Aspirant Academy

History

Model Answer Frameworks

Tribes and Their Traditions

Paper I · Unit 1 Section 10 of 14 0 PYQs 47 min
Topic Preview Subject Inventory

Public Section Preview

Model Answer Frameworks

5-Mark Question 1 (50 words): Garasia Tribe Profile

Question (2023 PYQ): Present the socio-economic profile of the Garasia tribe.

Model Answer:

Garasias (population ~3.09 lakh, Census 2011) are concentrated in Sirohi, Pali, and Udaipur districts of Rajasthan. They practice distinctive customs — Chhod pratha (wife-leaving without formal divorce) and Morum pratha (trial marriage). Economy combines forest gathering with rain-fed agriculture. Literacy is below state average (~45%). Garasias belong to Rajasthan's Fifth Schedule areas.

Word budget: Profile intro (10) + customs (15) + economy (10) + welfare stat (10) + constitutional status (5) = ~50 words

5-Mark Question 2 (50 words): Constitutional Provisions for Tribes

Question (modeled on 2018 PYQ): What are the constitutional provisions for tribal welfare in Rajasthan?

Model Answer:

Key constitutional provisions: Article 342 (Presidential specification of STs), Fifth Schedule (Scheduled Areas; Tribes Advisory Council), Article 244 (Scheduled Area administration), Article 338A (National ST Commission, est. 2003). PESA Act 1996 extends gram sabha powers in Scheduled Areas including ownership of Minor Forest Produce. Forest Rights Act 2006 provides individual forest titles up to 4 hectares.

Word budget: Article citations (25) + PESA (15) + FRA (10) = ~50 words

5-Mark Question 3 (50 words): Problems of Tribal Communities

Question (modeled on 2021 PYQ): Write five major problems of the tribal community of Rajasthan.

Model Answer:

  1. Land alienation — non-tribal encroachment despite Rajasthan Tenancy Act protections.
  2. Education deficit — ST literacy 52.5% vs. state average 66.1% (Census 2011).
  3. Displacement — dam and mining projects displace communities without adequate rehabilitation.
  4. Health/malnutrition — tribal districts have 15–20% higher IMR than state average.
  5. Bonded labour — persists among Saharia and Kathodi despite the 1976 Abolition Act.

Word budget: 5 problems with specific data = ~50 words

10-Mark Question (150 words): Tribal Traditions and Customs

Question: Describe the major traditions and customs of the tribal communities of Rajasthan, with special reference to marriage customs and festivals.

Model Answer:

Introduction: Rajasthan's 12 Scheduled Tribes (13.48% of population, Census 2011) possess distinct social customs and cultural traditions shaped by forest environments and historical isolation.

Key Points:

  1. Marriage customs: Bhils practice Dapa pratha (bride price — groom pays bride's family) and Nata pratha (socially recognized secondary union with compensation to first husband). Garasias observe Chhod pratha (wife-leaving) and Morum pratha (trial cohabitation before formal marriage), giving women unusual social agency.

  2. Performing arts: Bhil Gavri folk theater runs for 40 consecutive days post-Raksha Bandhan, depicting Shiva mythology. Male performers observe ritual purity; the ambulatory performance moves village to village across Udaipur and Rajsamand districts.

  3. Baneshwar Fair: Held at Som-Mahi-Jakham Triveni Sangam, Dungarpur, on Magh Purnima — 3–5 lakh Bhil and Garasia tribals attend; called the "tribal Kumbh of Rajasthan." Honors Bhil saint Mavji Maharaj.

  4. Religious syncretism: Tribal religion blends animism (Bhumiya/Thakur Baba worship, sacred groves sarna) with Hindu deity worship (Shiva, Durga), demonstrating the historical integration of tribal and mainstream traditions.

Conclusion: Rajasthan's tribal traditions represent a living cultural heritage; PESA 1996 and the Forest Rights Act 2006 provide the legislative foundation for preserving this heritage while ensuring tribal rights.

Word budget: Introduction (20) + Point 1 (35) + Point 2 (30) + Point 3 (25) + Point 4 (20) + Conclusion (20) ≈ 150 words