In terms of the share of tribals in the state population, which of the following has the highest concentrations?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → The North Eastern states
Option (1) Jharkhand and Chattisgarh — Incorrect. Jharkhand and Chattisgarh lie at the heart of middle India. Outside the North East, tribals are less than 12% of the population in every state except Odisha and Madhya Pradesh.
Option (2) The states of 'middle India' — Incorrect. Middle India holds about 85% of all tribals in the country. Within most of its states, tribals are less than 12% of the state population.
Option (3) Odisha and Madhya Pradesh — Incorrect. Odisha and Madhya Pradesh are the exceptions to the under-12% level found outside the North East. Even so, the highest shares are found in the North Eastern states.
Option (4) The North Eastern states — Correct. In the North Eastern states every state except Assam has more than 30% tribals. Some, like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland, have more than 60% and up to 95%.
NCERT (2026-27): “Classifications of Tribal Societies … |