Indian Polity & Constitution
🔒 Log in to trackPreamble, Parts and the 12 Schedules
🔒 Log in to trackThe Preamble is the opening statement of the Constitution. It calls India a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic. The 42nd Amendment (1976) added the words socialist, secular and integrity. The Constitution has Parts, Articles and 12 Schedules. Exams ask you to match each to its subject.
What the Preamble says
The Preamble opens with 'We, the people of India'. So the Constitution draws its power from the people. It was framed from Nehru's Objectives Resolution (1946).
- India is a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic.
- Sovereign means no outside power controls India.
- Republic means the head of state is elected, not hereditary.
- It records the adoption date, 26 November 1949.
| Ideal | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Justice | Social, economic, political |
| Liberty | Thought, expression, belief, faith, worship |
| Equality | Status and opportunity |
| Fraternity | Dignity, unity, integrity |
Justice comes from the Russian Revolution. Liberty, equality and fraternity come from the French Revolution.
The Preamble in court
| Case | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Berubari Union (1960) | Preamble is not a part of the Constitution |
| Kesavananda Bharati (1973) | It is a part. It can be amended, but the basic structure stays |
| LIC of India (1995) | Confirmed that it is a part |
Rule: The 42nd Amendment (1976) added socialist, secular and integrity. It is the only change so far. The Preamble is non-justiciable.
Parts and Articles
The original Constitution had 395 Articles, 22 Parts and 8 Schedules. Today it has about 470 Articles and 12 Schedules.
| Part | Subject | Articles |
|---|---|---|
| I | Union and its territory | 1-4 |
| II | Citizenship | 5-11 |
| III | Fundamental Rights | 12-35 |
| IV | Directive Principles | 36-51 |
| IV-A | Fundamental Duties | 51A |
| V | The Union | 52-151 |
| VI | The States | 152-237 |
| VIII | Union Territories | 239-242 |
| IX | Panchayats | 243-243O |
| IX-A | Municipalities | 243P-243ZG |
| XI | Centre-State relations | 245-263 |
| XV | Elections | 324-329A |
| XVII | Official language | 343-351 |
| XVIII | Emergency | 352-360 |
| XX | Amendment | 368 |
Part IX-B (cooperative societies) came with the 97th Amendment. Part VII was repealed by the 7th Amendment (1956). Article 1 says: 'India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States'.
The 12 Schedules
| No. | Content |
|---|---|
| 1 | States and Union Territories |
| 2 | Salaries of constitutional post-holders |
| 3 | Forms of oaths |
| 4 | Rajya Sabha seats |
| 5 | Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes |
| 6 | Tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram |
| 7 | Union (100), State (61), Concurrent (52) Lists |
| 8 | 22 recognised languages |
| 9 | Land-reform laws (1st Amendment, 1951) |
| 10 | Anti-defection law (52nd Amendment, 1985) |
| 11 | 29 Panchayat subjects (73rd Amendment) |
| 12 | 18 Municipal subjects (74th Amendment) |
Tip: Schedule 10 is for politicians (defection). Schedule 11 is for villages. Schedule 12 is for cities.
Eighth Schedule languages
The Eighth Schedule now lists 22 languages. Four amendments built the list.
- Sindhi: 21st Amendment (1967).
- Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali: 71st Amendment (1992).
- Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali: 92nd Amendment (2003).
The Ninth Schedule shield
The Ninth Schedule protects land-reform and other laws from challenge. In the I.R. Coelho case (2007), the Supreme Court said something new. Laws placed there after 24 April 1973 can still be reviewed if they destroy the basic structure.
Question types you will see
Each type: how to recognise it, the method step by step, and one question to try.
Preamble keywords and the 42nd Amendment
The question asks which words the 42nd Amendment added, the order of the adjectives, or what each ideal promises.
The added words are socialist, secular and integrity (42nd Amendment, 1976).
Nothing else in the Preamble has changed.
Recall the ideals with their brackets: justice (3), liberty (5 words), equality (2), fraternity (2).
The same trio of words is asked in many forms.
The ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity in the Preamble are inspired by which revolution?
Show solutionHide solution
France supplies these ideals and the word Republic.
Justice comes from the Russian Revolution.
The French Revolution
Preamble in the courts
The question asks whether the Preamble is a part of the Constitution, or which case decided this.
Follow the chain: Berubari (1960), then Kesavananda Bharati (1973), then LIC of India (1995).
Berubari said not a part. The next two said it is a part.
Note the 42nd Amendment changed it once, which proves it can be amended.
