Consider the following statements about the provisions pertaining to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in India :
- Provisions regarding the administration of the Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram are given in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
- Some tribes of India are entitled to exemption from paying Income Tax on certain incomes.
- The Constitution of India provides for reservation of seats in Panchayats for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct ?
Detailed Explanation:
Statement 1 — Incorrect. The Sixth Schedule (Article 244(2)) governs Tribal Areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram — NOT the Fifth Schedule. The Fifth Schedule (Article 244(1)) applies to Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in all other states.
Statement 2 — Correct. Under Section 10(26) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, Scheduled Tribe members residing in specified regions are exempt from income tax on income generated within those areas:
- Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Ladakh
- Also covers dividends and interest on securities
Statement 3 — Correct. Article 243D mandates reservation of seats in Panchayats for SCs and STs. Further, Article 243D(2) explicitly requires that not less than one-third of seats reserved for SCs and STs must be reserved for women belonging to SCs/STs.
Key Trick: Statement 1 is a classic Fifth vs Sixth Schedule swap — one of the most frequently tested UPSC traps in Polity.
Question 1 of 6 Fifth Schedule
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First question in this topic
Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if a...