Article 366 (25) of the Constitution of India refers to ‘Scheduled Tribes’ as those communities which are protected under a schedule, according to Article 342 of the Constitution.
As per this, Scheduled Tribes are groups or communities that have been declared by the President of India, as possessing the following characteristics:
Primitive traits
Geographic isolation
Distinct culture
Shy of contact with the larger community
Economic backwardness Scheduled Tribes’ can also be ascertained by the fact that they live apart in hills in isolation.
Example – Schedule Tribes in Island region Andamanese, Jarawas Nicobarese Onges