The three cases give one story, so the order gives the answer.
In which case did the Supreme Court hold that the Preamble is a part of the Constitution?
Show solutionHide solution
Berubari (1960) said it is not a part.
The 1973 case overruled it.
Kesavananda Bharati (1973)
Part and Article range matching
The question asks which Articles hold a subject, or which Part deals with it.
Learn the five everyday ranges: 12-35, 36-51, 51A, 243-243O, 243P-243ZG.
Add Emergency (352-360), Amendment (368), Elections (324-329), Services (308-323).
Remember the odd facts: Part VII was repealed, and Tribunals sit in Part XIV-A.
Ranges are fixed numbers, so one table answers every match question.
Which Part of the Constitution deals with Municipalities?
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Panchayats are in Part IX.
Municipalities follow next, in Part IX-A.
Part IX-A (Articles 243P to 243ZG)
Schedule and content matching
The question asks which Schedule holds a subject, such as defection, languages or panchayat subjects.
Use the anchors: 8 is languages, 9 is protected laws, 10 is defection.
Then 11 is 29 panchayat subjects and 12 is 18 municipal subjects.
Use the memory hook: 10 for politicians, 11 for villages, 12 for cities.
Each Schedule number pairs with one subject.
The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution deals with what?
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It was added by the 52nd Amendment (1985).
It decides when a legislator loses a seat for defection.
Disqualification on the ground of defection
Eighth Schedule languages
The question asks how many languages the Schedule has, or which amendment added a given language.
The current count is 22.
Add the chain: Sindhi (21st), Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali (71st), Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali (92nd).
Do not mix this list with the classical-language list.
One amendment number goes with each group of languages.
Which four languages did the 92nd Amendment (2003) add to the Eighth Schedule?
Show solutionHide solution
The 92nd Amendment took the total to 22.
Recall the group of four added in 2003.
Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali
Seventh and Ninth Schedule details
The question asks how many items the Lists hold, or which case reviewed the Ninth Schedule.
Recall the Seventh Schedule: Union 100, State 61, Concurrent 52.
The Ninth Schedule came with the 1st Amendment (1951).
I.R. Coelho (2007) allows review of laws placed there after 24 April 1973.
The Ninth Schedule shield has a date limit, and exams test that date.
In which case did the Supreme Court hold that Ninth Schedule laws placed after 24 April 1973 can be reviewed?
Show solutionHide solution
24 April 1973 is the Kesavananda date.
The case was decided in 2007.
I.R. Coelho case (2007)
Shortcuts that save time
1 Names, 2 Salaries, 3 Oaths, 4 RS seats, 5 SC/ST areas, 6 Tribal north-east, 7 Three Lists, 8 Languages, 9 Land laws, 10 Defection, 11 Panchayat (29), 12 Municipality (18).
Which Schedule contains the anti-defection provisions?
Show solutionHide solution
Defection is a matter for politicians.
The 52nd Amendment (1985) added it.
The 10th Schedule
Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic make five descriptors. Only Justice splits into three (social, economic, political).
Which Preamble ideal has three parts?
Show solutionHide solution
Look at the ideal with three bracketed words.
It traces to the Russian Revolution.
Justice: social, economic and political
Mistakes to avoid
Where most students lose marks on this subtopic.
Saying the 44th Amendment changed the Preamble.
It was the 42nd Amendment (1976).
Listing 18 languages in the Eighth Schedule.
The count is 22 since the 92nd Amendment (2003).
Mixing the 9th Schedule (land laws) with the 10th (defection).
Ninth is land laws. Tenth is defection.
Saying the Preamble is not a part of the Constitution.
That was Berubari (1960). Kesavananda (1973) overruled it.
Mixing the 11th Schedule (29 subjects) with the 12th (18 subjects).
Eleventh is panchayats (29). Twelfth is municipalities (18).
Quick revision
Read this the night before the exam.
Preamble words in order: Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic.
42nd Amendment (1976) added socialist, secular and integrity. It is the only change.
Berubari (1960): not a part. Kesavananda (1973): a part, amendable within the basic structure.
Part III: 12-35. Part IV: 36-51. Part IV-A: 51A. Part IX: 243-243O. Part IX-A: 243P-243ZG.
Schedules: 4 is Rajya Sabha seats, 8 is 22 languages, 9 is land laws, 10 is defection.
Article 1: India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.
Practice: 12 questions
Sets of 10, mixed across the question types above. Every answer has a step-by-step explanation.
Topic test · 12 questions
Suggested time 4 min · wrong answers go to your mistake notebook automatically.