GS Paper I 2017 · Q10
10 marks · 150 words Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularismWhat are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence, addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs) ?
Approach · directive: “what”
What it asks · Identify two central laws or constitutional-legal measures that protect STs against discrimination and exploitation, and say what each does and where it falls short.
The question has 2 parts — answer each
- Identify two major legal initiatives against discrimination of STs and explain what each does
- Note their constitutional basis and where each falls short in practice
Open with · Beyond reservations, the State has used laws to prevent atrocities and to restore tribal rights over land and forest; two landmark measures are the Atrocities Act and the Forest Rights Act.
Cover
- Constitutional base: Article 46 directs the State to protect STs from social injustice and exploitation; Articles 15(4) and 16(4) allow special provisions, and the Fifth and Sixth Schedules protect tribal areas.
- Initiative 1: the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 defines atrocities, prescribes punishment, and provides special courts and relief for victims.
- Atrocities Act, gaps: low conviction rates, delayed investigation and reluctance to register cases; amended in 2015 (in force from 26 January 2016) to add offences such as garlanding with footwear and forcing disposal of carcasses.
- Initiative 2: the Forest Rights Act, 2006 recognises individual and community rights of forest-dwelling STs and other traditional forest dwellers over land and forest produce, correcting historical injustice.
- Related law: the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 gives gram sabhas in Fifth Schedule areas powers over resources, land alienation and minor forest produce.
- Implementation: claims are rejected or delayed, and mining and displacement can override gram sabha consent.
Close with · These laws have shifted tribal rights from grace to entitlement, but their impact depends on faithful and timely implementation.
Add value (verified)
- Article 46 of the Constitution directs the State to protect the Scheduled Tribes from social injustice and all forms of exploitation, the constitutional basis for these protective laws. The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2024), Article 46 - Legislative Department ↗“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.”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2017, GS Paper I — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer · 190 words (UPSC limit 150) · Minimalist IAS
Article 46 directs the State to protect the Scheduled Tribes from social injustice and all forms of exploitation; beyond reservations under Articles 15(4) and 16(4), two landmark laws give this duty teeth: the Atrocities Act and the Forest Rights Act.
Initiative 1: Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989
- The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act defines atrocities, prescribes punishment and provides special courts and relief for victims.
- Its 2015 amendment, in force from 26 January 2016, added offences such as garlanding with footwear and forcing the disposal of carcasses.
- Gaps: reluctance to register cases, delayed investigation and low conviction rates.
Initiative 2: Forest Rights Act, 2006
- Recognises individual and community rights of forest-dwelling STs and other traditional forest dwellers over land and forest produce, correcting a historical injustice.
- Works with the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, which gives gram sabhas in Fifth Schedule areas powers over land alienation and minor forest produce.
- Gaps: claims are rejected or delayed, and mining and displacement can override gram sabha consent.
These laws have turned tribal protection from grace into entitlement, but their promise depends on faithful and timely implementation.
Written by Minimalist IAS from facts checked at source (how we verify) — a little fuller than exam length, so every part of the question is covered; in the hall, keep the structure and trim the detail. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.