Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India : 1. PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory. 2. A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status. 3. There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far. 4. Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a) 1, 2 and 3
- (b) 2, 3 and 4
- (c) 1, 2 and 4 ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) 1, 3 and 4
Why the answer is (c)
• PVTGs are the most vulnerable among Scheduled Tribes, identified by the Dhebar Commission criteria: pre-agricultural technology, low literacy, economic backwardness and a stagnant or declining population (statement 2).
• Statement 1 is correct: they live in 18 States and the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• Statement 4 is correct: Irular (Tamil Nadu/Kerala) and Konda Reddi (Andhra Pradesh) are notified PVTGs.
• Statement 3 is wrong: there are 75 notified PVTGs, not 95.
• Hence 1, 2 and 4, option (c).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1, 2 and 3
- Statement 3 is wrong: there are 75 PVTGs.
- (b) 2, 3 and 4
- Statement 3 is wrong; statement 1 is correct.
- (d) 1, 3 and 4
- Statement 3 is wrong; statement 2 is correct.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2019, held on 2 June 2019. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.