IAS 2022 — Political Science Indian Polity

2022mcqmedium

If a particular area is brought under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which one of the following statements best reflects the consequence of it ?

Official previous-year question

Verified 2 Aug 2026.

Options

AThis would prevent the transfer of land of tribal people to non-tribal people.
BThis would create a local self-governing body in that area.
CThis would convert that area into a Union Territory.
DThe State having such areas would be declared a Special Category State.

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Solution

Correct Option

The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India provides for the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in any state other than Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. A fundamental objective of including an area under the Fifth Schedule is to safeguard the interests of the tribal population, particularly concerning their land and resources. State laws, enacted under the authority of the Fifth Schedule and Article 244, often incorporate provisions to prevent the alienation of tribal land to non-tribal individuals or entities. The Governor of the state holds special powers regarding the administration of Scheduled Areas, including the authority to make regulations for the peace and good governance of such areas, which may involve prohibiting or restricting land transfer by or among members of the Scheduled Tribes. Therefore, preventing the transfer of land of tribal people to non-tribal people is a significant consequence and a core protective measure under the Fifth Schedule.

Incorrect Options

Option (B): The Fifth Schedule itself does not directly establish local self-governing bodies. While the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) extends Part IX of the Constitution relating to Panchayats to Scheduled Areas with certain modifications, this is a separate legislative enactment, not a direct consequence of an area being under the Fifth Schedule. The Fifth Schedule primarily focuses on administrative control and protection of tribal interests.

Option (C): The Fifth Schedule applies to Scheduled Areas located within the existing states of the Indian Union. It does not convert any area into a Union Territory. Union Territories are administered by the Central Government.

Option (D): The declaration of a 'Special Category State' is a classification primarily based on economic, geographical, and strategic considerations, impacting central financial assistance and tax concessions. It is a financial and developmental classification by the Centre, distinct from the constitutional provisions for the administration of tribal areas under the Fifth Schedule.

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