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UPSC Prelims 1986 · Indian Geography · People and Settlements
Which of the following States has the largest population of Scheduled Tribes?
- (a) Assam
- (b) Madhya Pradesh
- (c) Bihar
- (d) West Bengal
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (b) Madhya Pradesh
MP has the largest ST population.
The idea
Largest tribal population means the greatest number of Scheduled Tribe residents. It differs from the highest tribal percentage within a State. Use the boundaries that existed at the 1986 exam: Madhya Pradesh then included present-day Chhattisgarh.
Why the others are wrong
(c) Bihar (with Jharkhand then) had many, but fewer than MP.
Also know
Bhil and Gond communities span several central Indian States; Santhal communities are associated with eastern India. As of Census 2011, Madhya Pradesh had the largest ST population among States, while Mizoram had the highest ST share among States. These are separate comparisons using the same census year.
🔒 ST population: MP > Maharashtra > Odisha > Rajasthan.
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