Geography — World, India and Andhra Pradesh for Group-I · Chapter 7

Social Geography: Tribes, Languages, Religions, Settlements and SC/ST

What to remember

India is a land of many peoples. Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) are listed under Articles 341 and 342 and get constitutional safeguards; tribal people live mostly in hills and forests.
Languages fall into four main families: Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Austroasiatic and Tibeto-Burman. The Eighth Schedule lists the recognised languages and Telugu is a Dravidian language of AP.
Settlements may be nucleated, linear or dispersed, depending on land, water and safety; Andhra Pradesh has Scheduled Areas in the Eastern Ghats and the Nallamala region.

Tribal groups

Scheduled Tribes: They are listed by the President under Article 342. They usually live in hills, forests and remote places. Their features are a distinct culture, simple technology, close ties with nature and often shifting cultivation or forest produce collection.
Regions in India:
North-east India and the Himalayan belt: Naga, Khasi, Garo, Mizo and many others.
Central India (the largest tribal belt): Gond, Santhal, Munda, Oraon, Ho, Bhil.
Southern region: Toda, Irula, Chenchu and others.
Western India: Bhil, Warli.
Island tribes: Andaman and Nicobar groups such as the Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Onge and Sentinelese.
PVTGs: Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups are the weakest of the tribal groups. They have a falling or very small population, low literacy and old methods of living.

Tribes of Andhra Pradesh

Tribe	Usual area
Chenchu (a PVTG)	Nallamala forests and the Srisailam area
Konda Reddi (a PVTG)	Godavari hill tracts
Savara (Sora)	Eastern Ghats of north-east AP
Gadaba, Jatapu, Khond (Kondh), Bagata	Visakhapatnam hills and Srikakulam-Vizianagaram uplands
Koya	Godavari valley hill region
Yanadi and Yerukala	Plains and coastal regions
Lambada (Sugali)	Rayalaseema and other dry areas

Occupations: Shifting (podu) cultivation, collection of honey, gum and other forest produce, hunting, and wage labour.
Administration: Parts of the state are Scheduled Areas under the Fifth Schedule, where the Governor has special powers. Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) work at Paderu, Rampachodavaram, Seethampeta, Srisailam and other tribal centres. The Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) buys forest produce and sells essential goods to tribal families.
Laws: The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) gives special powers to village assemblies in Scheduled Areas. The Forest Rights Act, 2006 recognises forest rights of tribal and other forest dwellers. The 1/70 land transfer regulation stops outsiders from buying tribal land in AP's Scheduled Areas.
Sixth Schedule: It gives autonomous councils to tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. It is not for AP.

Scheduled Castes

They are listed under Article 341. Many of them suffered social exclusion in the past.
Safeguards: Article 17 abolished untouchability. Articles 15 and 16 permit special provisions and reservation. Articles 330 and 332 give reserved seats in Parliament and State Assemblies. Article 46 directs the State to promote their education and economic interests. The Protection of Civil Rights Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 give legal protection. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes works under Article 338 and for Scheduled Tribes under Article 338A.
Distribution: SC people live all over India; they form a large share in some states of the north and the east. In AP they are found in all regions, with a good share in the delta and coastal areas.

Linguistic groups

Family	Main languages	Main region
Indo-Aryan	Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Odia, Assamese, Punjabi	North, west, east
Dravidian	Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam	South
Austroasiatic	Santali, Mundari, Khasi	Central and north-east tribal areas
Tibeto-Burman	Bodo, Manipuri, Naga and other languages	Himalayan and north-east areas

Eighth Schedule: It lists 22 languages recognised by the Constitution.
Telugu: It is a Dravidian language. It was declared a Classical Language of India in 2008. It is the official language of Andhra Pradesh. Urdu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Odia are also spoken by minority groups in the state, mostly near the borders.
Linguistic states: Andhra State was formed in 1953 after the Telugu people demanded a state. The States Reorganisation Act (1956) then redrew boundaries on a language basis, and Andhra Pradesh was formed on 1 November 1956.

Religious groups

India has many religions: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism, along with tribal faiths. Hinduism has the largest following. The Constitution declares India a secular state (Articles 25 to 28 protect freedom of religion).
Distribution: Muslims are spread widely, with larger shares in Jammu and Kashmir, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. Christians are strong in the north-east and Kerala, and also in coastal AP districts. Sikhs are mainly in Punjab. Buddhists are in Ladakh, Sikkim and Maharashtra. Jains are in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.
AP: Hindus are the majority. Muslims and Christians are the main minorities. The Buddhist heritage sites of Amaravati, Nagarjunakonda and Bavikonda tell of an early Buddhist presence.

