Structure of Indian Constitution

The Indian constitution is the world's longest constitution. At the time of commencement, the constitution had 395 articles in 22 parts and 8 schedules. It consists of almost 80,000 words. The Constitution, in its current form (September 2012), consists of a preamble, 25 parts containing 448 articles, 12 schedules, 5 appendices and 100 amendments, the latest of which came into force on 1 August 2015.

Parts

The individual Articles of the Constitution are grouped together into the following Parts:

Preamble with the words "socialist" and "secular" added to it in 1976 by the 42nd constitutional amendment (mini constitution). Part I – Union and its Territory Part II – Citizenship. Part III – Fundamental Rights Part IV[ – Directive Principles of State Policy Part IVA – Fundamental Duties Part V – The Union Part VI – The States Part VII – States in the B part of the First schedule(repealed) Part VIII – The Union Territories Part IX – The Panchayats Part IXA – The Municipalities Part IXB – The Co-operative Societies. Part X – The scheduled and Tribal Areas Part XI – Relations between the Union and the States

Part XII – Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits Part XIII – Trade and Commerce within the territory of India Part XIV – Services Under the Union, the States Part XIVA – Tribunals Part XV – Elections Part XVI – Special Provisions Relating to certain Classes Part XVII – Languages Part XVIII – Emergency Provisions Part XIX – Miscellaneous Part XX – Amendment of the Constitution Part XXI – Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions Part XXII – Short title, date of commencement, Authoritative text in Hindi and Repeals.

Schedules

Schedules are lists in the Constitution that categorize and tabulate bureaucratic activity and policy of the Government.

• First Schedule (Articles 1 and 4) - This lists the states and territories of India, lists any changes to their borders and the laws used to make that change.
• Second Schedule (Articles 59(3), 65(3), 75(6), 97, 125, 148(3), 158(3), 164(5), 186 and 221)- – This lists the salaries of officials holding public office, judges, and Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
• Third Schedule (Articles 75(4), 99, 124(6), 148(2), 164(3), 188 and 219)—Forms of Oaths – This lists the oaths of offices for elected officials and judges.
• Fourth Schedule (Articles 4(1) and 80(2)) – This details the allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of Parliament) per State or Union Territory.
• Fifth Schedule (Article 244(1)) – This provides for the administration and control of Scheduled Areas andScheduled Tribes (areas and tribes needing special protection due to disadvantageous conditions).
• Sixth Schedule (Articles 244(2) and 275(1))— Provisions made for the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
• Seventh Schedule (Article 246) —The union (central government), state, and concurrent lists of responsibilities.
• Eighth Schedule (Articles 344(1) and 351)—The official languages.
• Ninth Schedule (Article 31-B) – Validation of certain Acts and Regulations.
• Tenth Schedule (Articles 102(2) and 191(2))—"Anti-defection" provisions for Members of Parliament and Members of the State Legislatures.
• Eleventh Schedule (Article 243-G) —Panchayat Raj (rural local government),
• Twelfth Schedule (Article 243-W) — Municipalities (urban local government).

Appendices

• Appendix I—The Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954.
• Appendix II— Re-statement, with reference to the present text of the Constitution, of the exceptions and modifications subject to which the Constitution applies to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Appendix III—Extracts from the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978.
• Appendix IV—The Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002.
• Appendix V— The Constitution (Eighty-eighth Amendment) Act, 2003.