Identification of SCs and STs in India
How were Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes identified prior to independence?
- On the basis of the 1931 census that the British government had conducted, the Government of India 1935 Act was promulgated.
- The reservation for the “Depressed Classes” was incorporated into the act, which came into force in 1937.
- This “Depressed class” later came to known as the Scheduled Caste.
- Scheduled Tribe were the ‘tribes or communities’ who were isolated from the rest of the communities and wouldn’t abide to any religion.
- The British government in 1935 identified ‘Schedule of Tribes’ which consisted of different types of indigenous tribal groups i.e. Denotified tribes, criminal tribes, forest dwellers etc.
- By 1937 both the section were given positive affirmative action rights and political representation.
- After India got its independence, the Constitution continued the affirmative action for the ‘depressed class’ which were now termed as ‘Scheduled Caste’ and ‘Scheduled Tribe’.
What does the Constitution of India state?
- According to the Constitution of India, under article 341(1), the President of India, after consultation with the Governor, may specify, “the castes, races, tribes or parts of groups within castes or races, which shall be deemed to be Scheduled Castes”.
- Accordingly, the President has notified the Scheduled Castes in the order called ‘Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order-1950’ and the ‘Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes List (Modification) Order-1956.
- However, under article 341(2), the Parliament of India by law can include or exclude the above-mentioned groups from the list of the Scheduled Castes.
What does the Presidential Order of 1950 state?
- The order was called as the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.
- The complete list of castes and tribes was made on order of 1950 which had certain norms and criteria for inclusion of other community later.
- How ever the Scheduled tribe list was put in updation due to partition as it was very difficult to identify tribals as they were geographically isolated.
- Thus, the list of Scheduled tribe was completely updated by 1958 with 744 enlisted tribes.
Syllabus: Prelims