Habitations (settlements)

Rural settlements are classified by shape:
Compact (nucleated): Houses are close together. Found in fertile plains and delta areas where land is limited and safety matters.
Linear: Houses form a line along a road, river, canal or embankment.
Dispersed (scattered): Houses are far apart, near fields. Found in hills, forests and dry areas.
Circular and star-shaped: Houses surround a tank, a fort or a square.
Site factors: Water supply, fertile land, a dry site, safety, roads and nearness to markets.
AP: Compact villages dominate the coastal plains and deltas. Hamlets in the Eastern Ghats and the Nallamala are scattered. A "gram panchayat" has a main village and its hamlets.
Urban settlements: Towns grow around ports, markets, temples and railway junctions. Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Machilipatnam are port towns. Tirupati is a pilgrim and educational centre.

Tribal life and development

Economy: Many tribal families depend on forest produce, small farming and daily wages. Weekly markets are important for selling honey, gum, tamarind and for buying salt and cloth.
Culture: Tribal groups have their own dances, festivals, songs and crafts. Dhimsa dance is well known among the tribes of the Visakhapatnam hills. Many groups keep sacred groves to protect nature.
Problems: Loss of land and forest, indebtedness, lack of schools and health care, poor roads and displacement by dams and mines.
Support: Tribal Sub-Plan, residential Ashram schools, Eklavya Model Residential Schools, mobile health units, minor forest produce support price and the work of ITDAs.
Language and tribes: Many tribal groups speak their own languages, for example Savara, Gondi, Koya and Kuvi. Tribal people also use Telugu in daily life.
Social change: Education and roads are slowly bringing tribal people into the wider economy, while their culture is being recorded and protected.

Social groups and regional identity of Andhra Pradesh

Three cultural regions: Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Uttarandhra have their own foods, dialects, festivals and folk arts, yet share the Telugu language.
Dialects: Telugu is spoken in slightly different ways in the three regions. Folk arts such as Burrakatha, Tholu Bommalata (leather puppets) and Kuchipudi dance are part of the shared heritage.
Minority languages: Along the borders, Odia, Tamil and Kannada speakers live in small numbers. Lambada people speak their own tongue, Gor Boli. Urdu is widely spoken in towns.
Pilgrim and fair centres: Tirupati, Srisailam, Simhachalam and Annavaram attract people from many regions and help social mixing.
Census data: Language, religion and caste-group figures come from the Census. Always check the latest official release before quoting numbers.

Exam traps

Article 341 is for Scheduled Castes; Article 342 is for Scheduled Tribes. Do not swap them.
The Fifth Schedule covers Scheduled Areas such as those in AP; the Sixth Schedule covers tribal areas in some north-eastern states.
Telugu is Dravidian, not Indo-Aryan.
Andhra State (1953) is not the same as Andhra Pradesh (1956).
PVTGs are tribal groups; they are not a separate Schedule.
Podu is shifting cultivation, not a type of house.
PESA is for village assemblies; the Forest Rights Act is for forest rights.
Linear villages follow roads, rivers or canals; dispersed villages are far apart.

One-liners

1. Article 341 deals with Scheduled Castes.
2. Article 342 deals with Scheduled Tribes.
3. Chenchu is a PVTG living in the Nallamala forests.
4. Podu is the shifting cultivation of AP's tribal people.
5. Telugu was declared a Classical Language in 2008.
6. The Eighth Schedule lists 22 languages.
7. Andhra State was formed in 1953.
8. Andhra Pradesh was formed on 1 November 1956.
9. ITDA stands for Integrated Tribal Development Agency.
10. GCC buys minor forest produce from tribal people.
11. The Sixth Schedule is for tribal areas in some north-eastern states.
12. Compact villages are common in fertile deltas.

