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© 2025 GKSolver. Free AI-powered UPSC preparation platform.

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2 minPolitical Concept
  1. होम
  2. /
  3. अवधारणाएं
  4. /
  5. Political Concept
  6. /
  7. Lokur Committee Report (1965)
Political Concept

Lokur Committee Report (1965)

Lokur Committee Report (1965) क्या है?

The Lokur Committee, constituted in 1965 under the chairmanship of B.N. Lokur, was tasked with reviewing the criteria for identifying and defining Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India. Its report provided the foundational guidelines that have largely been used by the government for including or excluding communities from the ST list.

ऐतिहासिक पृष्ठभूमि

Lokur Committee (1965) - 5 Criteria for ST Identification

This dashboard outlines the five foundational criteria recommended by the Lokur Committee in 1965 for identifying Scheduled Tribes, along with their significance and contemporary relevance for UPSC aspirants.

Lokur Committee Report (1965) - Core & Legacy

This mind map encapsulates the essence of the Lokur Committee Report, focusing on its purpose, the five key criteria for ST identification, its lasting impact, and ongoing debates about its contemporary relevance.

2 minPolitical Concept
  1. होम
  2. /
  3. अवधारणाएं
  4. /
  5. Political Concept
  6. /
  7. Lokur Committee Report (1965)
Political Concept

Lokur Committee Report (1965)

Lokur Committee Report (1965) क्या है?

The Lokur Committee, constituted in 1965 under the chairmanship of B.N. Lokur, was tasked with reviewing the criteria for identifying and defining Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India. Its report provided the foundational guidelines that have largely been used by the government for including or excluding communities from the ST list.

ऐतिहासिक पृष्ठभूमि

Lokur Committee (1965) - 5 Criteria for ST Identification

This dashboard outlines the five foundational criteria recommended by the Lokur Committee in 1965 for identifying Scheduled Tribes, along with their significance and contemporary relevance for UPSC aspirants.

Lokur Committee Report (1965) - Core & Legacy

This mind map encapsulates the essence of the Lokur Committee Report, focusing on its purpose, the five key criteria for ST identification, its lasting impact, and ongoing debates about its contemporary relevance.

Primitive Traits
Pre-agricultural modes of livelihood

Refers to traditional, often simple, technology and economic practices, distinguishing them from mainstream society. It implies a historical stage of development.

Data: 1965 (criteria established)
Distinctive Culture
Unique customs, traditions, language, beliefs

Highlights the unique socio-cultural identity that sets tribal communities apart from the dominant population, including their specific social organization and religious practices.

Data: 1965 (criteria established)
Geographical Isolation
Living in remote, often hilly/forest areas

Historically, tribes lived in secluded and inaccessible areas, limiting their interaction and integration with dominant populations.

Data: 1965 (criteria established)
Shyness of Contact
Historical reluctance to interact with outsiders

Reflects a historical tendency of tribal communities to maintain distance from external communities and resist assimilation.

Data: 1965 (criteria established)
Backwardness
Economic and educational deprivation

Encompasses socio-economic and educational indicators that place them at a disadvantage compared to the general population, justifying affirmative action.

Data: 1965 (criteria established)
Lokur Committee Report (1965)

Review ST identification criteria

Systematic, uniform approach for ST lists

Primitive Traits

Distinctive Culture

Geographical Isolation

Shyness of Contact

Backwardness

Primary guiding principles for Art. 342

Referenced in policy & judicial pronouncements

Debate on 'primitive traits', 'shyness of contact'

Need for dynamic, flexible identification

Connections
Five Key Criteria→Primitive Traits
Impact & Legacy→Primary guiding principles for Art. 342
Five Key Criteria→Contemporary Relevance & Debates
Primitive Traits
Pre-agricultural modes of livelihood

Refers to traditional, often simple, technology and economic practices, distinguishing them from mainstream society. It implies a historical stage of development.

Data: 1965 (criteria established)
Distinctive Culture
Unique customs, traditions, language, beliefs

Highlights the unique socio-cultural identity that sets tribal communities apart from the dominant population, including their specific social organization and religious practices.

Data: 1965 (criteria established)
Geographical Isolation
Living in remote, often hilly/forest areas

Historically, tribes lived in secluded and inaccessible areas, limiting their interaction and integration with dominant populations.

Data: 1965 (criteria established)
Shyness of Contact
Historical reluctance to interact with outsiders

Reflects a historical tendency of tribal communities to maintain distance from external communities and resist assimilation.

Data: 1965 (criteria established)
Backwardness
Economic and educational deprivation

Encompasses socio-economic and educational indicators that place them at a disadvantage compared to the general population, justifying affirmative action.

