GS Paper I 2017 · Q10
10 marks · 150 words Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism X-Ray · Core #22What 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.
It asks 2 things — 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 · Article 46 directs the State to protect STs from social injustice and exploitation; two laws give this duty teeth: the Atrocities Act, 1989 and the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
Cover
- Constitutional base: Article 46 asks the State to promote ST interests and protect them from injustice and exploitation.
- Atrocities Act, 1989: defines atrocities, punishes them, and provides special courts and relief for victims.
- 2015 amendment, in force from 26 January 2016: new offences such as garlanding with footwear and forced carcass disposal.
- Forest Rights Act, 2006: recognises individual and community rights of forest-dwelling STs over land and produce.
- Scale: 25,11,375 titles recognised by 31 May 2025, including 1,21,705 community titles.
- Gaps and way forward: low conviction, rejected claims, mining overriding gram sabhas; PESA, 1996 and time-bound probes help.
Close with · These laws moved tribal protection from grace to entitlement; their measure is a complaint registered without fear and a gram sabha actually heard.
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.”
- By 31 May 2025, 25,11,375 forest rights titles had been recognised, comprising 23,89,670 individual and 1,21,705 community titles.Implementation of Forest Rights Act, 2006 - PIB (Ministry of Tribal Affairs) ↗“a total of 25,11,375 titles have been recognised, comprising 23,89,670 individual and 1,21,705 community titles over the extent of 2,32,73,947.39 acres of forest land”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2017, GS Paper I — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 16 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 219words · Minimalist IAS
Article 46 directs the State to promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections, especially SCs and STs, and to protect them from social injustice and exploitation. Two laws give this duty teeth.
Initiative 1: Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989
- Purpose: the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act defines atrocities, punishes them, and provides special courts and relief for victims.
- Strengthened: 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
- Purpose: recognises individual and community rights of STs and other traditional forest dwellers over forest land and produce, correcting a historical injustice.
- Scale (since then): by 31 May 2025, 25,11,375 titles were recognised, including 1,21,705 community titles (Ministry of Tribal Affairs).
- Gaps: rejected or delayed claims, and mining or displacement overriding gram sabha consent.
Way forward
- Support law: use PESA, 1996, which empowers gram sabhas in Fifth Schedule areas over land alienation and minor forest produce.
- Delivery: exclusive special courts, time-bound probes and reasons for every rejected claim.
These laws moved tribal protection from grace to entitlement; their measure is a complaint registered without fear and a gram sabha actually heard.
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 16 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
