The Sachar Committee (2006) examined the socio-economic conditions of which community in India?

Muslims. Correct because the Sachar Committee, headed by Justice Rajinder Sachar, studied the social, economic and educational status of Muslims in India and found them lagging in education, government jobs and bank credit. Read more: IndSoc0087 — Cultural Diversity and Socio-economic Marginality in India

PM-JANMAN, launched in November 2023, targets which group in particular?

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. Correct because the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) targets 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups across 18 states and Union Territories, with an approved outlay of about ₹24,104 crore over three years. Read more: IndSoc0087 — Cultural Diversity and Socio-economic Marginality in India

According to NFHS-5 (2019-21), how are Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe households placed in India's wealth distribution?

They are about three times as likely to sit in the lowest wealth quintile as in the highest. Correct because NFHS-5 found about 23 per cent of SC/ST households in the lowest wealth quintile against under 8 per cent in the highest, a near three-fold gap that shows caste-linked economic marginality. Read more: IndSoc0087 — Cultural Diversity and Socio-economic Marginality in India

Which argument best qualifies the claim that India's cultural diversity itself causes socio-economic marginality?

Historical exclusion, discrimination and unequal access drive marginality, not diversity as such. Correct because correlation is not causation: caste, tribal and minority deprivation stems from exclusion, land alienation and discrimination, and prosperous diversity such as Kerala's shows that culture need not breed poverty. Read more: IndSoc0087 — Cultural Diversity and Socio-economic Marginality in India

According to NITI Aayog's Multidimensional Poverty Index report of 2023, which social group had the highest incidence of multidimensional poverty in India?

Scheduled Tribes. Correct because the 2023 MPI report, built on NFHS-5 data, placed Scheduled Tribes at roughly 33 per cent multidimensional poverty, more than double the national average of about 15 per cent, with Scheduled Castes next at about 23 per cent. Read more: IndSoc0087 — Cultural Diversity and Socio-economic Marginality in India

Cultural Diversity and Socio-economic Marginality in India

India’s most culturally distinct groups are often its poorest. Caste, tribe, religion and region map closely onto poverty and exclusion.

Women in a tribal village, Umaria district, Madhya Pradesh. Central India’s tribal belts remain among the country’s most deprived regions. Photo: Yann, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

At a Glance

Four facts to hold on to.

SC and ST

16.6% and 8.6% of the population, Census 2011.

Muslims

About 14.2%, India’s largest minority.

NITI MPI 2023

STs about 33% multidimensionally poor; national about 15%.

Key point

Correlation is not causation.

MarginalityPoverty, exclusion and lack of opportunity.

PVTGParticularly Vulnerable Tribal Group.

MPIMultidimensional Poverty Index.

IntersectionalityOverlapping barriers, such as caste plus gender.

In this lesson

Diversity and Marginality
The Evidence
Previous Year Questions
Critique and Counterweights
Current Affairs

Diversity and Marginality

Must Know

What the question asks

The 2024 Mains asked candidates to critically analyse the proposition that diversity and marginality are highly correlated.
“Critically analyse” means you must both agree and qualify.
A balanced answer is wanted, not a one-sided one.

The caste dimension

Scheduled Castes are about 16.6% of the population, Scheduled Tribes about 8.6%.
Both groups stay over-represented among the poor.
Historic untouchability blocked Dalits from assets and public spaces. See Caste Consciousness Movements.

The tribal dimension

Tribals often live in forests, hills and remote interiors.
Isolation cuts them off from schools and markets.
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups face the sharpest deprivation.

The religious minority dimension

Muslims are India’s largest religious minority, about 14.2%.
The Sachar Committee (2006) documented their lag in education and jobs.
It also found weak access to bank credit and government jobs.

Diversity and marginality in India — Diversity and marginality at a glance.

True or False: The Sachar Committee (2006) studied the socio-economic condition of Muslims.

The Evidence

Good to Know

Poverty data

NFHS-5 (2019-21) placed about 23% of SC/ST households in the lowest wealth quintile.
Under 8% reached the highest quintile.
NITI Aayog’s 2023 MPI showed STs with the highest deprivation, about 33%, against about 15% nationally. SCs were next at about 23%.

Group	Share of population / indicator
Scheduled Castes	16.6% (Census 2011)
Scheduled Tribes	8.6% (Census 2011)
Muslims	About 14.2% (Census 2011)
ST multidimensional poverty	About 33% (MPI 2023)

Education gaps

National literacy was about 74% in 2011.
It was only about 66% for Scheduled Castes.
For Scheduled Tribes it fell to about 59%.
Lower literacy blocks jobs, voice and opportunity.

True or False: NITI Aayog’s 2023 MPI found Scheduled Castes had the highest multidimensional poverty.

Exam Edge

Previous Year Questions

The 2024 Mains asked this directly.

UPSC CSM 2024, GS Paper I, Q20Critically analyse the proposition that there is a high correlation between India’s cultural diversities and socio-economic marginalities. (15 marks, 250 words) Source.
How to answerDefine both terms and present the evidence. Then qualify it with causation, intra-group and regional evidence. Close with constitutional and policy responses.

Critique and Counterweights

Great to Know

Correlation is not causation

Diversity does not produce poverty. Exclusion and unequal access do.
Many diverse regions are not poor, and many poor regions are not diverse.
Kerala mixes religious diversity with high human development.
Deprivation is uneven inside every community. An elite often benefits most from reservations.
A Dalit or Adivasi woman faces stacked, overlapping barriers.

Constitutional counterweights

Article 46 urges the state to protect weaker sections from injustice.
The Fifth and Sixth Schedules shield scheduled and tribal areas.
The Forest Rights Act, 2006, restored tribal rights over land and forests.
PESA, 1996, gave tribal communities self-governance in scheduled areas.

Current Affairs

PM-JANMAN

PM-JANMAN was launched on 15 November 2023 for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
It covers 75 PVTGs in 18 states and Union Territories.
The Cabinet approved about ₹24,104 crore over three years.
It brings housing, roads, water and schools to the most isolated tribes.

Census 2027 and caste

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs decided on 30 April 2025 to include caste enumeration in the next census.
It will happen during Population Enumeration in February 2027.
It will record individual jatis, not just broad categories. (Source: Wikipedia: 2027 census of India)

True or False: Census 2027 will include caste enumeration.

Quick Q&A

Sachar year?

2006.

ST poverty (MPI)?

About 33%.

SC literacy?

About 66%.

PM-JANMAN launch?

15 November 2023.

PVTGs covered?

75.

0 / 4 correct