Article 342 is the constitutional provision that sets how Scheduled Tribes (STs, Anusuchit Janjati) are identified. Article 366(25) defines STs as tribes deemed under Article 342 to be Scheduled Tribes, so the ST list is created through this article.Wikipedia
The list is state or Union Territory specific: the President notifies tribes for each state after consulting its Governor, and only Parliament can include or exclude a tribe by law.Wikipedia
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs refused to disclose details of a claimed proposal to delete 'Any Kuki Tribes' from Manipur's ST list, citing concerns that disclosure could aggravate inter-community tensions.The Hindu
Article 342 of the Constitution of India (Scheduled Tribes): quick facts
- Constitutional provision
- Article 342 (Scheduled Tribes); Article 366(25) defines ST by reference to it
- Nodal ministry
- Ministry of Tribal Affairs, nodal ministry for ST list inclusion, exclusion and modifications
- ST list size
- Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 lists 744 tribes across 22 states in its First Schedule.
Key facts
| Constitutional provision | Article 342 (Scheduled Tribes); Article 366(25) defines ST by reference to itWikipedia |
|---|---|
| Nodal ministry | Ministry of Tribal Affairs, nodal ministry for ST list inclusion, exclusion and modificationsThe Hindu |
| ST list size | Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 lists 744 tribes across 22 states in its First Schedule.Wikipedia |
| Concurrence bodies | Registrar General of India and National Commission for Scheduled TribesThe Hindu |
Key features and how it works
- Article 342(1): the President, after consulting the Governor of a state, specifies by public notification the tribes or tribal communities, or parts of or groups within them, that are deemed Scheduled Tribes for that state or Union Territory.Wikipedia
- Article 342(2): Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the ST list any tribe, tribal community, or part of or group within one, and a notification cannot be varied by a later notification except as this clause allows.Wikipedia
- Unlike Scheduled Castes, STs can belong to any religion to be recognised as Scheduled. Identification uses traits such as primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact and backwardness, based on the Lokur Committee criteria of 1965.Wikipedia
- Scheduling of a community is restricted to a state, and area restrictions can apply to districts, subdistricts and tehsils.Wikipedia
- The Ministry's process: a state government's recommended and justified proposal is processed further and needs concurrence from the Registrar General of India and the NCST before consideration for a legislative amendment.The Hindu
Eligibility and rules
Static GK
- Ministry of Tribal Affairs: set up in 1999 after the bifurcation of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment; nodal ministry for overall policy, planning and coordination of ST development programmes.Wikipedia
- National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST): established under Article 338A by the 89th Amendment, in force 19 February 2004, after the erstwhile National Commission for SCs and STs was split; it monitors ST safeguards.Wikipedia
- Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India: founded in 1961 under the Ministry of Home Affairs; it conducts the Census.Wikipedia
- Right to Information Act, 2005: allows citizens to request information from public authorities.Wikipedia
- The Fifth Schedule protects tribal interests in states other than Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, which are covered by the Sixth Schedule.Wikipedia
Comparison
Article 342 (ST list) vs Article 341 (SC list) and Scheduled Areas
| Basis | Article 342 (STs) | Article 341 (SCs) | Scheduled Areas (Fifth/Sixth Schedule) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who is notified | Tribes or tribal communities | Castes, races or tribes | Areas, not communities |
| Who can change the list | President notifies; Parliament includes or excludes | President notifies; Parliament includes or excludes | President notifies scheduled areas (Fifth Schedule) |
| Religion bar | None | Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist | Not applicable |
| Scope | Notified state by state | Notified state by state | 10 states under Fifth Schedule; Sixth Schedule in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram |
Achievements
- The ST list gives legal recognition and reservation status to tribes in each state, which supports political representation, education and employment preferences.Wikipedia
- Parliament's sole power over additions and exclusions keeps list changes under democratic scrutiny rather than executive order alone.
- The concurrence process with the RGI and NCST adds independent checks before a proposal reaches legislation.
Challenges
- Notified areas under the Fifth Schedule cover only a share of tribal populations, leaving many STs outside special governance, according to Adivasi organisations.Wikipedia
- Disputes over nomenclature and inclusion of sub-groups, as in Manipur, can turn into inter-community tension and public-order concerns.
- Limited transparency during consultation, where the Ministry withholds deliberative records, can leave affected communities without information on pending proposals.
Way forward
- Clear published procedures and timelines for ST list proposals would reduce speculation and rumours during pending cases.
- Greater convergence between the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the RGI and the NCST at the concurrence stage would speed up decisions.
- Outcome monitoring and redacted disclosure of non-sensitive parts, under the RTI redaction provision, could balance transparency with public order.
Timeline
13 November 2026
The Central Information Commission upheld the Ministry of Tribal Affairs' refusal to disclose a claimed Manipur proposal to delete 'Any Kuki Tribes' from the ST list, citing inter-community tension risks.
Read the story24 June 2025
Ministry of Tribal Affairs replies to the RTI, refusing disclosure citing public order in Manipur.The Hindu
25 July 2024
Manipur government letter dated 25 July 2024 on the proposed deletion of 'Any Kuki Tribes' and correction of 'Any Mizo (Lushai) Tribe' to 'Mizo' (as claimed by the RTI applicant).The Hindu
19 February 2004
89th Amendment in force, creating the NCST under Article 338A.Wikipedia
1999
Ministry of Tribal Affairs set up after the bifurcation of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.Wikipedia
1950
Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 issued, initially containing 296 tribes.Wikipedia
Every new story on this subject is added here automatically.
Frequently asked questions
Who can add or remove a tribe from the ST list?
Parliament can include or exclude a tribe by law under Article 342(2), while the President issues the initial notification after consulting the Governor under Article 342(1).Wikipedia
Is the ST list the same across all states?
No. The list is notified state by state, so a tribe is an ST only in the state or Union Territory where it is notified.Wikipedia
What did the CIC decide in the Manipur RTI case?
The CIC upheld the Ministry's refusal, and it also ruled out redacted copies under Section 10 of the RTI Act.The Hindu
GS paper mapping
- GS-2Constitution: Scheduled Tribes, Articles 342 and 366(25); Parliament and President roles
- GS-2Government policies and interventions for development of vulnerable sections (Ministry of Tribal Affairs, NCST)
- GS-2Right to Information Act, 2005; transparency and public order exceptions
- GS-1Tribes of India; tribal communities of Northeast and Manipur
- GS-2Issues in Manipur and Northeast; ethnic conflict and governance
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages.
