UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Rules at tribal hostels undermining dignity of students, says Rahul

Question 1

Consider the following statements regarding constitutional provisions relating to Scheduled Tribes:
1. Article 46 requires the State to promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections, and in particular of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
2. Grants-in-aid under the proviso to Article 275(1) are in every case charged on the Consolidated Fund of India, and no part of them is a voted item.
3. Under Paragraph 4 of the Fifth Schedule, a Tribes Advisory Council may be established also in a State having Scheduled Tribes but no Scheduled Areas, if the President so directs.
4. Under Article 342, once the President has specified the Scheduled Tribes of a State by public notification, any subsequent inclusion or exclusion in that list can be effected by the President alone.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1 and 3

Answer

1 and 2

Answer

2 and 4

Answer

1, 3 and 4

Question 2

Central assistance given to a State as a 100 per cent grant to meet the cost of development schemes for promoting the welfare of Scheduled Tribes, or for raising the level of administration of Scheduled Areas, is provided under which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The proviso to Article 275(1), which is charged expenditure on the Consolidated Fund of India

Answer

Article 282, which enables the Union to make discretionary grants for any public purpose

Answer

Article 338A(9), which requires the Union and States to consult on all major policy matters affecting Scheduled Tribes

Answer

Paragraph 4 of the Fifth Schedule, which provides for advisory councils in States with Scheduled Areas

Question 3

Consider the following statements about the Eklavya Model Residential Schools scheme:
1. It was introduced in 1997-98 to provide education from Class 6 to Class 12 to Scheduled Tribe students in remote areas.
2. Under the revamped scheme, a school is to be set up in every block having more than 50 per cent ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons.
3. The recurring cost norm was raised from ₹1,09,000 per student per annum to ₹1,47,062 with effect from the financial year 2025-26.
4. The revamped scheme targets 1,740 schools, one in each tribal-majority district of the country.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 and 2

Answer

2 only

Answer

3 and 4

Question 4

Central funds for the construction and running of Eklavya Model Residential Schools are released by the Union to which one of the following bodies, which in turn transfers them to States/UTs, PSUs and construction agencies?

Accepted Answer

National Education Society for Tribal Students, an autonomous society set up for this purpose

Answer

Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India, a national-level cooperative body for tribal produce

Answer

Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, the autonomous society running residential schools in rural districts

Answer

National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation, the apex lending body for ST beneficiaries

Question 5

The autonomous society that is the lead national implementing body for the Eklavya Model Residential Schools scheme was constituted in which year?

Accepted Answer

2019

Answer

1997-98

Answer

1999

Answer

2013

Question 6

Consider the following statements about the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS):
1. It is an autonomous society functioning under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
2. It releases both capital and recurring grants to States/UTs, PSUs and construction agencies for Eklavya Model Residential Schools.
3. It investigates and monitors the working of safeguards provided to Scheduled Tribes and presents annual reports to the President.
4. It functions under the administrative control of the Department of School Education and Literacy in the Ministry of Education.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2

Answer

2 and 3

Answer

1, 2 and 4

Answer

3 and 4

Question 7

Consider the following demands raised by Adivasi students agitating over tribal hostel rules in Maharashtra in August 2026:
1. Withdrawal of the State Government Resolutions dated 5 August 2026 and 14 August 2026.
2. Revision of the Government Resolution of 11 November 2011 governing hostel allowances.
3. Removal of the existing upper age limit of 30 years for hostel admission, or its raising to 36 years.
4. Transfer of the State's Government Tribal Hostels and Ashram Shalas to the National Education Society for Tribal Students so that they are run on EMRS norms.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

1 and 4

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Answer

1 and 2 only

Question 8

In the context of the tribal hostel controversy in Maharashtra, the instruments described as 'Government Resolutions' are best understood as which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

Executive orders issued by a department of the State government conveying its policy decision

Answer

Resolutions adopted by the State legislature after a debate on a matter of public importance

Answer

Recommendations adopted by the Tribes Advisory Council for the Governor's consideration

Answer

Ordinances promulgated by the Governor when the State legislature is not in session

Question 9

Consider the following statements about the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and its programmes:
1. The Ministry was carved out as a separate ministry in 1999 for focused socio-economic development of Scheduled Tribes.
2. Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan seeks to saturate infrastructure gaps in tribal villages through convergence of 17 ministries with 25 interventions.
3. Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana has been expanded and subsumed under Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan.
4. Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, taken up from 2019, are implemented by the Ministry through the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 only

Answer

2 and 3

Answer

1 and 4

Question 10

Among the following initiatives of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, which one carries the largest approved five-year outlay?

Accepted Answer

Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, covering 63,843 villages with a Centre and State share

Answer

PM-JANMAN, which is stated to cover every Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group habitation in the country

Answer

Van Dhan Karyakram, under which all minor forest produce gatherers are to be organised into Kendras

Answer

Eklavya Model Residential Schools, which is stated to cover all blocks having any Scheduled Tribe population

Question 11

Consider the following statements comparing the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC):
1. The NCST was created by bifurcating the erstwhile joint Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes through the Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003, and the two separate Commissions came into being in 2004.
2. The NCSC draws its mandate from Article 338 while the NCST draws its mandate from Article 338A.
3. The NCST works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, whereas the NCSC comes under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

1 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 12

Supplementary nutrition, growth monitoring and pre-school non-formal education for children below six years, including in tribal districts, are delivered under which one of the following umbrella missions?

Accepted Answer

Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development

Answer

Mission Vatsalya, implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development

Answer

PM POSHAN, implemented by the Department of School Education and Literacy

Answer

Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Rules at tribal hostels undermining dignity of students, says Rahul

Q2. Central assistance given to a State as a 100 per cent grant to meet the cost of development schemes for promoting the welfare of Scheduled Tribes, or for raising the level of administration of Scheduled Areas, is provided under which one of the following?

Q4. Central funds for the construction and running of Eklavya Model Residential Schools are released by the Union to which one of the following bodies, which in turn transfers them to States/UTs, PSUs and construction agencies?

Q5. The autonomous society that is the lead national implementing body for the Eklavya Model Residential Schools scheme was constituted in which year?

Q8. In the context of the tribal hostel controversy in Maharashtra, the instruments described as 'Government Resolutions' are best understood as which one of the following?

Q10. Among the following initiatives of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, which one carries the largest approved five-year outlay?

Q12. Supplementary nutrition, growth monitoring and pre-school non-formal education for children below six years, including in tribal districts, are delivered under which one of the following umbrella missions?