According to the provisions of which Schedule of the Constitution, the Tribal Advisory Committee was constituted in the States?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — C, the Fifth Schedule. Paragraph 4 of the Fifth Schedule (read with Article 244(1)) requires that in every State having Scheduled Areas there shall be a Tribes Advisory Council — the body the question calls the 'Tribal Advisory Committee'. It consists of not more than 20 members, of whom roughly three-fourths are representatives of the Scheduled Tribes in the State Legislative Assembly, and its duty is to advise on matters of the welfare and advancement of the Scheduled Tribes that the Governor refers to it. The President may also direct that such a Council be set up in a State that has Scheduled Tribes but no Scheduled Areas. Madhya Pradesh, which has large notified Scheduled Areas, has such a Council.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) The Third Schedule contains the forms of oaths and affirmations for the President, Ministers, MPs, judges and the CAG — it has nothing to do with tribal administration.  (b) The Fourth Schedule allots seats in the Rajya Sabha to the States and Union Territories — a representation table, not a tribal-welfare provision.  (d) The Sixth Schedule (Article 244(2)) governs the tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, and creates Autonomous District and Regional Councils — not the Tribes Advisory Council, and it does not apply to Madhya Pradesh.

Concept: The Constitution runs two separate tracks for tribal administration. The Fifth Schedule covers Scheduled Areas in States other than Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram: the Governor is given special powers, must report annually to the President on the administration of these areas, may direct that a law of Parliament or the State legislature shall not apply or shall apply with modifications, and is advised by the Tribes Advisory Council. The Sixth Schedule covers the four north-eastern States named above and works quite differently — through elected Autonomous District Councils with law-making, judicial and taxing powers.

State PCS 2026 Q67 — Indian Polity PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2026 Q67 — Indian Polity PYQ with Answer