Bill Summary

The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2022

The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was introduced in Rajya Sabha on February 7, 2022 by the Minister of Tribal Affairs, Mr. Arjun Munda. The Bill amends: (i) the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 (the SC Order), and (ii) the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 (the ST Order). The SC Order specifies the castes, races and tribes deemed to be Scheduled Castes (SCs) in various states and union territories (UTs). The ST Order specifies the tribes and tribal communities which are deemed to be Scheduled Tribes (STs) in various states and UTs.

Changes to the lists of SCs and STs in Jharkhand: The Bill amends the Schedule to the ST Order to include certain communities in the list of STs in Jharkhand. These are the Deshwari, Ganjhu, Dautalbandi (Dwalbandi), Patbandi, Raut, Maajhia, Khairi (Kheri), Tamaria (Tamadia), and Puran communities. Further, the Schedule to the SC Order is being amended to omit the Bhogta community from the list of SCs in Jharkhand. The community is instead being included in the list of STs in the state.

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