Sixth Schedule Purpose and Region

The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution is a special provision designed to protect the rights and interests of tribal communities in specific regions. It aims to provide a framework for the administration of tribal areas, granting them a degree of autonomy.

Tribal Areas Administration in North-East India

The Sixth Schedule specifically deals with the administration of tribal areas located in the northeastern part of India. This includes the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.

These regions are organized into 'Autonomous Districts' and 'Autonomous Regions'. The schedule empowers these autonomous bodies with legislative, executive, and judicial functions concerning subjects like land, forests, customary law, and governance, ensuring the preservation of tribal culture and identity.

Understanding the Options

• Central India: While Central India has significant tribal populations, the Sixth Schedule does not specifically designate administrative provisions for tribal areas in this region.
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands: These islands have their own unique tribal administration provisions under other constitutional articles, not the Sixth Schedule.
• Western Ghats: The Western Ghats region, although ecologically significant and home to some tribal communities, is not the primary focus of the Sixth Schedule's specific administrative provisions for tribal areas.
• North-East India: This region is explicitly covered by the Sixth Schedule, providing special administrative arrangements for its tribal areas.

Constitutional Context

The provisions for the Sixth Schedule are found in Article 244(2) and Article 275(1) of the Indian Constitution. These articles empower Parliament to enact laws for the administration of tribal areas as specified in the Fifth and Sixth Schedules. The Sixth Schedule provides more extensive autonomy compared to the general provisions under the Fifth Schedule.