Salient Features of the Constitution: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Polity)

Explanation

Option (a) is correct: The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India provides for the administration and control of scheduled areas and tribes in India. It aims to protect the interests of tribal communities and prevent the exploitation of tribal lands and resources. One of the key provisions under the Fifth Schedule is that it restricts the transfer of land from tribal people to non-tribal people in tribal areas, thus safeguarding their land rights and ensuring their protection against land alienation.

Option (b) is incorrect: This would create a local self-governing body in that area that is not specifically tied to the Fifth Schedule, as local self-governance is addressed in other parts of the Constitution, like the Panchayati Raj system.

Option (c) is incorrect: This would convert that area into the Union Territory is incorrect. The Fifth Schedule does not convert any area into a Union Territory; it applies to scheduled areas within existing states.

Option (d) is incorrect: The State having such areas would be declared a Special Category State is incorrect. The Fifth Schedule does not declare a state as a special category state. According to Article 244(1), the President defines Scheduled Areas, and the Governor, after consulting the Tribal Advisory Council (TAC), can make regulations for their governance. These regulations may include restrictions on land transfers to non-tribals, the allocation of land to Scheduled Tribes, and the regulation of money-lending activities involving tribal communities.