Question

What is the difference between scheduled castes and scheduled tribes?

Answer 1

Hint: The Scheduled Caste remained economically weak, politically helpless, and religiously subjugated to the upper caste during India's independence. This had an effect on their general way of life, as well as their access to food, schooling, and wellness. An individual is considered a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe if he or she belongs to a caste or tribe that has been designated as such by the government through various orders.

Complete answer:
Difference between scheduled castes and scheduled tribes:

Scheduled Castes	Scheduled Tribes
Scheduled Castes (SCs), also known as Dalits, are traditionally and socially marginalised in India, where they face injustice as a result of their low caste status.	Scheduled Tribes (STs), also known as Adivasis or tribal groups, are socially banned in India and face discrimination because of their race. In terms of political and socio-economic growth, the Scheduled tribes are different from the rest.
With regard to every State or Union Territory, Article 341 of the Indian Constitution determines who are Scheduled Castes.	Schedule tribes find their mention in Article 342 of the constitution of the country.
The 1st Schedule of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, lists 1,108 castes spread across 28 states.	The First Schedule of the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, lists 744 tribes from 22 states.
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) is an Indian constitutional body tasked with safeguarding the economic, social, educational, and cultural interests of Scheduled Castes citizens. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes is governed by Article 338 of the Indian Constitution.	The 89th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2003 created the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, an Indian constitutional body. Article 338 A of the Constitution established the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes' main function is to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for Scheduled Castes under the Indian Constitution.	One of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes' main responsibilities is to investigate and monitor all issues relating to the constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Tribes.

Note:
- The Indian Constitution, when it was adopted in 1950, had a clause reserving up to 22.5 percent of enrolment for oppressed groups – 15 percent for Scheduled Castes and 7.5 percent for Scheduled Tribes. This was based on the 1950 Census.
- In the case of Indira Sawhney vs Union of India and others, the Supreme Court of India ruled in 1992 that the complete quota under the state could not exceed 50 percent.
- Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, two Indian states, have reservation rates of up to 69 percent and 68 percent, respectively, exceeding the state's reservation limit.