Context: Rajya Sabha passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022 to amend the Constitution (Schedule Tribes) Order, 1950 for inclusion of certain communities in the list of Schedule Tribes of Chhattisgarh. It was passed in Lok Sabha in December 2022.

About the Constitution (STs) Order (5th Amendment) Bill

• The Bill seeks to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order 1950 with respect to its application to Chhattisgarh. 

• Inclusion of Communities: The Bill includes the Dhanuhar, Dhanuwar, Kisan, Saunra, Saonra, and Binjhia communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Chhattisgarh.

• Synonyms Inclusion: The Bill adds Bhuinya, Bhuiyan, and Bhuyan communities as synonyms for the Bharia Bhumia community.

• Devanagari Versions: Three Devanagari versions of the name of the Pando community are also included.

• The Bill substitutes the names of certain tribal communities in the Constitution Order, with the corresponding names in the Hindi version of the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000.  

• Example: the names of Oraon, Dhanka, and Dhangad communities will be substituted.

About Article 342

• Article 342 (1): the President, after consultation with the Governor of state, may specify the tribes/tribal communities/parts of or groups within tribes/tribal communities as Scheduled Tribes in relation to that State/UT.

• ?The Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the list of STs specified in a notification issued under clause (1) any tribe or tribal community or part of or group within any tribe or tribal community.