BENEFITS FOR STs IN UNION TERRITORRIES

The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durgadas Uikey, tabled the 2011 Census‑based Scheduled Tribe (ST) population for each Union Territory (UT): Jammu & Kashmir 12,75,106; Ladakh 2,18,193; Andaman & Nicobar Islands 28,530; Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman Diu 1,93,927; Lakshadweep 61,120. Chandigarh, Puducherry and Delhi have ‘NST’ (no notified STs). The Ministry highlighted ongoing schemes such as DAJGUA, PM JANMAN, EMRS, various scholarships, grants under Article 275(1), PMJVM, NSTFDC, VCF‑ST and TRI‑ECE, alongside convergence‑based infrastructure interventions. It clarified that no proposal exists to grant ST status to any community in Delhi, and explained the constitutional and procedural framework for ST status, including reservation provisions in political bodies and administrative services across UTs.