Practice questions

Scheduled Tribes are specified under which Article of the Constitution?
1. Article 370
2. Article 341
3. Article 338
4. Article 342
Answer
D. Article 342
Article 342 deals with Scheduled Tribes.
Scheduled Castes are specified under
1. Article 244
2. Article 341
3. Article 17
4. Article 342
Answer
B. Article 341
Article 341 deals with Scheduled Castes.
Which of the following is a PVTG living in the Nallamala forests?
1. Gond
2. Santhal
3. Bhil
4. Chenchu
Answer
D. Chenchu
Chenchus are a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group of AP.
The shifting cultivation practised by tribal people in AP is called
1. bewar
2. podu
3. jhum
4. penda
Answer
B. podu
Podu is the local name in AP; jhum is northeast India.
Telugu belongs to which language family?
1. Austroasiatic
2. Tibeto-Burman
3. Indo-Aryan
4. Dravidian
Answer
D. Dravidian
Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam are Dravidian.
Telugu was declared a Classical Language of India in
1. 1953
2. 2014
3. 2008
4. 1956
Answer
C. 2008
The notification was made in 2008.
The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution lists
1. state subjects
2. union territories
3. recognised languages
4. Scheduled Areas
Answer
C. recognised languages
It contains 22 languages.
Andhra Pradesh was formed on
1. 15 August 1947
2. 2 June 2014
3. 1 October 1953
4. 1 November 1956
Answer
D. 1 November 1956
It was formed under the States Reorganisation Act.
Andhra State, the first linguistic state of India, was formed in
1. 1956
2. 1953
3. 1947
4. 1966
Answer
B. 1953
It was formed from the Madras State.
A village with houses built close together is called
1. dispersed
2. nucleated
3. linear
4. isolated
Answer
B. nucleated
Compact settlements are also called nucleated.
Houses built along a road or river form a ______ settlement.
1. dispersed
2. star-shaped
3. circular
4. linear
Answer
D. linear
Roads and rivers shape linear settlements.
The Sixth Schedule provides autonomous councils for tribal areas in
1. Andhra Pradesh and Odisha
2. Kerala and Karnataka
3. Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram
4. Rajasthan and Gujarat
Answer
C. Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram
These northeast states have Sixth Schedule areas.
Scheduled Areas of AP are governed under the
1. Seventh Schedule
2. Ninth Schedule
3. Sixth Schedule
4. Fifth Schedule
Answer
D. Fifth Schedule
The Governor has special powers there.
The abolition of untouchability is provided in Article
1. 14
2. 17
3. 21
4. 25
Answer
B. 17
Article 17 abolishes untouchability.
Which Article directs the State to promote the educational and economic interests of weaker sections?
1. Article 51
2. Article 32
3. Article 46
4. Article 19
Answer
C. Article 46
It is a Directive Principle.
Which tribe lives mainly in the Godavari hill tracts of AP and is a PVTG?
1. Lambada
2. Yerukala
3. Yanadi
4. Konda Reddi
Answer
D. Konda Reddi
Konda Reddis live in the hill tracts along the Godavari.
The Girijan Cooperative Corporation in AP
1. allots land to SC people
2. gives power to the Governor
3. buys minor forest produce and sells essential goods to tribal people
4. runs the Census
Answer
C. buys minor forest produce and sells essential goods to tribal people
GCC supports tribal livelihoods.
Which Act gives special powers to gram sabhas in Scheduled Areas?
1. Right to Education Act
2. PESA Act, 1996
3. Atrocities Act, 1989
4. Forest Rights Act, 2006
Answer
B. PESA Act, 1996
PESA extends Panchayat provisions to Scheduled Areas.
Which Act recognises the forest rights of tribal and other forest dwellers?
1. PESA Act, 1996
2. Forest Act, 1927
3. Forest Rights Act, 2006
4. Wildlife Act, 1972
Answer
C. Forest Rights Act, 2006
It recognises individual and community forest rights.
Santali and Mundari belong to the
1. Tibeto-Burman family
2. Dravidian family
3. Indo-Aryan family
4. Austroasiatic family
Answer
D. Austroasiatic family
These are Munda languages of the tribal belt.
Which is a feature of dispersed settlements?
1. Houses are packed round a square
2. Houses form a ring around a fort
3. Houses are far apart near fields
4. Houses are only near railways
Answer
C. Houses are far apart near fields
Dispersed settlements suit hills and dry lands.
Which is the largest tribal belt of India?
1. Central India
2. South India
3. Western Ghats only
4. Gangetic plain
Answer
A. Central India
Gond, Santhal, Munda, Oraon and Bhil live in central India.
Which pair is correctly matched?
1. Gond - Kerala
2. Warli - western India
3. Naga - Rajasthan
4. Toda - Punjab
Answer
B. Warli - western India
Warlis live in Maharashtra and Gujarat; Gond are in central India.
The Land Transfer Regulation of AP in Scheduled Areas
1. stops the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals
2. bans farming in forests
3. changes the state boundary
4. gives land to the rich
Answer
A. stops the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals
It protects the land base of tribal communities.
Why are nucleated villages common in fertile deltas?
1. There is no water
2. Houses are far apart
3. There are no roads
4. Land is limited and a compact site is safer from floods