Data: 1965 (criteria established)
Lokur Committee Report (1965)

Review ST identification criteria

Systematic, uniform approach for ST lists

Primitive Traits

Distinctive Culture

Geographical Isolation

Shyness of Contact

Backwardness

Primary guiding principles for Art. 342

Referenced in policy & judicial pronouncements

Debate on 'primitive traits', 'shyness of contact'

Need for dynamic, flexible identification

Connections
Five Key Criteria→Primitive Traits
Impact & Legacy→Primary guiding principles for Art. 342
Five Key Criteria→Contemporary Relevance & Debates
After the promulgation of the Constitution of India in 1950, the initial lists of Scheduled Tribes were prepared. However, there was a need for a more systematic and uniform approach to identify STs across different states. To address this, the government set up the Advisory Committee on the Revision of the Lists of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, popularly known as the Lokur Committee, in 1965.

मुख्य प्रावधान

9 points
  • 1.

    The Committee recommended five broad criteria for the identification of Scheduled Tribes: primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact with the community at large, and backwardness.

  • 2.

    These criteria were intended to capture the unique socio-cultural and economic characteristics that distinguish tribal communities from the mainstream population.

  • 3.

    The report emphasized that 'primitive traits' refer to pre-agricultural modes of livelihood or simple technology.

  • 4.

    'Distinctive culture' implies unique customs, traditions, languages, and religious beliefs.

  • 5.

    'Geographical isolation' refers to living in remote, often hilly or forest areas, away from dominant populations.

  • 6.

    'Shyness of contact' denotes a historical reluctance or limited interaction with outsiders.

  • 7.

    'Backwardness' encompasses economic and educational deprivation compared to the general population.

  • 8.

    The recommendations of the Lokur Committee have since served as the primary guiding principles for the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and state governments in processing proposals for inclusion in or exclusion from the ST list under Article 342.

  • 9.

    While not legally binding, these criteria have been consistently referenced in subsequent policy decisions and judicial pronouncements regarding ST status.

दृश्य सामग्री

Lokur Committee (1965) - 5 Criteria for ST Identification

This dashboard outlines the five foundational criteria recommended by the Lokur Committee in 1965 for identifying Scheduled Tribes, along with their significance and contemporary relevance for UPSC aspirants.

Primitive Traits
Pre-agricultural modes of livelihood

Refers to traditional, often simple, technology and economic practices, distinguishing them from mainstream society. It implies a historical stage of development.

Distinctive Culture
Unique customs, traditions, language, beliefs

Highlights the unique socio-cultural identity that sets tribal communities apart from the dominant population, including their specific social organization and religious practices.

Geographical Isolation
Living in remote, often hilly/forest areas

Historically, tribes lived in secluded and inaccessible areas, limiting their interaction and integration with dominant populations.

Shyness of Contact
Historical reluctance to interact with outsiders

Reflects a historical tendency of tribal communities to maintain distance from external communities and resist assimilation.

Backwardness
Economic and educational deprivation

Encompasses socio-economic and educational indicators that place them at a disadvantage compared to the general population, justifying affirmative action.

Lokur Committee Report (1965) - Core & Legacy

This mind map encapsulates the essence of the Lokur Committee Report, focusing on its purpose, the five key criteria for ST identification, its lasting impact, and ongoing debates about its contemporary relevance.

Lokur Committee Report (1965)

  • ●Purpose
  • ●Five Key Criteria
  • ●Impact & Legacy
  • ●Contemporary Relevance & Debates

हालिया विकास

5 विकास
→

There is an ongoing debate about the contemporary relevance of the Lokur Committee's criteria, especially 'primitive traits' and 'shyness of contact', given increasing integration and modernization.

→

Subsequent committees, such as the Bhuria Commission (2002-04) and the Xaxa Committee (2014), have reviewed tribal issues and suggested modifications or additional considerations for tribal welfare and identification, though the Lokur criteria remain foundational.

→

Demands from various communities to be included in the ST list often involve demonstrating how they meet these historical criteria.

→

The government has been exploring a more dynamic and flexible approach to ST identification, considering socio-economic indicators alongside traditional ethnographic traits.

→

The process of granting ST status involves detailed ethnographic studies and recommendations from state governments, the Registrar General of India, and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, all often referencing the Lokur criteria.

संबंधित अवधारणाएं

Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Identification CriteriaReservation Policy in India and the 50% Cap

स्रोत विषय

Assam Tribal Body Rejects Proposal to Grant ST Status to Six OBC Communities

Polity & Governance

UPSC महत्व

Important for UPSC GS Paper 1 (Indian Society, Tribal Issues) and GS Paper 2 (Polity, Social Justice). The Lokur Committee is a frequently asked topic in Prelims for its specific recommendations and in Mains for discussions on tribal identification, welfare, and the challenges of reservation policy.

