Question map
Consider the following statements : 1. It is the Governor of the State who recognizes and declares any community of that State as a Scheduled Tribe. 2. A community declared as a Scheduled Tribe in a State need not be so in another State. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Explanation
The correct answer is option B (Statement 2 only).
**Statement 1 is incorrect:** The President of India has the authority to designate tribes or tribal groups, as Article 342 of the Constitution mandates the notification of the Statutory List of Scheduled[1] Tribes. The President is empowered to draw up a list in consultation with the Governor of each state, subject to revision by Parliament.[2] The Governor plays only a consultative role; the final authority rests with the President, not the Governor.
**Statement 2 is correct:** Scheduled Tribe status is state-specific in India. The President has made Orders specifying the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in India[2] in consultation with Governors of each state, meaning the lists vary by state. A community recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in one state may not have that status in another state, as the designation depends on the specific Presidential order for that particular state.
Sources- [2] Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 32: MINORITIES, SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES > CHAP. 32] MINORITIES, SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES 457 > p. 457
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a classic 'Authority Swap' trap (Governor vs President). The question tests fundamental constitutional provisions (Art 342) found in every standard Polity text. If you missed this, your static core is vulnerable.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Under the Constitution of India, does the Governor of a State have the authority to recognize and declare a community of that State as a Scheduled Tribe?
- Statement 2: In India, can a community be declared a Scheduled Tribe in one State but not be listed as a Scheduled Tribe in another State (i.e., are Scheduled Tribe listings state-specific)?
- Directly states which constitutional authority names Scheduled Tribes — the President under Article 342.
- Implies listing/notification of Scheduled Tribes is a Presidential function, not a State Governor's power.
- Specifies that the President (not the Governor) declares areas as Scheduled Areas, with any Governor involvement being consultative.
- Shows central (President) role in designation decisions, distinguishing it from Governor powers.
States that the President is empowered to draw up the lists of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes 'in consultation with the Governor of each State' (Articles 341-342).
A student could infer the formal power to 'specify' lists is with the President (Centre) and test whether 'consultation' implies a merely advisory role for the Governor rather than unilateral recognition.
Explicitly notes the President has power to draw up and notify lists of Scheduled Castes and Tribes and that consultation with the Governor is required in the case of lists relating to a State.
Use this rule to distinguish central (President/Parliament) competence from State executive powers and check whether any constitutional provision gives the Governor independent listing power.
Gives criteria and administrative practice for declaring 'scheduled areas' and states the Governor has a special responsibility regarding such areas.
Differentiate 'scheduled areas' (area designation involving Governor) from 'scheduled tribes' (community designation) and investigate if Governor's 'special responsibility' over areas implies authority to list communities.
Describes state-level institutional arrangements (Tribes Advisory Council) and central powers to give directions and appoint commissions concerning scheduled tribes and areas.
A student can contrast these state advisory/administrative roles with the President's list-making function to assess whether state bodies/Governor have declaration authority.
Shows an example where the Governor can exercise certain executive discretion at the state level (excluding matters from SPSC consultation), indicating some independent state executive powers.
Combine this with the central list-making clues to examine whether any analogous constitutional clause grants the Governor unilateral power to declare communities as Scheduled Tribes.
- Constitutional provision: President empowered to draw up lists of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in consultation with the Governor of each state.
- Lists are made by presidential order and can be amended by Parliament, implying formal, state-wise listing process.
- Different constitutional treatment (Fifth vs Sixth Schedule) applies to tribal areas across different regions, showing region/state-level differentiation in administration of tribal matters.
- Implies that tribal classification and administration vary by region, supporting state-specific distinctions.
- State government role in local representation: state authorities may nominate Scheduled Tribe members to Panchayats where they lack representation.
- Demonstrates state-level administrative actions affecting Scheduled Tribe recognition/representation.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Directly solvable from Laxmikanth (Chapter: Special Provisions for Certain Classes) or DD Basu (Art 342).
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The constitutional mechanism for identifying and notifying vulnerable sections (SC/ST/OBC).
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: (1) Art 341 (SCs) & Art 342 (STs): President notifies initial list; ONLY Parliament can modify/amend it later. (2) Art 342A (SEBCs): 105th Amendment restored States' power to maintain their own OBC lists. (3) Religious Bar: SC status is restricted to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists; ST status is religion-neutral. (4) Lokur Committee Criteria: Primitive traits, distinct culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact, backwardness.
