Schedules of the Indian Constitution It is a comprehensive guide to the development of the Constitution as a complex and dynamic process that involved not only the framing but also subsequent changes in the Constitution of the United States of America.
India’s Constitution is one of the longest in the world, with 395 articles, 84 schedules, and eight schedules. But how did it come to be? What developmental process helped this creation? Let’s take a look.
The Constitution Assembly
The Constitution Assembly For this purpose, after the independence in 1947, a new organization called the Constituent Assembly began. Its main task? To frame our Constitution.
The assembly consisted of three hundred and eighty-nine members. The people who came there came from all sections of society: lawyers, freedom fighters, women activists. They were the icons of India and symbolized the great diversity of the country.
They conversed on every feature of the Constitution over more than 166 open debates. It took the sessions two years, 11 months, and 17 days, but it could have been a few weeks or months. Finally, on November 26, 1949, they approved this Constitution.
The Key Architects
Though 389 members created it, three stand out for their vast contribution:
- Dr B R Ambedkar is an Indian scholar and chairman of the Drafting Committee. He is known as an economist and lawyer in particular.
- Rajendra Prasad chaired and presided over the Constituent Assembly. He later rose to the higher office of being the first president of India.
- Electronic Media – Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel – the chief strategist and influential personality who managed to integrate hundreds of princely states into Indian Dominion.
The Schedules
The Constitution has an introduction and 448 articles. But it also has 12 schedules short schedules. What are these schedules? Let’s take a look:
Schedule I-Part I– States and Part II- Union Territories
- It lists all the 29 states and nine union territories of India.
- Parliament may alter it to add or change the name of any state.
- Item No. 7 – Salaries of Higher Officials falls under Schedule II.
- Determines the pay scale of the president, governors, judges, and auditors general
- It is paramount to understand what the law says; the law states that Parliament can only change salaries.
Oaths by Public Officials – Schedule III
- Some forms of presiding oath for a president, governors, ministers, judges, etc.
- Usually not changed
Schedule IV – The principle relating to allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha
- Determines the size of the state/UT’s delegation in the Rajya Sabha
- It modifies whenever a new state comes into the Union.
Schedule V – Administration of Tribal Areas
- In the specific chapters, certain sections require special provisions for the administration of tribal areas.
- It is known to safeguard the traditions and customs of the respective tribes.
Tribal Areas of Assam – Schedule VI
- Some of those laws and provisions which have been made exclusively for the administration of tribal areas in Assam are as follows:
- Schedule V is slightly different from Schedule V due to the history of the substance in question.
Schedule VII
- Recapitulates subjects under the Union list, States list, and Concurrent list
- It is famous that Parliament could alter any items on these lists.
Languages – Schedule VIII
- It mentions that 14 languages are essential for global communication.
- It currently lists 22 languages acknowledged by the Constitution.
- May be altered by the Parliament
Schedule IX – Amendment Laws that cannot be challenged
- The bill, as introduced, contained 9 acts concerning land reforms and the abolition of zamindari
- It currently enumerates 13 acts that are linked to similar reforms.
- It seeks to preserve these laws from the outcomes of legal action.
Anti-Defection Law as outlined in Schedule X
- Exposes mechanism to protect defection for MPs and MLAs
- The late Rajiv Gandhi government added this in 1985
Schedule XI – Panchayats
- Added in 1992
- There are other specific provisions for working panchayats as well.
Schedule XII
- Added in 1992
- It is also essential to mention specific provisions that apply mainly to municipalities.
The schedules are diverse and touch on vital areas of concern. They make clear how the constitutional provisions translate and, more importantly, how they are worked on. Indeed, many things would not be complete as they are if these creatures were not around.
Conclusion
Finally, you are familiar with what they are, what they address, and how they facilitate our Constitution. I have always thought our founding fathers lavished too much effort on this social blueprint. Yes, after all, as Indians we can rightly say – we can feel proud and grateful !!!
I trust you found this brief look into the veins that run through our system informative and enjoyable.
