Scheduled Tribes
Also called: STs
Tribes or tribal communities, or parts of or groups within them, deemed under Article 342 to be Scheduled Tribes for the purposes of the Constitution (Article 366(25)).
Explained
Article 366(25) of the Constitution defines Scheduled Tribes as such tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed under Article 342 to be Scheduled Tribes for the purposes of this Constitution. The definition is not descriptive; it depends entirely on the list made under Article 342.
Under Article 342(1) the President, with respect to any State or Union territory, and in the case of a State after consultation with the Governor, specifies by public notification the tribes or tribal communities, or parts or groups within them, that are deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in relation to that State or Union territory. Under Article 342(2) only Parliament, by law, can include or exclude a community from the list; the notification cannot be varied by a later notification. Courts and State Governments therefore cannot add to or subtract from the list, and status is specific to the State for which the notification is made. Article 341 contains the parallel scheme for Scheduled Castes.
Many provisions rest on the definition. Articles 15(4) and 16(4A) enable special provisions and reservation in promotion for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Article 46 directs the State to promote their educational and economic interests, and Articles 330, 332 and 243D reserve seats for them in the House of the People, the State Legislative Assemblies and Panchayats. Article 335 requires their claims in services to be considered consistently with efficiency of administration. Article 244 applies the Fifth Schedule to the administration of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in most States and the Sixth Schedule to tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. Article 338A sets up the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, and Article 339 gives the Union control over the administration of Scheduled Areas and the welfare of Scheduled Tribes.
Examiners test the defining Articles (366(25) and 342), who can amend the list, the Fifth and Sixth Schedule split, and the reservation provisions.
What the law says
(25) “Scheduled Tribes” means such tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed under article 342 to be Scheduled Tribes for the purposes of this Constitution;
Clause (25) defines Scheduled Tribes
(1) The President [may with respect to any State [or Union territory], and where it is a State ***, after consultation with the Governor *** thereof], by public notification, specify the tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within tribes or tribal communities which shall for the purposes of this Constitution be deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in relation to that State [or Union territory, as the case may be.]
(2) Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled Tribes specified in a notification issued under clause (1) any tribe or tribal community or part of or group within any tribe or tribal community, but save as aforesaid a notification issued under the said clause shall not be varied by any subsequent notification.
Presidential notification and Parliament's power to amend the list
(1) 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]]].
(2) The provisions of the Sixth Schedule shall apply to the administration of the tribal areas in [the States of Assam, [, [Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram]]].
Fifth and Sixth Schedules for Scheduled and tribal areas
[(1) There shall be a Commission for the Scheduled Tribes to be known as the National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes.
(2) Subject to the provisions of any law made in this behalf by Parliament, the Commission shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other Members and the conditions of service and tenure of office of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members so appointed shall be such as the President may by rule determine.
(3) The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
[(b) the Scheduled Tribes except the Scheduled Tribes in the autonomous districts of Assam; and]
(c) the Scheduled Tribes in the autonomous districts of Assam.
(2) The number of seats reserved in any State [or Union territory] for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes under clause (1) shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats allotted to that State [or Union territory] in the House of the People as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the State [or Union territory] or of the Scheduled Tribes in the State [or Union territory] or part of the State [or Union territory], as the case may be, in respect of which seats are so reserved, bears to the total population of the State [or Union territory].
Reservation of seats in the House of the People
(1) Seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, [except the Scheduled Tribes in the autonomous districts of Assam], in the Legislative Assembly of every State ***.
(2) Seats shall be reserved also for the autonomous districts in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Assam.
(3) The number of seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly of any State under clause (1) shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats in the Assembly as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the State or of the Scheduled Tribes in the State or part of the State, as the case may be, in respect of which seats are so reserved, bears to the total population of the State.
Reservation of seats in State Legislative Assemblies
For the exam
- Article 366(25) defines STs by reference to Article 342.
- President notifies the list State-wise after consulting the Governor (Article 342(1)).
- Only Parliament by law can include or exclude a tribe (Article 342(2)).
- Fifth Schedule for Scheduled Areas; Sixth Schedule for Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
- National Commission for Scheduled Tribes: Article 338A.
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Related terms
- Scheduled CastesCastes, races or tribes, or parts of or groups within them, deemed to be Scheduled Castes under Article 341 of the Constitution (Article 366(24)).
- Socially and educationally backward classesUnder Article 366(26C), the backward classes deemed socially and educationally backward under Article 342A for the Central Government or a State or Union territory. Articles 15(4) and 15(5) permit special provisions for them.
- The State (Article 12)For Part III of the Constitution, the Government and Parliament of India, the Government and Legislature of each State, and all local or other authorities in India or under the control of the Government of India.
- Union territoryAny Union territory specified in the First Schedule to the Constitution, including any other territory within India not specified in that Schedule. Article 366(30) of the Constitution.
Further reading
Checked 6 November 2026. Statutory text is quoted from the Bare Acts library, taken from India Code. See the full glossary.