Which one of the following Schedules of the Constitution of India contains provisions regarding anti-defection?

The correct answer is D) Tenth Schedule. It was inserted by the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985, and sets out the anti-defection law. A legislator who voluntarily gives up membership of the party on whose ticket they were elected, or who defies a party whip in certain votes, can be disqualified under Articles 102(2) and 191(2).

• A) Second Schedule lists salaries and allowances of the President, Governors, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, and the CAG.
• B) Fifth Schedule deals with administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes outside Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, which are covered by the Sixth Schedule.
• C) Eighth Schedule lists the languages recognised by the Constitution. It now has 22.

Core concept: the anti-defection law protects the stability of elected governments against party-hopping. The 91st Amendment (2003) removed the old split provision and allowed only a merger backed by two-thirds of the legislature party. Kihoto Hollohan (1992) upheld the law but made the Speaker's decision subject to judicial review. This is a standard Mains theme on electoral integrity and the role of presiding officers.

Trap: candidates confuse the Tenth Schedule with the Ninth Schedule, which protects certain laws from judicial review, or assume the Speaker's decision is beyond the courts.