The Scheduled Tribe (ST) is a constitutional provision and concept in the Indian polity, defined under Article 366(25) as those tribes or tribal communities deemed to be Scheduled Tribes under Article 342. The concept originated with the Constitution's framers, who recognized that certain communities, often characterized by geographical isolation, distinctive culture, and economic backwardness, required special safeguards for their socio-economic development. This addressed the historical problem of marginalization and exploitation faced by these groups, who were previously referred to as "backward tribes" in the colonial era.
The mechanism for its operation is laid out in Article 342(1), which empowers the President to specify the list of STs for a particular State or Union Territory after consulting the Governor. Crucially, this initial list can only be modified—either by inclusion or exclusion—through an Act of Parliament, as stipulated in Article 342(2). The status grants access to key provisions like reservation in educational institutions (Article 15(4)), government posts (Article 16(4)), and seats in the Lok Sabha (Article 330) and State Legislative Assemblies (Article 332).
The ST concept connects directly to the Fifth Schedule and Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which govern the administration of Scheduled Areas and provide for Autonomous District Councils, respectively. It is also linked to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), established under Article 338A to oversee the implementation of safeguards. The list of STs is dynamic and has changed recently, with Parliament passing the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, to include communities like the Pahari Ethnic Group in the J&K list. Similarly, the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Act, 2022, modified the list for Tamil Nadu.