Autonomous Hill Councils and the Sixth ScheduleGS PAPER II — Polity & Governance
Why in News? Autonomous Hill Councils under the Sixth Schedule remain a frequently tested Prelims topic, given their unique constitutional design for tribal self-governance in India’s Northeast.
Key Facts for Prelims Provided for under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, operationalised through Article 244(2).Applies only to tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.Purpose: protect tribal culture, customs, land rights, and traditional governance from being overridden by mainstream administration.An Autonomous District Council can have up to 30 members, mostly elected by adult franchise, with some nominated by the Governor.Normal term of a council is 5 years.Legislative powers cover land management, non-reserved forests, marriage/divorce, social customs, inheritance, and village administration.Judicial powers allow councils to set up village courts applying tribal customary law.Administrative powers cover primary education, agriculture, health, rural development, local markets, and roads.Financial powers include levying land revenue, professional taxes, market fees, and vehicle taxes.The Governor controls formation of districts, boundary changes, approval of council laws, and dissolution of councils.The Fifth Schedule, by contrast, applies to Scheduled Areas across many states and works through Tribal Advisory Councils with stronger Governor oversight, not directly elected autonomous councils.
Quick-Reference Data Table
Feature
Sixth Schedule
Fifth Schedule
Geographic scope
Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram only
Scheduled Areas across many states
Governing body
Autonomous District Councils (elected)
Tribal Advisory Councils
Degree of autonomy
Greater legislative and administrative autonomy
Governor retains stronger regulatory control
UPSC Note — Prelims Angle Expect statement-based MCQs testing which states the Sixth Schedule applies to, and whether it overlaps with Fifth Schedule areas — a very common distractor. Memorise the four categories of council power (legislative, judicial, administrative, financial) precisely — Prelims often tests exactly which subjects fall under each.
Prelims MCQ Practice With reference to Autonomous District Councils in India, consider the following statements: 1. They are constituted under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. 2. They have the power to legislate on matters such as tribal customs and inheritance of property. 3. They are applicable to all Scheduled Areas notified under the Fifth Schedule. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: (a) Autonomous District Councils under the Sixth Schedule exist only in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram — not across all Fifth Schedule Scheduled Areas, making statement 3 incorrect.
UMANG Portal and India’s Digital Governance PushGS PAPER II — Governance & e-Governance
Why in News? UMANG continues to appear in Prelims as a key Digital India initiative, testing candidates on its nodal ministry, scope, and the range of services it integrates.
Key Facts for Prelims UMANG stands for Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance.Launched in 2017 under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).Developed by the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), MeitY.Objective: provide one-stop access to Central, State, and local government services through a single digital platform.Accessible through multiple channels: mobile app (Android/iOS), website, chatbot, and voice-based services.Designed as a paperless governance tool, reducing the need for physical visits to government offices.Built with multilingual support to widen digital inclusion across India’s language groups.Integrates services including EPFO, passport services, Aadhaar-related services, DigiLocker, pensions, utility bill payments, and health/education/agriculture services.Provides access to both Central and State Government schemes — not Central Government services alone.
Quick-Reference Data Table
Attribute
Detail
Full form
Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance
Launched
2017
Nodal ministry
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
Developed by
National e-Governance Division (NeGD)
Access channels
Mobile app, website, chatbot, voice-based services
UPSC Note — Prelims Angle A frequent distractor is claiming UMANG covers only Central Government services — remember it explicitly integrates State and local government services too. Note the exact nodal ministry (MeitY) and developing body (NeGD) — Prelims often swaps these with plausible-sounding alternatives.
Prelims MCQ Practice With reference to the UMANG Portal, consider the following statements: 1. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. 2. It provides access only to Central Government schemes and services. 3. It integrates services from both Central and State Governments. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: (c) UMANG is developed under MeitY and integrates services from both Central and State Governments, making statement 2 incorrect since it is not limited to Central Government services alone.
Dudhwa Tiger Reserve and the Terai Arc LandscapeGS PAPER I & III — Geography & Environment
Why in News? Dudhwa Tiger Reserve regularly features in Prelims due to its role in tiger and Barasingha conservation, its Terai ecosystem, and its position within the transboundary Terai Arc Landscape.
Key Facts for Prelims Located in Lakhimpur Kheri district, Uttar Pradesh.Established as a Tiger Reserve in 1987 under Project Tiger.Forms part of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) and lies along the India-Nepal border region.Comprises three components: Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, and Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary.Situated in the Terai region at the foothills of the Himalayas — characterised by marshes, wetlands, grasslands, Sal forests, and riverine ecosystems (not an alpine ecosystem).The Mohana River flows through the reserve; the Sharda River shapes the wider Terai landscape.Dominant flora: Sal (Shorea robusta) forests, moist deciduous forests, and tall wet grasslands.Key fauna: Royal Bengal Tiger, leopard, swamp deer (Barasingha), reintroduced one-horned rhinoceros, Asian elephant, wild boar, and sloth bear.Dudhwa is a critical habitat for the hard-ground Barasingha and has played a major role in conserving this endangered subspecies.Functions as a wildlife corridor within the Terai Arc Landscape, connecting India and Nepal’s protected areas, including proximity to Nepal’s Shuklaphanta National Park.
Quick-Reference Data Table
Attribute
Detail
Location
Lakhimpur Kheri district, Uttar Pradesh
Established as Tiger Reserve
1987, under Project Tiger
Landscape
Part of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL)
Components
Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur WLS, Katerniaghat WLS
UPSC Note — Prelims Angle A common distractor claims Dudhwa lies in a Himalayan alpine ecosystem — remember it is specifically a Terai grassland and moist forest ecosystem. Keep the three-component structure (Dudhwa NP, Kishanpur WLS, Katerniaghat WLS) and the Barasingha/rhino conservation angle ready for statement-based questions.
Prelims MCQ Practice With reference to Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, consider the following statements: 1. It is located in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh. 2. It forms part of the Terai Arc Landscape. 3. It includes Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary as one of its components. 4. It lies entirely within a Himalayan alpine ecosystem. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Answer: (a) Dudhwa is a Terai grassland and moist forest ecosystem, not an alpine ecosystem, making statement 4 incorrect. It is well known for tiger, rhino, and swamp deer conservation.
External References Union Public Service Commission — upsc.gov.in Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology — meity.gov.in National Tiger Conservation Authority — ntca.gov.in
Ready to Get a Personal Mentor for UPSC 2027?Apply Now →
