Administration of Tribal Areas under Sixth Schedule Definition, Types, Examples & Uses

Administration of Tribal Areas under Sixth Schedule

Subject: Polity

Book: Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth

Applies to tribal-dominated regions in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. Autonomous District and Regional Councils possess legislative powers over land usage, revenue collection, local customs, and personal laws. They frame regulations for forests, shifting cultivation, and tribal lineage. Members are partly elected and partly nominated by the Governor, aiming for local self-rule with minimal external interference. This unique arrangement respects ethnic diversity and fosters administrative autonomy. However, inter-tribal disputes and demands for separate statehood complicate administration. Coordination with state authorities is essential for large-scale projects, revealing how the Sixth Schedule preserves tribal culture within the Indian Union framework.