Scheduled Areas

Scheduled Areas are areas in India with a preponderance of tribal population subject to a special governance mechanism^[1] wherein the central government plays a direct role in safeguarding cultural and economic interests of scheduled tribes in the area.^[2] The authority to create and administer Scheduled Areas stems from the Fifth and Sixth Schedules of the Constitution of India.^[3]

Fifth Schedule area

The Fifth Schedule protects tribal interests in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan.^[4] In the Fifth Schedule areas, the governor of the state has special responsibilities with respect to tribal populations in the areas including issuing directives to the state government and limiting the effect of acts of the central or state legislature on the areas.^[5]

Sixth Schedule area

The Sixth Schedule protects tribal interests in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.^[6] In the Sixth Schedule areas, the emphasis is on self-rule; tribal communities are granted considerable autonomy, including powers to make laws and receive central government funds for social and infrastructure development. To enable local control, the role of the Governor and the State are subject to significant limitations in the areas.^[7]

See also

• Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act 1996
• Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes

References

1. Manish, B K (7 September 2017). "Very little is understood about Fifth and Sixth schedules of Indian constitution". DownToEarth. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
2. "Scheduled Areas". Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
3. The Constitution of India. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
4. "FIFTH SCHEDULE" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
5. Report of the Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes Commission. Simla: Government of India Press. 1961. p. 39. Archived from the original on 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
6. BK Manish and others versus State of Chhattisgarh & others (PDF). High Court of Chhattisgarh. 12 March 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
7. Malhotra, Sonum Gayatri (18 June 2013). "Right place, wrong arrangement". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.

External links

• Cabinet approves declaration of Scheduled Areas in respect of Rajasthan under Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of India