UPSC Prelims 2024 Question:

Consider the following statements

1. It is the Governor of the State who recognizes and declares any community of that Sates as a Scheduled Tribe. 
2. 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? 

Explanation:

• The President may, with respect to any State or Union territory, after consultation with the Governor specify the community who is deemed to be scheduled tribes in relation to that state or Union Territory. So, Statement 1 is not correct.
  
  
• While the Constitution is silent about the criteria for specification of a community as a Scheduled Tribe. The words and the phrase 'tribes or tribal communities or part of or groups within tribes or tribal communities" in Article 342 have to be understood in terms of their historical background of backwardness.
  
  
• Primitiveness, geographical isolation, shyness and social, educational & economic backwardness due to these reasons are the traits that distinguish Scheduled Tribe communities of our country from other communities. It takes into account the definitions of tribal Communities adopted in the 1931 Census. These facts are the basis for the provision in Article 342(1) which mandates to specify the tribes or tribal communities or part of or groups within tribes or tribal communities as Scheduled Tribe in relation to that State or Union Territory as the case may be.
  
  
• Thus the list of Scheduled Tribes is State/UT specific and a community declared as a Scheduled Tribe in a State need not be so in another State. The Presidential notifications under Clause 1 of Article 342 of the Constitution are issued as the Constitution Orders. So, Statement 2 is correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer. 

Subject: Polity | Federalism