On This Page

DefinitionHistorical BackgroundKey PointsVisual InsightsRecent DevelopmentsRelated ConceptsUPSC RelevanceSource Topic

Source Topic

Assam Tribal Body Rejects Proposal to Grant ST Status to Six OBC CommunitiesPolity & Governance

Related Concepts

Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Identification CriteriaReservation Policy in India and the 50% Cap
After the promulgation of the Constitution of India in 1950, the initial lists of Scheduled Tribes were prepared. However, there was a need for a more systematic and uniform approach to identify STs across different states. To address this, the government set up the Advisory Committee on the Revision of the Lists of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, popularly known as the Lokur Committee, in 1965.

मुख्य प्रावधान

9 points
  • 1.

    The Committee recommended five broad criteria for the identification of Scheduled Tribes: primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact with the community at large, and backwardness.

  • 2.

    These criteria were intended to capture the unique socio-cultural and economic characteristics that distinguish tribal communities from the mainstream population.

  • 3.

    The report emphasized that 'primitive traits' refer to pre-agricultural modes of livelihood or simple technology.

  • 4.

    'Distinctive culture' implies unique customs, traditions, languages, and religious beliefs.

  • 5.

    'Geographical isolation' refers to living in remote, often hilly or forest areas, away from dominant populations.

  • 6.

    'Shyness of contact' denotes a historical reluctance or limited interaction with outsiders.

  • 7.

    'Backwardness' encompasses economic and educational deprivation compared to the general population.

  • 8.

    The recommendations of the Lokur Committee have since served as the primary guiding principles for the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and state governments in processing proposals for inclusion in or exclusion from the ST list under Article 342.

  • 9.

    While not legally binding, these criteria have been consistently referenced in subsequent policy decisions and judicial pronouncements regarding ST status.

दृश्य सामग्री

Lokur Committee (1965) - 5 Criteria for ST Identification

This dashboard outlines the five foundational criteria recommended by the Lokur Committee in 1965 for identifying Scheduled Tribes, along with their significance and contemporary relevance for UPSC aspirants.

Primitive Traits
Pre-agricultural modes of livelihood

Refers to traditional, often simple, technology and economic practices, distinguishing them from mainstream society. It implies a historical stage of development.

Distinctive Culture
Unique customs, traditions, language, beliefs

Highlights the unique socio-cultural identity that sets tribal communities apart from the dominant population, including their specific social organization and religious practices.

Geographical Isolation
Living in remote, often hilly/forest areas

Historically, tribes lived in secluded and inaccessible areas, limiting their interaction and integration with dominant populations.

Shyness of Contact
Historical reluctance to interact with outsiders

Reflects a historical tendency of tribal communities to maintain distance from external communities and resist assimilation.

Backwardness
Economic and educational deprivation

Encompasses socio-economic and educational indicators that place them at a disadvantage compared to the general population, justifying affirmative action.

Lokur Committee Report (1965) - Core & Legacy

This mind map encapsulates the essence of the Lokur Committee Report, focusing on its purpose, the five key criteria for ST identification, its lasting impact, and ongoing debates about its contemporary relevance.

Lokur Committee Report (1965)

  • ●Purpose
  • ●Five Key Criteria
  • ●Impact & Legacy
  • ●Contemporary Relevance & Debates

हालिया विकास

5 विकास
→

There is an ongoing debate about the contemporary relevance of the Lokur Committee's criteria, especially 'primitive traits' and 'shyness of contact', given increasing integration and modernization.

→

Subsequent committees, such as the Bhuria Commission (2002-04) and the Xaxa Committee (2014), have reviewed tribal issues and suggested modifications or additional considerations for tribal welfare and identification, though the Lokur criteria remain foundational.

→

Demands from various communities to be included in the ST list often involve demonstrating how they meet these historical criteria.

→

The government has been exploring a more dynamic and flexible approach to ST identification, considering socio-economic indicators alongside traditional ethnographic traits.

→

The process of granting ST status involves detailed ethnographic studies and recommendations from state governments, the Registrar General of India, and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, all often referencing the Lokur criteria.

संबंधित अवधारणाएं

Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Identification CriteriaReservation Policy in India and the 50% Cap

स्रोत विषय

Assam Tribal Body Rejects Proposal to Grant ST Status to Six OBC Communities

Polity & Governance

UPSC महत्व

Important for UPSC GS Paper 1 (Indian Society, Tribal Issues) and GS Paper 2 (Polity, Social Justice). The Lokur Committee is a frequently asked topic in Prelims for its specific recommendations and in Mains for discussions on tribal identification, welfare, and the challenges of reservation policy.

On This Page

DefinitionHistorical BackgroundKey PointsVisual InsightsRecent DevelopmentsRelated ConceptsUPSC RelevanceSource Topic

Source Topic

Assam Tribal Body Rejects Proposal to Grant ST Status to Six OBC CommunitiesPolity & Governance

Related Concepts

Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Identification CriteriaReservation Policy in India and the 50% Cap