Answer
D. Land is limited and a compact site is safer from floods
Raised compact sites protect houses.
The Constitution protects freedom of religion under
1. Articles 14 to 18
2. Articles 25 to 28
3. Articles 19 to 22
4. Articles 29 to 30
Answer
B. Articles 25 to 28
Articles 25-28 cover the right to freedom of religion.
Which body works under Article 338A?
1. National Commission for Women
2. National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
3. Finance Commission
4. Election Commission
Answer
B. National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
Article 338A deals with the ST commission.
A PVTG is identified by
1. a modern industry base
2. good literacy
3. small or declining population, low literacy and old methods of living
4. a large population
Answer
C. small or declining population, low literacy and old methods of living
These are the main criteria for PVTG status.
Which of the following tribes is found in Andaman and Nicobar?
1. Koya
2. Savara
3. Chenchu
4. Onge
Answer
D. Onge
Onge, Jarawa and the Great Andamanese are island tribes.
A major reason for the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 was
1. reorganisation of states on a linguistic basis
2. creation of the Planning Commission
3. partition of India
4. opening the economy
Answer
A. reorganisation of states on a linguistic basis
Boundaries were redrawn to follow language areas.
Which Buddhist site lies in AP?
1. Nalanda
2. Amaravati
3. Sanchi
4. Sarnath
Answer
B. Amaravati
Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda are Buddhist heritage sites in AP.
Consider the statements. 1. Article 342 deals with Scheduled Tribes. 2. Article 341 deals with Scheduled Tribes. Which of the statements is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
Article 341 is for Scheduled Castes.
Consider the statements. 1. Telugu is an Indo-Aryan language. 2. Telugu was declared a Classical Language. Which of the statements is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
B. 2 only
Telugu is Dravidian, so only 2 is correct.
Consider the statements. 1. Chenchu people live in the Nallamala forests. 2. Chenchu is a PVTG. Which of the statements is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct.
Consider the statements. 1. The Sixth Schedule applies to Scheduled Areas of Andhra Pradesh. 2. The Fifth Schedule applies to Scheduled Areas of AP. Which of the statements is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
B. 2 only
AP is covered by the Fifth Schedule.
Consider the statements. 1. PESA gives powers to gram sabhas in Scheduled Areas. 2. The Forest Rights Act recognises forest rights. Which of the statements is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Both are correct.
Consider the statements. 1. Andhra State was formed in 1953. 2. Andhra Pradesh was formed in 1956. Which of the statements is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Both dates are correct.
Consider the statements. 1. Linear settlements follow roads and rivers. 2. Dispersed settlements have houses close together. Which of the statements is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
Dispersed means far apart, so only 1 is correct.
Consider the statements. 1. The Eighth Schedule recognises Indian languages. 2. Austroasiatic languages are spoken only in South India. Which of the statements is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
Austroasiatic languages are in central and north-east tribal areas.
Consider the statements. 1. ITDAs work for the development of tribal areas. 2. Podu is a housing type in AP. Which of the statements is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
Podu is shifting cultivation.
Consider the statements. 1. Article 17 abolished untouchability. 2. Articles 330 and 332 provide reserved seats for SC and ST in legislatures. Which of the statements is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Both are correct constitutional provisions.
Consider the statements. 1. Hinduism has the largest following in India. 2. The Constitution makes India a theocratic state. Which of the statements is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
India is secular, so only 1 is correct.
Consider the statements. 1. Christians are mainly concentrated in India's north-east and Kerala. 2. Sikhs are mainly concentrated in Punjab. Which of the statements is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Both distributions are standard.
Consider the statements. 1. Nagarjunakonda is linked with Buddhist heritage. 2. Bavikonda is a Buddhist site near Visakhapatnam. Which of the statements is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Both are Buddhist sites of AP.
Which tribal group of the Eastern Ghats in north-east AP is also known as Sora?
1. Lambada
2. Koya
3. Yanadi
4. Savara
Answer
D. Savara
Savara (Sora) live in the Eastern Ghat hills.

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5.Which strait separates Europe and Africa?
6.Which is the highest gateway/pass connecting Ladakh to the rest of India?
7.The Amazon rainforest is primarily located in which country?
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