RAS question
Which of the following correctly describes the Damor tribe of Rajasthan?
Correct answer: (B) The smallest among the main tribal groups of Rajasthan, concentrated in Dungarpur district, culturally close to Bhils..
The Damor tribe is the smallest among Rajasthan's main Scheduled Tribe groups, is concentrated in Dungarpur district, and is culturally close to the Bhils.
Explanation
Damor is best identified as Rajasthan's small Scheduled Tribe group centred in Dungarpur district, especially Simalwara tehsil, with cultural closeness to the Bhils in language, dress and customs. Damors practise settled agriculture, are Hindu by religion, and worship local deities. The official Ministry of Tribal Affairs statistical profile supports the scale point: in its Rajasthan Scheduled Tribe table, Damor/Damaria has a population of 91,463, far below large groups such as Bhil, Meena and Garasia. That is why option B is precise: it combines small numerical size, Dungarpur concentration and Bhil cultural affinity, while avoiding features that belong to other Rajasthan tribes.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Walra or shifting cultivation is associated here with the Bhil tribe, and the Damor concentration is Dungarpur, not Banswara and Pratapgarh.
- (C) The Baran-based PVTG with a forest-linked nomadic description is Saharia, while Damor is not identified as a PVTG.
- (D) Gol Gadhedo is linked in the question material to the Garasia tribe of the Sirohi area, not to the Damor tribe.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan tribal geography: matching a tribe with its district concentration, social profile and distinguishing customs. It recurs in RAS because tribal communities of southern Rajasthan are often framed through location-specific contrasts such as Damor, Bhil, Garasia and Saharia.