MPPSC 2020 Prelims Q25: Which is the most common tribe in Madhya

Q: What is the answer to MPPSC 2020 Prelims Q25?

C. Correct — C, Bheel (Bhil). By the 2011 Census the Bhil are the most numerous Scheduled Tribe in Madhya Pradesh — the single largest tribal community in the state — concentrated in the western districts of the Nimar-Malwa belt (Jhabua, Alirajpur, Dhar, Barwani, Khargone). The Gond come second in the state.

MPPSC 2020 Prelims Paper-I · Question 25 of 100

Verified against the official question paper. Answer as per the official MPPSC answer key.

Which is the most common tribe in Madhya Pradesh?

(a)Gond
(b)Korku
(c)Bheel
(d)Kol

Answer

Why

Correct — C, Bheel (Bhil). By the 2011 Census the Bhil are the most numerous Scheduled Tribe in Madhya Pradesh — the single largest tribal community in the state — concentrated in the western districts of the Nimar-Malwa belt (Jhabua, Alirajpur, Dhar, Barwani, Khargone). The Gond come second in the state.

Why the others are wrong

(a)Gond — The Gond are the SECOND most populous tribe in MP (and one of India's largest tribes overall, with historic Gond kingdoms) — the classic trap, but within Madhya Pradesh the Bhil outnumber them.
(b)Korku — A much smaller tribe of the Satpura region (Betul, Khandwa, Narmadapuram/Hoshangabad) — far fewer in number than the Bhil.
(d)Kol — A tribe mainly of the Vindhya region in eastern MP (Rewa, Satna) — not the state's most populous tribe.

Concept

Madhya Pradesh has India's largest Scheduled Tribe population, and among its many tribes the Bhil are the most numerous, followed by the Gond. The Bhil are chiefly a western-MP (Nimar-Malwa) people, while the Gond are spread through the Satpura-Maikal and eastern tracts.

The pull toward Gond is strong — Gonds gave their name to 'Gondwana' and ruled medieval kingdoms in central India, so students equate 'famous' with 'most populous'. But the question asks numbers within MP, where the Bhil lead.

Key facts

Bhil = the most populous Scheduled Tribe in Madhya Pradesh (Census 2011).
Gond = second most populous tribe in the state.
Bhil heartland: Jhabua, Alirajpur, Dhar, Barwani, Khargone (western MP).
Madhya Pradesh has the largest ST population of any Indian state.

Study next

Major tribes of Madhya Pradesh (Bhil, Gond, Korku, Kol, Baiga, Sahariya)Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of MP: Baiga, Sahariya, BhariaTribal art of MP: Bhil, Gond (Jangarh Kalam) and Pithora paintingGeographic distribution of tribes and the Fifth Schedule areasCensus 2011 and Scheduled Tribe demographics

Common traps

Picking Gond because it is India's best-known / largest tribe overall — within MP the Bhil are more numerous.
Confusing 'most historically famous' (Gond kingdoms) with 'most populous today' (Bhil).

MPPSC asks 'largest/most populous tribe of MP', or match-the-tribe-to-region; anchor Bhil = largest (west MP), Gond = second (Satpura/east).

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

Practice

practice — not a real PYQ
The Bhil tribe of Madhya Pradesh is concentrated mainly in which part of the state?
- (a)Western MP (Jhabua-Alirajpur-Dhar)
- (b)Eastern MP (Rewa-Satna)
- (c)Northern MP (Gwalior-Morena)
- (d)Bundelkhand
Answer(a) Western MP (Nimar-Malwa: Jhabua, Alirajpur, Dhar).
practice — not a real PYQ
Which of the following is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) of Madhya Pradesh?
- (a)Baiga
- (b)Bhil
- (c)Gond
- (d)Kol
Answer(a) Baiga — a recognised PVTG of MP (along with Sahariya and Bharia).