Consider the following statements:
- It is the Governor of the State who recognizes and declares any community of that State as a Scheduled Tribe.
- A community declared as a Scheduled Tribe in a State need not be so in another State.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation:
- Statement 1: It is not the Governor of the State who recognizes and declares any community of that State as a Scheduled Tribe. According to Article 342 of the Constitution of India, it is the President who may, with respect to any State or Union Territory, and where it is a state, after consultation with the Governor thereof, by public notification, specify the tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within tribes or tribal communities which shall, for the purposes of this Constitution, be deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in relation to that State or Union Territory. Therefore, this statement is incorrect.
- Statement 2: A community declared as a Scheduled Tribe in a State need not be so in another State. This is correct as the list of Scheduled Tribes is State/UT specific and a community declared as a Scheduled Tribe in one State need not be recognized as such in another State.
Learn more
- Scheduled Tribes (STs): These are indigenous communities recognized by the government for special protection and assistance due to their social, educational, and economic backwardness. The term ‘Scheduled Tribes’ first appeared in the Constitution of India under Article 366(25), which refers to tribes or tribal communities as specified under Article 342.
- Article 342: This article prescribes the procedure for the specification of Scheduled Tribes. The President may, with respect to any State or Union Territory, and where it is a state, after consultation with the Governor thereof, by public notification, specify the tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within tribes or tribal communities which shall, for the purposes of this Constitution, be deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in relation to that State or Union Territory. Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled Tribes specified in a notification issued under clause (1) any tribe or tribal community or part of or group within any tribe or tribal community.
- State/UT Specific Lists: The list of Scheduled Tribes is specific to each State or Union Territory. A community recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in one State may not be recognized as such in another State. This ensures that the recognition of tribal communities is tailored to the specific social and cultural contexts of each State or Union Territory.
- Criteria for Specification: The criteria for specifying a community as a Scheduled Tribe include indications of primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact with the community at large, and backwardness. These criteria are not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution but have become well-established through various reports and commissions.
- Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs): These are a subset of Scheduled Tribes that are characterized by pre-agriculture level of technology, stagnant or declining population, low literacy, and a subsistence level of economy. They receive special attention and benefits under various government schemes.
- Population Statistics: According to the 2011 Census, the tribal population in India is approximately 10.45 crore, constituting 8.6% of the total population. The literacy rate among Scheduled Tribes improved from 47.1% in 2001 to 59% in 2011.
