Q. The provisions in Fifth Schedule and Sixth Schedule in the Constitution of India are made in order to

  • protect the interests of Scheduled Tribes
  • determine the boundaries between States
  • determine the powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayats
  • protect the interests of all the border States

Answer: (a) protect the interests of Scheduled Tribes

Notes:
  • The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration and control of scheduled areas and scheduled tribes in any state except the four states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
  • The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, on the other hand, deals with the administration of the tribal areas in the four northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
  • It protects the interest of Schedule tribes.
    • It does not relate to the boundaries of states.
  • It excludes the fifth and sixth schedule areas from the application of the Panchayati Raj system.
  • This is to ensure that the local tribal practices, customs, religious laws, social and political institutions are not tampered with.
    • It does not protect the interests of the border States.
  • Article 244 (1) applies the Fifth Schedule provisions to Scheduled Areas in states other than Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
  • Article 244 (2) applies the Sixth Schedule to the aforementioned states.
fifth schedule sixth schedule
fifth schedule vs sixth schedule