**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 917 regarding the inclusion of Kishi/Vishya/Chasot in the Scheduled Tribes list, to be answered on December 4, 2025. It outlines the existing modalities for inclusion/exclusion in the Scheduled Tribes list and addresses the specific proposal from the State Government of Bihar. The proposal was rejected and conveyed to the State Govt of Bihar.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Modalities for Inclusion/Exclusion:**
* The Government of India laid down modalities on 15.6.1999 (amended on 25.6.2002 and 14.9.2022) for deciding claims related to inclusion in, exclusion from, and modifications in Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes lists.
* Only proposals recommended and justified by the concerned State Government/UT Administration and concurred with by the Registrar General of India (RGI) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) are considered.
* All actions on the proposals are taken as per these approved modalities.
* **Bihar's Proposal:**
* A proposal from the State Government of Bihar to include Krishi Vaishya/Chasot as synonyms of the Kisan community in the Scheduled Tribes list was received in 2008.
* The proposal was referred to the Office of the Registrar General of India (ORGI).
* ORGI examined and did not support the proposal on two occasions in 2008 and 2013.
* As per the existing modalities, the proposal was rejected and conveyed to the State Government of Bihar.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Government of Bihar**
* **Impact:** The State Government's proposal for inclusion of Krishi Vaishya/Chasot as synonyms of the Kisan community in the Scheduled Tribes list of Bihar was rejected.
* **Action Required:** No immediate action required; the State Government has been informed of the decision.
**Krishi Vaishya/Chasot Community**
* **Impact:** The Krishi Vaishya/Chasot community will not be included in the Scheduled Tribes list based on the current proposal.
* **Action Required:** No immediate action required.
**Registrar General of India (RGI) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)**
* **Impact:** The RGI examined and did not support the proposal on two occasions in 2008 and 2013
* **Action Required:** No immediate action required.
Key Entities Referenced
Registrar General of India (RGI): A key entity whose concurrence is needed for including communities in Scheduled Tribes lists.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The central ministry responsible for matters related to tribal affairs in India, including ST designations.
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST): A key entity whose concurrence is needed for including communities in Scheduled Tribes lists.
Bihar: State that requested the inclusion of Krishi/Vishya/Chasot as synonyms of Kisan community in the Scheduled Tribes list.
West Bengal: State where the Chasot community resides and is being considered for Scheduled Tribe status.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
(MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 917
TO BE ANSWERED ON - 04.12.2025
INCLUSION OF KISHI/VISHYA/CHASOT IN ST LIST
917. SHRI ISHA KHAN CHOUDHURY:
Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Union Government is aware that the State Government of Bihar, vide its letter dated
15.05.2008, had recommended inclusion of Kishi/Vishya/Chasot as synonyms of Kisan community in the
Scheduled Tribes list and that the Registrar General of India had supported the same, if so, the details
thereof;
(b) whether the Government is aware that a portion of the present Malda District in West Bengal was
historically part of Purnia District of Bihar and that a significant number of Chasot people belonging to the
same ethnic group continue to reside in Malda District, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has considered extending Scheduled Tribe status and related privileges to the
Chasot community residing in Malda district of West Bengal, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) if not, whether the Government will initiate steps to examine this issue in consultation with the State
Government of West Bengal and the Registrar General of India to implement the same in West Bengal?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)
(a) to (d): 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, exclusion from 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.
A proposal from the State Government of Bihar for inclusion of Krishi Vaishya/Chasot as synonyms
of Kisan community in the Scheduled Tribes list of Bihar was received in 2008. As per the approved
modalities, the same was referred to the Office of Registrar General of India. However, the ORGI examined
and did not support the proposal on two occasions in the years 2008 and 2013. Accordingly, as per the Para
(f) of the extant modalities, the proposal was rejected and conveyed to the State Govt of Bihar.
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