Which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India have a bearing on Education? 1. Directive Principles of State Policy 2. Rural and Urban Local Bodies 3. Fifth Schedule 4. Sixth Schedule 5. Seventh Schedule Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Contents8
- A1 and 2 only
- B3, 4 and 5 only
- C1, 2 and 5 only
- D1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Show answer
Answer: (C) 1, 2 and 5 only
Constitutional provisions bearing on Education:
Directive Principles (statement 1) — Articles 41, 45, and 46 deal with education.
Local Bodies (statement 2) — the 73rd and 74th Amendments (11th and 12th Schedules) include education as a function of Panchayats and Municipalities.
Seventh Schedule (statement 5) — Education is in the Concurrent List (Entry 25), meaning both Centre and States can legislate on it.
Fifth Schedule deals with administration of Scheduled Areas — it has NO specific provision on education.
Sixth Schedule deals with autonomous districts in NE India — while it mentions some educational functions, the best available option excluding the 5th Schedule is (c).
Answer: 1, 2 and 5 only.
Education appears in multiple parts of the Constitution: as a directive principle, as a concurrent subject allowing both Centre and State legislation, and as a mandatory function of local bodies under the 73rd and 74th Amendments.
The Fifth and Sixth Schedules deal with tribal areas but have no direct constitutional provisions on education, unlike the Seventh Schedule which places education in the Concurrent List.
The question tests whether students can distinguish between schedules that explicitly mention education versus those that only deal with administrative structures in tribal regions.
Directive Principles & Education
Indian Polity Directive Principles of State Policy
Directive Principles of State Policy: Education Provisions
Article 45: Free and compulsory education for children up to 14 years
Article 41: Right to education within economic capacity of State
Article 46: Educational interests of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
Directive Principles contain specific educational mandates that guide state policy, making them directly relevant to education under the Constitution.
DPSP Articles on Education
Article | Provision | Target Group | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Article 41 | Right to education within limits of economic capacity | All citizens | Directive to State |
Article 45 | Free & compulsory education up to 14 years | All children | Achieved by 86th Amendment |
Article 46 | Promote educational interests with special care | SCs & STs | Ongoing directive |
Article 45 was fulfilled when 86th Amendment (2002) made elementary education a fundamental right under Article 21A
Don't confuse with Article 21A — that's the fundamental right, these are directive principles
Local Bodies & Education Functions
Indian Polity Rural and Urban Local Bodies
Local Bodies: Educational Functions under 73rd & 74th Amendments
11th Schedule: Education is Item 17 for Panchayats
12th Schedule: Education is Item 8 for Municipalities
Both rural and urban local bodies handle primary education
The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments devolved education as a key function to local self-government institutions through their respective schedules.
Education in Local Body Schedules
Amendment | Schedule | Body Type | Education Entry | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
73rd (1992) | 11th Schedule | Panchayats | Item 17: Education | Primary education, adult literacy |
74th (1992) | 12th Schedule | Municipalities | Item 8: Education | Primary education, libraries |
73rd Amendment = 11th Schedule = Panchayats; 74th Amendment = 12th Schedule = Municipalities
Education appears in both schedules — covers rural AND urban local bodies
Seventh Schedule & Legislative Lists
Indian Polity Seventh Schedule
Seventh Schedule: Education in Legislative Lists
Education is Entry 25 of Concurrent List (List III)
Both Centre and States can make laws on education
In case of conflict, Central law prevails over state law
The Seventh Schedule divides legislative powers between Centre and States. Education's placement in the Concurrent List allows both levels of government to legislate on educational matters.
Seventh Schedule Structure
# Seventh Schedule
## List I (Union List)
- 97 subjects
- Centre's exclusive domain
- Defence, Railways, etc.
## List II (State List)
- 61 subjects
- State's exclusive domain
- Police, Agriculture, etc.
## List III (Concurrent)
- 52 subjects
- Both can legislate
- **Education (Entry 25)**
- Criminal law, ForestsEducation moved from State List to Concurrent List by 42nd Amendment (1976)
Entry 25 = Education; don't confuse with technical education which has separate entries
Fifth & Sixth Schedules
Indian Polity Fifth Schedule Sixth Schedule
Fifth & Sixth Schedules: Tribal Area Administration
Fifth Schedule: Administration of Scheduled Areas — NO specific education provision
Sixth Schedule: Autonomous Districts in Northeast — limited educational functions
Both deal with tribal welfare but education coverage differs
Fifth vs Sixth Schedule Comparison
Aspect | Fifth Schedule | Sixth Schedule |
|---|---|---|
Coverage | Scheduled Areas (9 states) | Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram |
Authority | Governor with TAC | Autonomous District Councils |
Education Role | No specific provision | Limited educational functions |
Primary Focus | Land protection, tribal welfare | Self-governance, cultural protection |
Key distinction: Fifth Schedule focuses on Scheduled Areas administration without specific educational mandates, while Sixth Schedule grants autonomous districts some educational powers but this is not a primary constitutional provision for education.
Fifth Schedule has NO specific education provision — this was the trap in the question
Sixth Schedule mentions education but it's NOT a major constitutional provision on education
Don't confuse: Fifth = Scheduled Areas; Sixth = Autonomous Districts in Northeast