As per the Constitution of India (after subsequent amendments), the Indian Constitution now contains how many Schedules in total?

Introduction / Context:
The Constitution of India includes not only Articles but also Schedules, which are structured lists that provide detailed information on certain matters such as allocation of seats, lists of states, forms of oaths and other technical provisions. The number of Schedules has changed over time due to constitutional amendments. This question tests whether you know the present number of Schedules contained in the Constitution after these changes.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks about the total number of Schedules in the Constitution of India as it stands after amendments.
• The options include 4, 8, 12 and 16.
• We assume basic knowledge that the original Constitution had fewer Schedules and that later amendments added more.
• We are expected to recall the final count of Schedules currently in force.

Concept / Approach:
The original Constitution of India, when it came into effect in 1950, had 8 Schedules. Over the years, various amendments have added new Schedules, such as the Ninth Schedule for certain laws, the Tenth Schedule on anti defection, and the Eleventh and Twelfth Schedules on panchayats and municipalities. As a result, the Constitution now has 12 Schedules in total. The numbers 4 and 8 refer to earlier or partial counts, and 16 is higher than the current total. Thus, the correct answer is 12 Schedules.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the original Constitution contained 8 Schedules when adopted in 1950. Step 2: The Ninth Schedule was added later to protect certain laws from judicial review in specific contexts. Step 3: The Tenth Schedule was added to address the issue of defection by legislators, providing rules for disqualification on grounds of defection. Step 4: The Eleventh and Twelfth Schedules were added by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments to list the subjects of panchayats and municipalities. Step 5: Adding these Schedules brings the total up from 8 to 12. Step 6: Therefore, the Indian Constitution now has 12 Schedules, making option C correct.

Verification / Alternative check:
Any updated edition of a standard Constitution of India text or a polity manual lists all the Schedules by name and number. If you count them, you will find that they run from the First Schedule to the Twelfth Schedule, with no gaps. Examination guides on Indian polity also often provide a table summarising what each Schedule contains, listing 12 items. None of these sources mention a Sixteenth Schedule, and they all agree that the original 8 have been expanded to a total of 12. This cross checking confirms that 12 is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is wrong because 4 Schedules is far below the original and current number; the Constitution never had only 4 Schedules.

Option B is wrong because 8 refers to the original number of Schedules when the Constitution came into force in 1950, but this number has since been increased.

Option D is wrong because there is no Sixteenth Schedule; the count currently stops at the Twelfth Schedule, making 16 excessive and incorrect.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to remember only the original figure of 8 Schedules and to forget that more were added later. Another mistake is to confuse Articles and Schedules, or to think that because there are many amendments, there must be a very large number of Schedules. To avoid such confusion, it is useful to memorise the list of all 12 Schedules along with their key contents, as this is a frequently tested area in competitive exams. Once you remember that the sequence ends at the Twelfth Schedule, you can easily answer questions about the total number of Schedules.

Final Answer:
12