Tribe and Scheduled Tribe — 2018 Paper II

Approach

• Demand of Question: Distinguish the anthropological concept of tribe from the constitutional-administrative category of Scheduled Tribe.
• Structuring the Response: Define tribe socioculturally, explain Scheduled Tribe under Article 342, and highlight why the two categories are not identical.
• Key Dimensions to Cover: Tribe, territory, kinship, culture, Article 342, constitutional notification, state-specific recognition and administrative category.

Model Answer

Introduction: Tribe and Scheduled Tribe (ST) are related but conceptually different. “Tribe” is primarily an anthropological and sociological category, whereas Scheduled Tribe is a constitutional and administrative category in India.

Tribe

Traditionally, a tribe has been described as a community characterized by some combination of:

• common territory;
• shared cultural traditions;
• kinship organization;
• common language or dialect;
• collective identity;
• customary political institutions.

However, contemporary anthropology recognizes that tribal societies are diverse, historically changing and deeply connected with wider society.

Scheduled Tribe

Under Article 342, the President specifies communities as Scheduled Tribes for a particular State or Union Territory, subject to parliamentary modification.

Thus:

Anthropological tribe ≠ Automatically Scheduled Tribe

ST status is important because it provides access to constitutional safeguards involving:

• political representation;
• education;
• public employment;
• developmental programmes.

Recognition may also be state-specific: a community notified as ST in one state may not necessarily have identical status elsewhere.

Historically used administrative criteria included distinct culture, geographical isolation and socioeconomic disadvantage.

Conclusion: “Tribe” describes a form of social-cultural identity, while “Scheduled Tribe” denotes a constitutionally recognized community entitled to specific safeguards and affirmative measures.