UPSC Prelims 2019 Question:

Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India:

1. PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory.
2. A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status.
3. There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far.
4. Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs.
   
   

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Explanation:

• In 1973, the ‘Dhebar Commission’ created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category of tribal groups. They are more vulnerable among the tribal groups. In 2006, they were renamed as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
  
  

• They are spread over 18 States and the UT of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. So, statement 1 is correct.
  
  
• The Government of India follows the following criteria for the identification of PVTGs.
  

• Pre-agricultural level of technology
• Low level of literacy
• Economic backwardness
• A declining or stagnant population. So, statement 2 is correct.

• In 1975, the Government of India declared 52 tribal groups to be PVTGs. In 1993 an additional 23 groups were added to this category, making it a total of 75 PVTGs out of 705 Scheduled Tribes. So, statement 3 is not correct.
  
  
• Konda Reddi (in Andhra Pradesh, including Telangana) and Irular (in Tamilnadu) tribes are included in the list of PVTGs. So, statement 4 is correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.

Subject: Polity | Scheduled and Tribal Areas