Why are the tribals in India referred to as the Scheduled Tribes? Indicate the major provisions enshrined in the Constitution of India for their upliftment. (200 words)

Scheduled Tribes are communities officially specified under the Constitution because of distinctive socio-cultural conditions and historical marginalisation.

Meaning of scheduled status

• Article 342 enables the President to specify tribes or tribal communities, subject to Parliamentary modification.
• Scheduled status is an administrative-constitutional recognition, not a single uniform anthropological test.

Upliftment provisions

• Articles 15(4), 16(4), 46 and 335 support affirmative action and educational-economic interests.
• Reserved seats in legislatures, services and educational institutions promote representation.
• Fifth and Sixth Schedules protect self-governance and land interests; Article 244 and PESA strengthen scheduled-area administration.

Keywords: Article 342, Article 46, Fifth Schedule, Sixth Schedule, PESA, affirmative action.