343-351 |
| XVIII | Emergency Provisions | Articles 352-360 |
| XIX | Miscellaneous | Articles 361-367 |
| XX | Amendment of the Constitution | Article 368 |
| XXI | Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions | Articles 369-392 |
| XXII | Short Title, Commencement, Authoritative Text in Hindi and Repeals | Articles 393-395 |
Part XIVA: this Part, dealing with Tribunals (Articles 323A and 323B), was
inserted by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976 and should not be omitted
from a current list of constitutional Parts.
3. Important Points for LLB Entrance and Law Examinations
- The Constitution currently contains 12 Schedules.
- Part VII was repealed by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956.
- Part IVA contains Fundamental Duties under Article 51A.
- Part IX deals with Panchayats; the Eleventh Schedule contains 29 subjects.
- Part IXA deals with Municipalities; the Twelfth Schedule contains 18 subjects.
- Part IXB deals with Co-operative Societies.
- Part XIVA deals with Tribunals under Articles 323A and 323B.
- The Seventh Schedule contains the Union, State and Concurrent Lists.
- The Eighth Schedule presently contains 22 languages.
- The Tenth Schedule contains the anti-defection provisions.
- The Ninth Schedule operates with Article 31B and is not accurately described today as containing only land-reform laws.
- Part XV presently runs through Article 329; Article 329A stands omitted.
4. Official Constitution Text
For authoritative study, use the current English text of the Constitution published by the Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, and the Constitution text available through India Code. Constitutional amendments should also be checked against official amendment Acts.
This page is a concise study aid. Where exact constitutional wording is required, always consult the official text of the Constitution and the relevant constitutional amendment Acts.