Union Territories & Special Provisions (Indian Polity).
Syllabus: UPSC Pre GS1: Indian Polity and Governance; Mains GS2
Fifth Schedule for UPSC: Article 244(1), Scheduled Areas, Governor's special powers, Tribes Advisory Council, PESA, Samatha and Fifth vs Sixth Schedule.
PESA Act for UPSC: why it was needed, the ten Fifth Schedule States, gram sabha powers over land, minerals and forest produce,…
On 15 August 2026 the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and NITI Aayog released the National Framework and the Operational Guidelines for Strengthening of ITDAs and ITDPs. They come from a nationwide consultation and score each agency on 15 parameters. Each ITDA will prepare its own Performance Improvement Roadmap, with quarterly monitoring by States.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Tribal Sub-Plan.
15 Aug 2026
On 5 August 2026 the Prime Minister marked seven years since Articles 370 and 35(A) ceased to operate in 2019, calling 5 August 2019 a defining milestone. He said the full application of the Constitution has empowered women and marginalised communities in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The change rested on two Presidential Orders, C.O. 272 and C.O. 273.
UPSC angle: Prelims: J&K reorganisation.
5 Aug 2026
Without state rules, Gram Sabha powers remain on paper. Jharkhand, with a large tribal population, is still without final rules.
UPSC angle: Prelims: PESA, Article 244. · Mains: tribal self-rule.
22 Dec 2025