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Glossary Terms
| Term (EN) | Definition | Exam Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | Constitutional category (Article 342) for tribes notified by the President; entitled to reservation in education, employment, and political representation | High |
| Bhil | Rajasthan's largest ST (39% of ST population); Banswara-Dungarpur-Udaipur zone; forest-dwelling; Dapa pratha, Gavri, Gair tradition | High |
| Meena (Mina) | Rajasthan's second-largest ST (26%); eastern districts (Jaipur-Karauli-Alwar zone); agricultural; relatively economically integrated; Nata pratha | High |
| Garasia | ST of Sirohi-Abu Road-Pali-Udaipur; Chhod pratha (wife-leaving), Morum pratha (trial marriage); Walar courtship dance; ~3.09 lakh (Census 2011) | High |
| Saharia | Rajasthan's only PVTG; Baran district; pre-agricultural economy; forest dependence; Saharana settlement pattern; PM-JANMAN primary beneficiary | High |
| Damor | Small ST of Dungarpur district; distinct language (Damori); shifting cultivation; found near the Gujarat border; population ~58,000 (Census 2011) | Medium |
| PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group) | 75 nationally designated tribal groups with declining population, pre-agricultural economy, low literacy; Saharia is Rajasthan's only PVTG | High |
| Dapa Pratha | Bride price system among Bhil and Garasia tribes; groom's family pays bride's family; opposite of mainstream dowry (dahej) | High |
| Nata Pratha | Customary remarriage/separation practice among Bhil, Meena, Garasia; woman leaves husband after paying nata price; socially binding but legally unrecognised | High |
| Gavri | Bhil ritual folk theater performed for 40 days after Raksha Bandhan; Shiva mythology episodes re-enacted; intangible heritage candidate; Udaipur-Rajsamand zone | High |
| Gair | Bhil circular stick-dance performed during Holi (Banswara-Dungarpur); UNESCO ICH nomination candidate; featured at Tribes Art Fest 2026 | Medium |
| Fifth Schedule | Constitutional schedule providing for Tribes Advisory Council (TAC) and Scheduled Area designation in states with significant tribal population | High |
| PESA Act (1996) | Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act; extends gram sabha powers (MFP, land, water bodies) to tribal Scheduled Areas; Rajasthan Scheduled Areas: Banswara, Dungarpur (full) + 5 partial | High |
| Forest Rights Act (2006) | Grants individual (IFR) and community (CFR) forest rights to tribals in occupation of forest land before 13 December 2005 | High |
| Scheduled Area | Areas designated under Fifth Schedule with special protections; Rajasthan has Banswara and Dungarpur fully and Udaipur, Sirohi, Rajsamand, Pratapgarh, Baran partially | High |
| Tribes Advisory Council (TAC) | Constitutional body under Fifth Schedule; advises state Governor on tribal welfare in Scheduled Areas; predominantly tribal membership | Medium |
| TRIFED | Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (est. 1987); markets Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and tribal crafts; parent of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (2018) | Medium |
| Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK) | Processing and value addition clusters for Minor Forest Produce launched 2018–19; tribal economic empowerment; Rajasthan has 50+ VDVKs | Medium |
| PM-JANMAN | PM Janjati Aadhivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (launched Nov 2023, Janjatiya Gaurav Divas); ₹24,000 crore for 75 PVTGs; covers Rajasthan's Saharia | High |
| Rana Punja | Bhil chieftain who provided critical military support to Maharana Pratap; led Bhil archers at Battle of Haldighati (1576 CE); Bhil folk hero | High |
| Saharana | Traditional Saharia tribal village cluster (hamlet) settlement pattern; Baran district; typically 5–15 families in a forest-adjacent grouping | Medium |
| Minor Forest Produce (MFP) | Non-timber forest products (tendu leaves, amla, mahua, gum); primary livelihood for tribal forest-dwelling communities; PESA grants gram sabha rights over MFP | High |