Tribal areas and schedules — UPSC Prelims PYQs
16 questions in this bank come from Tribal areas and schedules, spanning UPSC Prelims papers from 2011 to 2026. Every question here carries all four options, the correct answer and a full explanation.
It has appeared in 12 of the last 16 papers, most heavily in 2023 with 3 questions. That makes it one of the most dependable areas in the paper.
The themes examined most often within it are Fifth Schedule and Scheduled Areas (4), Scheduled Tribes in the Constitution (4), Languages and Tribes in India (2), Agricultural Policy and Food Economy (1) and Authority under Forest Rights Act 2006 (1). Those counts are of questions in which the theme is examined, not merely mentioned.
Questions here are spread across Polity & Governance (12), Economy (1), Environment & Ecology (1) and Geography (1). Between them they draw on 16 distinct themes, so this is a broader area than a single revision note can cover. That is 1.1% of the 1433 questions in the bank — useful for deciding how much revision time it deserves.
It has come up more often lately — roughly 1.6 questions a year across the last five papers, against 0.7 before that.
It was not examined in 4 of those papers. Each question below links to its full explanation and to related questions on the same theme from other years, so a weak area can be worked through in one pass rather than hunted for paper by paper.
UPSC Prelims 20261 question
UPSC Prelims 20251 question
UPSC Prelims 20242 questions
- Polity & Governance
The Constitution (71st Amendment) Act, 1992 amends the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution to include which of the following languages? 1. Konkani 2. Manipuri 3. Nepali 4. Maithili Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- Polity & Governance
Consider the following statements: 1. It is the Governor of the State who recognizes and declares any community of that State as a Scheduled Tribe. 2. A community declared as a Scheduled Tribe in a State need not be so in another State. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC Prelims 20233 questions
- Economy
Consider the following statements: 1. The Government of India provides Minimum Support Price for niger (Guizotia abyssinica) seeds. 2. Niger is cultivated as a Kharif crop. 3. Some tribal people in India use niger seed oil for cooking. How many of the above statements are correct?
- Polity & Governance
With reference to ‘Scheduled Areas’ in India, consider the following statements: 1. Within a State, the notification of an area as Scheduled Area takes place through an Order of the President. 2. The largest administrative unit forming the Scheduled Area is the District and the lowest is the cluster of villages in the Block. 3. The Chief Ministers of concerned States are required to submit annual reports to the Union Home Ministry on the administration of Scheduled Areas in the States. How many of the above statements are correct?
- Polity & Governance
Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The Supreme Court of India has held in some judgments that the reservation policies made under Article 16(4) of the Constitution of India would be limited by Article 335 for the maintenance of efficiency of administration. Statement-II: Article 335 of the Constitution of India defines the term ‘efficiency of administration’. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
UPSC Prelims 20221 question
UPSC Prelims 20211 question
UPSC Prelims 20192 questions
- Environment & Ecology
Consider the following statements: 1. Asiatic lions are naturally found in India only. 2. Double-humped camels are naturally found in India only. 3. One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Polity & Governance
Under which Schedule of the Constitution of India can the transfer of tribal land to private parties for mining be declared null and void?