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Map the 'Lifecycle of a Constitutional Status': Who initiates? (State Govt/Governor consults) -> Who Notifies? (President) -> Who Modifies? (Parliament). Never assume the State Executive has final authority on constitutional lists.
The power to draw up and notify the lists of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is vested in the President and is subject to parliamentary revision.
High-yield because it identifies the constitutional actor responsible for formal recognition of SC/ST status and links to Articles 341–342; useful for questions on constitutional powers, amendment/notification procedures, and centre-state relations. Mastering this clarifies who issues formal lists and how Parliament can alter them.
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 32: MINORITIES, SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES > CHAP. 32] MINORITIES, SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES 457 > p. 457
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 11: The Union Executive > Parliamentary safeguard. > p. 225
The President must consult the Governor of a State when notifying the list relating to that State, implying the Governor's role is consultative rather than declarative.
Essential for distinguishing consultative versus primary constitutional powers of state executives; helps answer questions on the limits of gubernatorial authority and the procedure for recognition of communities. Links to federal procedure and appointment/notification mechanics.
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 32: MINORITIES, SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES > CHAP. 32] MINORITIES, SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES 457 > p. 457
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 11: The Union Executive > Parliamentary safeguard. > p. 225
The Constitution provides special provisions (e.g., the Fifth Schedule) for administration of Scheduled Areas and assigns the Governor special responsibilities regarding such areas.
Important for questions on tribal administration, Fifth Schedule powers, and centre-state administrative relations; helps connect concepts of scheduled tribes, scheduled areas, and the Governor's specific duties in tribal regions. Enables analysis of administrative versus declarative roles in tribal welfare and governance.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 42: Scheduled and Tribal Areas > ADMINISTRATION OF SCHEDULED AREAS > p. 415
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 20: ADMINISTRATION OF SCHEDULED AND TRIBAL AREAS > ADMINISTRATION OF SCHEDULED AND TRIBAL AREAS > p. 329
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 42: Scheduled and Tribal Areas > ADMINISTRATION OF SCHEDULED AREAS > p. 416
The President prepares the list of Scheduled Tribes after consulting the Governor of each State, making the listing process tied to State-level consultation.
High-yield for constitutional questions on affirmative action and classification: explains who has the authority to list Scheduled Tribes and why lists can differ regionally. Connects to articles on appointment and federal consultation, and enables answers on how caste/tribe lists are created and amended.
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 32: MINORITIES, SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES > CHAP. 32] MINORITIES, SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES 457 > p. 457
The Constitution provides distinct administrative regimes (Fifth vs Sixth Schedule) for tribal areas, reflecting different regional treatment of tribal affairs.
Important for questions on tribal administration and federal arrangements: helps explain why tribal policy and administration can vary across regions and informs answers on special provisions for tribal areas. Links to topics on federalism, scheduled areas, and tribal welfare.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 42: Scheduled and Tribal Areas > Scheduled and Tribal Areas > p. 415
State governments have powers to nominate Scheduled Tribe members to Panchayats, showing state-level mechanisms for ST representation and recognition.
Useful for questions on decentralisation and reservation implementation: clarifies interplay between state authorities and tribal representation at local bodies, and aids in answering queries on how reservation policies operate on the ground.
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 39: Panchayati Raj > Features of the Act > p. 394
The 'Religious Bar' Nuance: While SC status (Art 341) is religion-specific (must be Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist), ST status (Art 342) is religion-neutral. A tribal person converting to Christianity retains ST status, but a Dalit converting to Christianity loses SC status. This is a high-probability future statement.
Use the 'Constitutional Rigidity' heuristic. Declaring a community as ST has massive financial and political implications (reservation). The Constitution makers would never leave such a high-stakes power solely to a State-level appointee (Governor) to avoid local populist listing. It logically requires a Central check (President). Thus, Statement 1 is false.
Mains GS2 (Social Justice & Federalism): The politics of inclusion (e.g., Meitei demand for ST status in Manipur). Understanding that while States recommend, the Centre holds the gatekeeping power to prevent competitive populism and maintain the integrity of the reservation basket.