Parliament Question: Inclusion of Ethnic Communities in the ST List

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1848 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025 INCLUSION OF ETHNIC COMMUNITIES IN THE ST LIST

1848. Md. Rakibul Hussain:

Shri Pradyut Bordoloi:

Will the Minister of Tribal Affairs be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has received proposals from the State Government of Assam for the inclusion of the Chutiya, Koch-Rajbongshi, Matak, Moran, Tai-Ahom and Tea Tribe communities in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the current status of these proposals including any recommendations received from the Registrar General of India and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes in this regard;

(c) whether the Government would consider granting an interim ST status to the said communities pending formal inclusion into the ST list and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government intends to expedite the process of their inclusion in view of the fact that a Bill for the same was introduced in 2019 but remains pending;

(e) the details of the newly reconstituted Committee of Group of Ministers in Assam including its mandate and timeline for submission of recommendations regarding inclusion of these six ethnic communities in the ST list;

(f) whether the earlier such Committee of Group of Ministers constituted in 2019 has given its report and if so, the details thereof; and

(g) whether the Government would outline a clear and time-bound schedule for completing the evaluation process and necessary Constitutional Amendment for their inclusion and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)

(a) & (b) The recommendation for inclusion of Chutiya, Koch-Rajbongshi, Matak, Moran, Tai-Ahom and Tea Tribe communities has been received from the State Government of Assam.

The Government of India on 15.6.1999 (further amended on 25.6.2002 and

14.9.2022) has laid down the modalities for deciding the claims for inclusion in, exclusionfrom and other modifications in Orders specifying Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes lists. As per the modalities, only those proposals which have been recommended and justified by the concerned State Government / UT Administration and concurred with by Registrar General of India (RGI) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes

(NCST) are to be considered and legislation amended. All action on the proposals is taken as per these approved modalities.

(c) There is no constitutional provision for granting interim ST status

(d) to (g) The proposals for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes of a State or Union Territory follow certain processes as per the modalities. This is a continuous process. The proposals are examined by the Office of the RGI and then by the NCST. In case the proposal is not recommended by the RGI, the State Governments are communicated the points raised by the RGI, so that additional information, if any, maybe furnished by the State Government. Many such proposals may therefore remain under examination at different levels.

The Government of Assam has informed that “In pursuance of OM No. 9/3/2011-I (Pt.-I), Dtd-04-01-2019 issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, a Committee of Group of Ministers was constituted to determine quantum of reservation for six communities in the State, suggest revised quantum of reservation for OBCs after creation of a new ST category in Assam and measures ensuring full safeguard to protect the interests, rights and privileges of the existing Scheduled Tribes of Assam. The erstwhile Committee held several rounds of discussions with representatives and leaders of various communities as well as tribal groups. The same Committee has now been reconstituted vide No. E232949/791 dated 04/07/2024 & No.E.232949/799 dated 01/03/2025.” *****