UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 17 March 2025

Home UPSC Current Affairs What makes a tribe? Is it based on a spectrum, or in a binary classification

What makes a tribe? Is it based on a spectrum, or in a binary classification

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India is reconsidering its outdated criteria for defining Scheduled Tribes, with experts advocating a spectrum-based approach instead of the rigid binary classification.

Introduction

India’s classification of tribal communities has remained largely unchanged for over six decades, relying on the Lokur Committee’s 1965 criteria.
However, leading anthropologists and policymakers are now advocating for a paradigm shift in the way a “tribe” is defined. Instead of a binary classification, experts suggest that communities should be assessed on a “spectrum of tribalness”, considering a broader range of socio-cultural and historical indicators.
This proposal was a key outcome of the recent Indian Anthropology Congress, where officials from the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) engaged in discussions on developing a new framework for tribal classification.

Spectrum-Based Approach vs. Rigid Binary Classification

Traditional Binary Classification (Existing System)
- Based on the Lokur Committee’s 1965 criteria, which use five fixed parameters (primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact, and backwardness).
- A community is either a “tribe” or not, with no flexibility in classification.
- This rigid system fails to account for socio-cultural changes and diversity among tribal groups.
Spectrum-Based Approach (Proposed System)
- Instead of a yes/no classification, communities would be assessed on a scale of “tribalness” using multiple indicators (potentially up to 150).
- Factors like kinship, marriage customs, language, rituals, and material culture would be given weighted scores, allowing a more nuanced evaluation.
- Acknowledges that tribal identity exists on a continuum, recognizing varying degrees of tribal characteristics across communities.

Definition and Identification of Scheduled Tribes

The Constitution of India does not define the term ‘tribe’, but under Article 342(1), the President has the power to specify communities as Scheduled Tribes (STs) through a public notification.

Criteria for Identification (Lokur Committee, 1965)

The Lokur Committee (1965) outlined five essential characteristics for a community to be identified as a Scheduled Tribe:

Indication of Primitive Traits – Distinct ways of life, including livelihood patterns and cultural traditions.
Distinctive Culture – Unique customs, traditions, religious practices, and festivals.
Shyness of Contact with the Community at Large – Limited interaction with the outside world.
Geographical Isolation – Residence in remote areas, forests, and hilly terrains.
Backwardness – Socio-economic disadvantages, low literacy levels, and poor healthcare.

Constitutional Safeguards for Scheduled Tribes

Educational & Cultural Safeguards

- Article 15(4) – Allows special provisions for the advancement of STs.
- Article 29 – Protects the cultural and linguistic interests of STs.
- Article 46 – Directs the State to promote the educational and economic interests of STs and protect them from social injustice and exploitation.
- Article 350 – Grants STs the right to conserve their distinct language, script, or culture.
Political Safeguards
- Article 330 – Provides for the reservation of seats for STs in Lok Sabha.
- Article 332 – Ensures reservation of seats for STs in State Legislatures.
- Article 243 – Reserves seats in Panchayats for ST representatives.
Administrative and Economic Safeguards
- Fifth Schedule – Provides for the creation of a Tribes’ Advisory Council (TAC) in states with Scheduled Areas to advise on tribal welfare.
- Article 275 – Provides financial grants from the Union Government to State Governments for tribal welfare programs.

Government Initiatives for Scheduled Tribes

TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India)
- Promotes marketing and trade of tribal products, ensuring fair prices for forest produce and handicrafts.
Digital Transformation of Tribal Schools
- Enhances technology-enabled learning in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS).
Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
- Focuses on the most marginalized tribal communities, providing education, healthcare, and livelihood support.

Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY)
- Empowers tribal entrepreneurs by promoting the value addition of minor forest produce.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)
- Establishes quality schools in tribal-dominated areas, improving educational access for ST children.

Challenges in Implementing a New Tribal Classification System

Opposition from Tribal Organisations
- Several tribal organisations, including the Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad, advocate for a stricter application of the existing Lokur Committee criteria.
- Concerns have been raised that a broader definition of tribalness may lead to increased competition for ST benefits, such as reservations in education and government jobs

Risk of Inter-Community Conflicts
- The ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur were triggered by the Meitei community’s demand for ST status, which was strongly opposed by the Kuki-Zo and Naga tribes.
- Expanding ST classification could lead to similar conflicts over identity and resource allocation in other states.
Government’s Reluctance to Change Existing Critera
- Despite recommendations from a 2014 task force led by Hrusikesh Panda, the Union Government decided to retain the Lokur Committee criteria.
- Successive national commissions have failed to establish a clear, universally accepted classification framework.

Way Forward

Development of a “Tribalness Index”
- A quantifiable index should be created to assign weightage to various indicators, ensuring an objective evaluation of communities seeking ST status.
Institutional Collaboration
- The Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI), NCST, and Tribal Research Institutions (TRIs) should work together to refine classification standards.
Inclusion of Community Perspectives
- Tribal communities should have a say in how they are identified, ensuring that the classification reflects their self-perception rather than an externally imposed identity.
Periodic Review of ST Classification
- A regular reassessment mechanism should be established to ensure that tribal classification remains relevant and just.