Context
Denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes (DNTs) are demanding a separate Census column in 2027 and constitutional recognition, arguing they were wrongly classified under SC/ST/OBC groups and remain marginalised.
Basics: Who are Denotified Tribes (DNTs)?
• Originally labelled “criminal tribes” under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871 by British rulers.
• Reason: British considered mobile communities “hard to monitor”, linking mobility to “habitual criminality”.
• The Act allowed surveillance, registration and movement restrictions.
• In 1952, Government of India repealed the Act and “denotified” these communities.
• DNTs continue to face stigma and poor access to welfare as many remain scattered across SC/ST/OBC lists without clear classification.
Article 342 – Recognition of Scheduled Tribes
Article 342(1)
• The President, after consultation with the Governor, issues a public notification specifying which tribes are Scheduled Tribes for a State or Union Territory.
Article 342(2)
• Only Parliament can:
• Include a tribe in the ST list
• Exclude a tribe
• Modify the list through a law
