gs1medium
With reference to 'Scheduled Areas' in India, consider the following statements :
- 1.Within a State, the notification of an area as Scheduled Area takes place through an Order of the President.
- 2.The largest administrative unit forming the Scheduled Area is the District and the lowest is the cluster of villages in the Block.
- 3.The Chief Ministers of the concerned States are required to submit annual reports to the Union Home Ministry on the administration of Scheduled Areas in the States.
How many of the above statements are correct?
- A.Only one
- B.Only two
- C.All three
- D.None
▶ Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: B. Only two
The declaration of areas as Scheduled Areas is done by the President of India through a public notification as per the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. While districts are often the primary administrative unit for managing Scheduled Areas, the definition doesn't strictly limit the lowest unit to village clusters within a Block; it can be more granular. Furthermore, the Fifth Schedule mandates that the Governor of the state must report annually to the President regarding the administration of Scheduled Areas, not the Chief Minister to the Union Home Ministry.
Source: UPSC gs1 2023