The forms of oaths or affirmations to be made by Union and State ministers, members of legislatures, judges and the CAG are given in the:

The Third Schedule of the Constitution contains the forms of oaths or affirmations for various constitutional office-holders.

Office-holders whose oaths are given in the Third Schedule:

• The Union Ministers (oath of office and oath of secrecy).
• Candidates for election to Parliament.
• Members of Parliament.
• The judges of the Supreme Court and the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
• The State Ministers (oath of office and oath of secrecy).
• Candidates for election to the State Legislatures.
• Members of the State Legislatures.
• The judges of the High Courts.

Oaths not in the Third Schedule:

• The oaths of the President, the Vice-President and the Governors are not in the Third Schedule; they are given in the Articles dealing with these offices.
• The President's oath is administered by the Chief Justice of India; the Governor's oath by the Chief Justice of the High Court.

Content of the oaths:

The oath of a minister requires him or her to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India, to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, to faithfully and conscientiously discharge the duties of office, and to do right to all manner of people without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.

The oath of secrecy requires the minister not to reveal any matter that comes to his or her knowledge as a minister, except as required for the discharge of duties.

Oath or affirmation:

A person can either "swear in the name of God" or "solemnly affirm"; this respects freedom of conscience and religion.

Change by the 16th Amendment (1963):

The words "uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India" were added to the oaths by the 16th Amendment Act, 1963.

Why not the other options?

• ✗The Second Schedule deals with emoluments; the Seventh Schedule with the lists of subjects; the Tenth Schedule with anti-defection.