According to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, how many Scheduled Tribes are notified under Article 342 of the Constitution of India as of December 2022?​

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) Over 730.

• As of December 2022, there are over 730 Scheduled Tribes (ST) officially notified under Article 342 of the Constitution of India.

• These tribes, which constitute approximately 8.6% of India’s population (around 10.45 crores as per the 2011 Census), are provided with special provisions under the Constitution to protect and promote their socio-economic development.

• The Government of India, following the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ('Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayaas'), has prioritized the welfare of tribal communities, focusing on their development and conservation of their heritage and culture.

Information Booster:

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has significantly increased its budget allocation by 70.69% to Rs. 12,461.88 crore in the 2023-2024 financial year compared to the previous year.

• Key initiatives in 2023 included the Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development Mission, aiming to improve living standards for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and the National Sickle Cell Elimination Mission to address health challenges among the tribal population.

• Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) was a focal point with the government aiming to screen over 8 crore tribals for the disease, with progress already made in gathering data for 90 lakh people.

• The government is also focusing on education by recruiting over 38,000 teachers and staff for Ekalavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) to benefit 3.5 lakh tribal students.