Q. Which Hindu community in Maharashtra, known for its Rajput ancestry, was historically classified as a "criminal tribe" by the British?
Answer:
Pardhi
Notes: Pardhi is a Hindu tribe in Maharashtra with Rajput roots. They were labeled a "criminal tribe" under the British Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 due to hunting activities. Pardhis worship local deities and were mainly hunters. The stigma persisted despite denotification in 1952.