UPSC Previous Year Question | Prelims GS | 2024

Consider the following statements: 1. It is the Governor of the State who recognizes and declares any community of that State 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?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer

Correct Answer

2 only

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: under Article 342, the President specifies Scheduled Tribes for a State or Union Territory, after consultation with the Governor where the State is concerned; the Governor does not independently declare them. Parliament may subsequently include or exclude communities by law. Statement 2 is correct because Scheduled Tribe recognition is State- or Union Territory-specific, and a community recognized in one State is not automatically recognized in another. Thus, only statement 2 is correct.

Topics: article 342 and st recognition, constitutional provisions, polity, scheduled tribes