Here is a complete, exam-oriented guide on Scheduled and Tribal Areas designed specifically for SSC, Railway, State PCS, and UPSC aspirants.
Complete Guide to Scheduled and Tribal Areas in India (Indian Polity)
Hello Aspirants! If you are preparing for government exams, you must have noticed that questions from the 5th and 6th Schedules of the Indian Constitution are very common. This topic can sometimes feel confusing, but don’t worry. We will break it down into simple, easy-to-remember points so you never lose a mark on this topic again.
Let’s dive in!
1. Introduction: What are Scheduled and Tribal Areas?
The Indian Constitution has made special provisions for the administration of certain areas where Scheduled Tribes (STs) live in large numbers. The makers of our Constitution realized that tribal people have their own unique culture, customs, and ways of living. Therefore, applying normal administrative laws directly to them might disrupt their lives.
To protect their rights and prevent their exploitation, Part X of the Constitution deals with the administration of “Scheduled and Tribal Areas” under Article 244.
2. Constitutional Provisions: The Two Important Schedules
The administration is divided into two parts based on two different schedules:
- The 5th Schedule: Deals with Scheduled Areas.
- The 6th Schedule: Deals with Tribal Areas.
A. The 5th Schedule (Scheduled Areas)
- What is it? It contains provisions for the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in any state EXCEPT Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
- Who declares a Scheduled Area? The President of India has the power to declare an area as a Scheduled Area. He can also alter its boundaries or revoke the declaration in consultation with the Governor of the state.
- Role of the Governor: The Governor has a special responsibility. He must submit an annual report to the President regarding the administration of these areas.
- Tribal Advisory Council (TAC): * Every state having Scheduled Areas must establish a TAC.
- Members: It consists of a maximum of 20 members.
- Reservation: Three-fourths (3/4th) of these members must be representatives of the Scheduled Tribes in the State Legislative Assembly.
- Law-making Power: The Governor is empowered to direct that any particular act of Parliament or the State Legislature does not apply to a Scheduled Area or applies with certain modifications.
B. The 6th Schedule (Tribal Areas)
- What is it? It contains provisions strictly for the administration of Tribal Areas in four northeastern states: Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
- Memory Trick: Remember the word AMTM (Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram). Note: Manipur is NOT included here.
- Autonomous Districts: The tribal areas in these four states are organized into “Autonomous Districts.”
- Who creates them? The Governor has the power to organize, reorganize, increase, or decrease the boundaries of these Autonomous Districts.
- Autonomous District Councils (ADC):
- Each autonomous district has a District Council.
- Members: 30 members in total.
- Division: 4 are nominated by the Governor, and 26 are elected on the basis of adult franchise.
- Term: Elected members hold office for 5 years, and nominated members hold office at the pleasure of the Governor.
- Powers: ADCs have immense powers. They can make laws on land, forests, village administration, inheritance of property, marriage, and social customs. They even have the power to collect certain land revenues and taxes.
3. Important Articles at a Glance
| Article | Provision |
| Article 244 (1) | Administration of Scheduled Areas and Tribes (5th Schedule). |
| Article 244 (2) | Administration of Tribal Areas in AMTM states (6th Schedule). |
| Article 244A | Formation of an autonomous state comprising certain tribal areas in Assam (added by 22nd Amendment Act, 1969). |
| Article 275 (1) | Grants-in-aid from the Union to States for promoting the welfare of STs or raising the level of administration in Scheduled Areas. |
| Article 339 | Control of the Union over the administration of Scheduled Areas and the welfare of STs. |
4. Important Committees Related to Tribal Areas
- U.N. Dhebar Commission (1960): The first commission appointed to report on the administration of Scheduled Areas.
- Dilip Singh Bhuria Committee (1995): Recommended the extension of the Panchayati Raj system to Scheduled Areas. This directly led to the passing of the PESA Act (Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996).
- Virginius Xaxa Committee (2013): Formed to examine the socio-economic, educational, and health status of tribal communities.
5. Previous Year Exam Relevance (Trend Analysis)
- SSC/Railway: Usually asks direct questions like, “The 6th Schedule applies to which states?” or “Who declares a Scheduled Area?”
- State PCS: Focuses on the composition of the Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) and Autonomous District Councils (ADC), including the number of members and their terms.
- UPSC Prelims: Frequently tests the exact powers of the Governor vs. the President regarding the 5th and 6th Schedules, and the legislative powers of ADCs.
6. 🚨 Exam Traps & Confusing Points (Must Read!)
- The AMTM Trap: Examiners will often give you options like “Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur” for the 6th Schedule. Remember: It is Mizoram, NOT Manipur.
- President vs. Governor Power: * Declaring an area as a Scheduled Area (5th Schedule) is the power of the President.
- Organizing and altering Autonomous Districts (6th Schedule) is the power of the Governor.
- TAC vs. ADC:
- TAC (Tribal Advisory Council) is under the 5th Schedule (20 members).
- ADC (Autonomous District Council) is under the 6th Schedule (30 members).
- State vs. Union Executive Power: The executive power of the Union extends to giving directions to the State regarding the administration of 5th Schedule areas. The State does not have absolute independent control.
7. Mock Test: Check Your Knowledge (MCQs)
Q1. Which of the following states is NOT covered under the 6th Schedule of the Indian Constitution?
A) Assam
B) Meghalaya
C) Manipur
D) Mizoram
Answer: C) Manipur
Explanation: The 6th Schedule covers only Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram (AMTM).
Q2. Under the 5th Schedule, who has the power to declare any area as a ‘Scheduled Area’?
A) Parliament
B) Chief Minister
C) Governor
D) President of India
Answer: D) President of India
Explanation: The President is empowered to declare an area as a Scheduled Area under the 5th Schedule.
Q3. What is the total strength of an Autonomous District Council (ADC) under the 6th Schedule?
A) 20
B) 30
C) 40
D) 45
Answer: B) 30
Explanation: An ADC consists of 30 members (26 elected, 4 nominated by the Governor).
Q4. The PESA Act, 1996 was enacted based on the recommendations of which committee?
A) Kothari Commission
B) Swaran Singh Committee
C) Bhuria Committee
D) Xaxa Committee
Answer: C) Bhuria Committee
Explanation: The Dilip Singh Bhuria Committee (1995) recommended extending Part IX of the Constitution (Panchayats) to Scheduled Areas, leading to the PESA Act, 1996.
Q5. How many members in the Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) must be representatives of Scheduled Tribes in the State Legislative Assembly?
A) Half (1/2)
B) Two-thirds (2/3)
C) Three-fourths (3/4)
D) One-third (1/3)
Answer: C) Three-fourths (3/4)
Explanation: A TAC has a maximum of 20 members, out of which 3/4th must be ST MLAs from the state.
8. Quick Revision Summary
- Part X, Article 244: Deals with Scheduled and Tribal Areas.
- 5th Schedule: Covers Scheduled Areas in states other than AMTM. Declared by the President. Monitored via Tribal Advisory Council (TAC – 20 members).
- 6th Schedule: Covers Tribal Areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram (AMTM). Administered via Autonomous District Councils (ADC – 30 members). Boundaries altered by the Governor.
- Key Committee: Bhuria Committee led to the PESA Act, 1996.
