Fifth Schedule vs. Sixth Schedule
Constitutional Tribal Protections
The Constitution provides two distinct frameworks for tribal administration. The Fifth Schedule (Article 244(1)) applies to Scheduled Areas in mainland India and empowers Governors to regulate land transfers to/from Scheduled Tribes, make Regulations for peace and good governance, and requires a Tribes Advisory Council (TAC). The Sixth Schedule (Article 244(2)) applies to certain Northeastern states (Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram) and establishes Autonomous District Councils with legislative, executive, and limited judicial powers.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands fall under neither Schedule. The tribal communities there are protected primarily by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956, which reserves approximately 853 sq km of Great Nicobar as a tribal reserve and prohibits land transfer, acquisition, or alienation within it.
- Fifth Schedule: Article 244(1) — applies to 10 states (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana).
- Sixth Schedule: Article 244(2) — applies to Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
- Great Nicobar Island: protected by the 1956 Regulation, not Fifth or Sixth Schedule.
- PESA (Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996): extends self-governance to Fifth Schedule areas — does not apply to Union Territories.
● Tracked since May 24, 2026 · last seen August 20, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes