Why this matters now
The Schedules are a classic match-the-following — especially the 7th (lists), 8th (languages), 9th (immune laws), 10th (anti-defection), 11th and 12th (local government). Knowing which amendment added the later ones is a common twist.
The twelve Schedules
| Schedule | Subject |
|---|---|
| First | States and Union Territories and their territories |
| Second | Salaries/allowances of high office-holders (President, judges, etc.) |
| Third | Forms of oaths and affirmations |
| Fourth | Allocation of Rajya Sabha seats among states/UTs |
| Fifth | Administration of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes |
| Sixth | Administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram |
| Seventh | Division of powers — Union, State and Concurrent Lists |
| Eighth | The (22) recognised languages |
| Ninth | Laws immune from judicial review (added by the 1st Amendment, 1951) |
| Tenth | Anti-defection provisions (added by the 52nd Amendment, 1985) |
| Eleventh | Powers of Panchayats — 29 subjects (73rd Amendment, 1992) |
| Twelfth | Powers of Municipalities — 18 subjects (74th Amendment, 1992) |
A note on the Ninth Schedule
The Ninth Schedule was created to protect certain laws (initially land-reform laws) from being challenged for violating Fundamental Rights. However, in I.R. Coelho (2007), the Supreme Court held that laws placed in it after 24 April 1973 (the Kesavananda date) are open to judicial review if they violate the basic structure.
Memory tip
The last four are easiest to confuse — link them: 9th (immune laws, 1st Amд), 10th (anti-defection, 52nd), 11th (Panchayats, 73rd, 29 subjects), 12th (Municipalities, 74th, 18 subjects).
UPSC angle
Memorise all twelve, especially 7th (lists), 8th (languages), 9th–12th and the amendments that added 9th/10th/11th/12th. Note I.R. Coelho on Ninth-Schedule review.
Frequently asked questions
How many Schedules does the Constitution have?
Twelve — it originally had eight; the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th were added by later amendments.
What does the Seventh Schedule contain?
The division of legislative powers between the Centre and states — the Union, State and Concurrent Lists.
What does the Eighth Schedule contain?
The list of recognised languages (currently 22).
Which Schedules deal with local government?
The Eleventh (Panchayats, 29 subjects) and Twelfth (Municipalities, 18 subjects), added by the 73rd and 74th Amendments.