Q. The provisions in Fifth Schedule and Sixth Schedule in the Constitution of India are made in order to (UPSC Prelims 2015)
Answer:
protect the interests of Scheduled Tribes
Notes: The correct answer is
[A] protect the interests of Scheduled Tribes.The Fifth and Sixth Schedules are special constitutional mechanisms designed to provide varying degrees of autonomy and protection to tribal communities, ensuring their land, culture, and customs are preserved from outside interference.1. The Fifth Schedule
- Scope: It applies to the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in any state except the four northeastern states covered by the Sixth Schedule.
- Key Feature: The Governor has special lightning powers. They can direct that a particular Act of Parliament or State Legislature does not apply to a Scheduled Area or applies with specific modifications.
- Tribes Advisory Council (TAC): It mandates the establishment of a TAC in each state having Scheduled Areas to advise on matters pertaining to the welfare and advancement of the Scheduled Tribes.
2. The Sixth Schedule
- Scope: It applies specifically to the tribal areas in the four northeastern states: Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram (often remembered by the acronym AMTM).
- Key Feature: It provides for the creation of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) and Regional Councils. These bodies have significant legislative, judicial, and administrative powers.
- Autonomy: Unlike the Fifth Schedule, where the Governor has the upper hand, the Sixth Schedule creates a "state within a state." ADCs can make laws on land, forests, inheritance, and social customs, and even constitute village courts to try certain cases.
Comparison of the Two Schedules:| Feature | Fifth Schedule | Sixth Schedule |
| Applicability | 10 States (e.g., MP, Odisha, AP, Gujarat) | 4 NE States (Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram) |
| Administrative Body | Tribes Advisory Council (Consultative) | Autonomous District Councils (Legislative/Executive) |
| Role of Governor | Significant discretionary power | Acts as a facilitator/mediator for the ADCs |
| Objective | Integration with safeguards | Greater self-rule and preservation of identity |
Why other options are incorrect:- Boundaries between States (Option B): Handled under Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution.
- Powers of Panchayats (Option C): Covered under the Eleventh Schedule (73rd Amendment Act).
- Border States (Option D): There is no specific "Schedule" for border states; their interests are handled through various security and developmental policies.