As per the Constitution of India, including subsequent amendments, how many Schedules does the Constitution currently contain?

Introduction / Context:
The Constitution of India contains not only Parts and Articles but also Schedules, which provide detailed lists and supplementary information. These Schedules cover topics such as allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha, forms of oaths, languages, and administration of tribal areas. Over time, the number of Schedules has changed due to constitutional amendments. This question checks whether you know the current total number of Schedules in the Constitution.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to the Constitution after amendments, not only in its original form.
• We are asked simply how many Schedules it contains at present.
• Options range from eight to twelve Schedules.
• We assume awareness that new Schedules have been added over time.

Concept / Approach:
Originally, the Constitution of India had eight Schedules. Later, additional Schedules were added through amendments. The Ninth Schedule was added by the First Amendment, the Tenth Schedule by the Fifty Second Amendment dealing with anti defection provisions, the Eleventh Schedule by the Seventy Third Amendment concerning Panchayats, and the Twelfth Schedule by the Seventy Fourth Amendment concerning Municipalities. As a result, the Constitution now has a total of twelve Schedules.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the original Constitution contained eight Schedules. Step 2: Add the Ninth Schedule, which was introduced early in the constitutional history to protect certain laws. Step 3: Add the Tenth Schedule, created later to address defection among legislators. Step 4: Add the Eleventh and Twelfth Schedules, which were inserted to list subjects for Panchayats and Municipalities after the Seventy Third and Seventy Fourth Amendments. Step 5: Count eight plus four new additions to get a total of twelve Schedules.

Verification / Alternative check:
Any updated edition of the bare act or a standard polity text will have twelve Schedules listed, with the Eleventh and Twelfth Schedules clearly labelled as inserted by the Seventy Third and Seventy Fourth Amendments. Competitive exam preparation materials also typically include a table of all twelve Schedules along with their subject matter, confirming that twelve is the correct current number.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Eight Schedules: This was true only at the time of the original Constitution, not after later amendments. Nine, ten, and eleven Schedules: These figures reflect intermediate stages before all amendments were completed, but they are not correct for the present day. The exam question is clearly about the current total, so only twelve Schedules is valid.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners remember that the original Constitution had eight Schedules but forget to track the amendments that added more. Others may recall individual changes like the Tenth Schedule on defection but not update the total count. A simple way to avoid confusion is to memorise the sentence that the Constitution now contains twenty five Parts and twelve Schedules, which anchors both key numbers in memory.

Final Answer:
Twelve Schedules