1996 General Studies, all questions
UPSC Prelims 1996 · General Studies
Question 24: Economy and Social Development
In the Indian context the term De-notified tribes refers to
atribes which are aboriginals
bnomadic tribes
ctribes practising shifting cultivation
dtribes which were earlier classified as criminal tribes
AnswerThe answer is (d).
De-notified tribes are communities once branded 'criminal tribes' under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 and its later versions, which treated whole groups as criminal by birth. The Act was repealed in 1952, after which they were 'denotified', though many still face stigma. Many are nomadic, but nomadism is not what the term means. Remember: denotified = formerly classified as criminal tribes.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Aboriginal means original inhabitants; it is not what 'de-notified' describes.
- (b) Many de-notified tribes are nomadic, but the term does not mean nomadic tribes.
- (c) Shifting cultivators are a different category of tribal communities.
- (d) Right: communities earlier classified as criminal tribes.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1996, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.