In the Indian context the term De-notified tribes refers to

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Q: 24 (IAS/1996)
In the Indian context the term De-notified tribes’ refers to

question_subject: 

Geography

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,131,90,44,34,12,131

keywords: 

{'tribes': [1, 1, 2, 1], 'criminal tribes': [0, 1, 0, 0], 'nomadic tribes': [0, 1, 0, 0], 'indian context': [0, 1, 0, 2], 'aboriginals': [0, 1, 0, 0], 'term de': [0, 1, 0, 0]}

In the Indian context, the term "De-notified tribes" refers to tribes which were earlier classified as criminal tribes. Option 4 is the correct answer.

De-notified tribes in India were originally classified as "criminal tribes" during the colonial period under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871. This Act labeled certain tribes as "criminal" based on their traditional occupations, such as hunting, gathering, or itinerant trading, which were considered incompatible with the settled society.

The colonial government implemented a policy of surveillance, control, and stigmatization against these tribes. They were subjected to social exclusion, restrictions on movement, and were often branded as criminals purely on the basis of their tribe, regardless of individual behavior. This discriminatory classification had severe consequences for the tribes and their subsequent generations.

However, after India gained independence in 1947, the Criminal Tribes Act was repealed in 1952. The tribes classified as criminal tribes under the Act were "de-notified" or officially removed from the list of criminal tribes. This denotification was intended to bring an end to the stigmatization and discrimination faced by these communities.

It is important to note that the term "De-notified tribes" does not refer to tribes which are aboriginals (Option 1) or tribes practicing shifting cultivation (Option 3). While there might be overlap between de-notified tribes and certain aboriginal or shifting cultivation tribes, the term specifically relates to tribes previously labeled as criminal tribes.

Option 2, nomadic tribes, could be a plausible choice, as many de-notified tribes were traditionally nomadic or semi-nomadic. However, it does not capture the essence of their reclassification as "de-notified" or the historical context of the Criminal Tribes Act.

To further understand the complexities surrounding de-notified tribes in India, it is worth noting that after denotification, these tribes still face various socio-economic challenges, including poverty, lack of access to education and healthcare, marginalization, and limited employment opportunities. Efforts have been made by the Indian government and civil society organizations to uplift and integrate de-notified tribes into mainstream society, promoting their rights, livelihoods, and cultural preservation.

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