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Difficulty: Very hardState Demographics, Tribes, and Human Development

With reference to demographic indicators, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), and human development parameters in Indian State PSC General Studies assessments, consider the following statements:

1. Districts with a higher concentration of Scheduled Tribe (ST) populations frequently display higher child sex ratios (0–60–6 years) compared to highly urbanized and industrialized districts.
2. The Ministry of Home Affairs identifies PVTGs based on four specific criteria: pre-agricultural level of technology, stagnant or declining population, extremely low literacy, and subsistence level of economy.
3. High female literacy rates in tribal-dominated districts invariably guarantee top-tier overall Human Development Index (HDI) ranks due to proportionally high per capita district income.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 and 2 onlyAnswer
  2. B
    2 and 3 only
  3. C
    1 only
  4. D
    1, 2 and 3

Answer

Statements 1 and 2 are correct, while Statement 3 is incorrect.
The combination stating '1 and 2 only' is correct. Statement 1 accurately reflects demographic patterns where tribal populations maintain healthier child sex ratios than urban centers. Statement 2 accurately lists the four official national parameters used to classify PVTGs. Statement 3 is incorrect because high literacy does not necessarily correlate with high per capita income or overall HDI superiority.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Statement 1 regarding demographic distribution of child sex ratio in tribal versus urban districts.
Statement 1 is TRUE. Census data consistently indicates that ST-dominated districts retain higher child sex ratios (0–60–6 age bracket) than affluent urban centers where gender-biased sex selection is historically more prevalent.
Socio-cultural dynamics in tribal societies place relatively equal value on female children.
2
Analyze Statement 2 regarding the official criteria for designating Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
Statement 2 is TRUE. The Government of India (Dhebar Commission guidelines) uses four baseline criteria: (i) pre-agricultural technology, (ii) declining or stagnant population, (iii) extremely low literacy, and (iv) subsistence-level economy.
These criteria delineate tribes needing targeted constitutional and developmental protection.
3
Analyze Statement 3 regarding the linkage between district literacy rates and HDI sub-indices.
Statement 3 is FALSE. While literacy contributes to the education index of HDI, overall HDI is a composite index incorporating life expectancy (health) and per capita income (standard of living). High literacy in tribal districts often exists alongside low per capita income.
Multidimensional development indicators require economic and healthcare infrastructure, not literacy alone.

Key Concept

State Demographics, PVTG Identification Criteria, and HDI Component Dynamics
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Topics

State Demographics, Tribes, and Human Development

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