The question asks to identify the specific article in the Indian Constitution that pertains to the administration of Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas. This requires knowledge of the constitutional provisions related to these special administrative regions.
A) Article 244
Article 244 of the Indian Constitution specifically deals with the administration of Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas. It states that the provisions of the Fifth Schedule shall apply to the administration and control of the Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in any State other than the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. It also states that the provisions of the Sixth Schedule shall apply to the administration of the tribal areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
B) Article 340 — Article 340 deals with the appointment of a Commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes. It is not related to the administration of Scheduled or Tribal Areas.
C) Article 46 — Article 46 is a Directive Principle of State Policy. It states that the State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation. While it concerns Scheduled Tribes, it is a directive principle and not an article defining the administration of Scheduled/Tribal Areas.
D) Article 245 — Article 245 deals with the extent of laws made by Parliament and by the Legislatures of States. It defines the territorial limits of legislative powers and is not related to the administration of Scheduled or Tribal Areas.
The question asks to identify which of the given options is NOT an objective of the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, 1996. To answer this, we need to recall the key provisions and aims of the PESA Act.
Correct Option: C) To create autonomous regions in tribal areas
The question asks to identify the schedule of the Indian Constitution that deals with the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in states other than Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. This requires knowledge of the various schedules of the Indian Constitution and their respective subject matters.
B) Fifth Schedule — The Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution deals with the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in states other than Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. It provides for the establishment of Tribes Advisory Councils and applies to the majority of states with tribal populations.
The question asks about the authority responsible for initiating the process of determining forest rights under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. This requires knowledge of the specific provisions of the Forest Rights Act (FRA).
Correct Option: D) Gram Sabha is the authority explicitly mentioned in the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, to initiate the process for determining forest rights. This highlights the Act's focus on community-led decision-making.
The question asks about the composition of the North Eastern Council (NEC) after its amendment in 2002. We need to identify the correct members from the given options based on the provisions of the North Eastern Council Act, 1971, as amended in 2002.
Statements 1 (Governors of constituent states), 2 (Chief Ministers of constituent states), and 3 (Three members nominated by the President of India) are all part of the North Eastern Council's composition after the 2002 amendment. The Union Home Minister is the ex-officio Chairman, but the question asks for members, and options 1, 2, and 3 represent the core membership categories.
The question asks about the authority responsible for declaring an area as a Scheduled Area in India. This falls under the constitutional provisions related to the administration of tribal areas.
C) President — The President of India has the exclusive power to declare any area as a Scheduled Area, as per the provisions of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.