Castes and Tribes of himachal pradesh

Out of total 55673 square kilometer geographical area of H.P. about 23,655 square kilometer area falls in Scheduled V area, which constitutes 42.49% of the total area of the state. The total population living in the Scheduled Area is 173,661 of which 123,585 are tribals which constitute nearly 71.16% of the total population living in this area. Out of total ST population in the state 68.51% resides outside the Scheduled Areas while the rest is dispersed in other districts and regions of the state.
As per the Socio Economic Caste Census of 2011, tribals of HP are better off among Scheduled Tribe (ST) households in the rural areas of India. Nearly 21.37% ST rural households have an income of more than Rs 10,000 per month and as many as 42.76% tribal households own irrigated agricultural land. Among salaried government jobs too, HP tribals are ahead of other states with 23.72 percent such households with at least one member in a government job.
However, this does not represent the complete picture of the scheduled tribes in Himachal. The state’s tibal areas have a lower literacy rate at 73.64% against the state average of 82.80%. Owing to their present in the remote and geographically challenging areas (Lahaul, Spiti, Kinnaur and Chamba districts) their access to health services is low, which reflects in the poor health infrastructure in tribal areas as well as low health attainments.

The official list of scheduled tribes in Himachal Pradesh includes
1. Gaddis,
2. Gujjars,
3. Kinnara or Kinnauras,
4. Lahaulas
5. Pangwalas apart from some other smaller tribes groups like Bhot/Bodh, Beda, Jad/Lamba/ Khampa, and Swangla. The Himachal tribes generally have their abode in the upper and middle level of the hills. It is believed that most of the tribal groups of Himachal migrated from plains and adjoining areas from time to time.

Famous Tribes of Himachal Pradesh

1. Gaddis

Of the various hill tribes of Himachal Pradesh, the Gaddi is the most dominant tribe. As compared to the other tribes the Gaddis are most populous. The language of Gaddis is Gadi. The major part of the life of a Gaddi is spent in rearing the sheep and goats which is their main profession, The financial condition of the Gaddis is better than that of their counterparts in other states (Socio-Economic Caste Census,2011) but since a majority of them lead semi-nomadic, pastoral life practicing transhumance, their standard of living has not improved over time. Maintenance of large herds of sheep and goats and to provide fodder for their cattle is the major occupation of this tribe.

2. Gujjars

The Gujjar tribe in Himachal Pradesh falls in Hindu community as well as in Muslim community. A majority of this tribe leads nomadic life and are also a transhumant community. However, some of them have also settled down at different locations and live in a joint family system. The main occupation of this tribe like the Gaddis, is rearing of cattle which is also their main source of livelihood.

 3 . Kinners or Kinnauras

The Kinnara or Kinnauras tribe lives in the border district of Kinnaur. The main sources of the income of Kinnauras are trade horticulture and agriculture. The other professions of this tribe are settled animal husbandry, weaving, and also work as silversmiths, blacksmiths and wood sculptors.

4. Lahulas

The tribal inhabitants of Lahaul & Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh are known as Lahaulas. The main sources of the Lahaula's economy are agriculture, trade,horticulture, animal husbandry and various other crafts.

5. Pangwals

The people of Pangwal tribe inhabit the snowbound areas of the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. The main sources of their economy are agriculture, animal husbandry and village crafts.

Questions related to Castes and Tribes of Himachal Pradesh

1. The Kanet clan belongs to which tribal community in Himachal Pradesh?
(A) Gaddi
(B) Lahaula
(C) Khasas
(D) Swangla
Ans: (C) Khasas
2. Which among the following Scheduled Tribes communities had the highest population in Himachal Pradesh?
(A) Bhot
(B) Gaddi
(C) Jad
(D) Domba
Ans: (B) Gaddi
3. Gaddis of Himachal Pradesh can be categorised as
(A) Semi-nomadic, semi-pastoral, Semi-agricultural
(B) Economy class
(C) Higher caste
(D) None of the above
Ans: (A)  Semi-nomadic, semi-pastoral, Semi-agricultural
4. What is Gaddi? [HP HAS Pre 2005]
(A) A Pastoral Tribe
(B) A Schedule Caste
(C) District of Himachal Pradesh
(D) None of the above
Ans: (A)  A Pastoral Tribe
5. Minhal Basar Devi is associated with which of the following tribal group?
(A) Pangwala
(B) Gaddi
(C) Gujjar
(D) Kanaura
Ans: (B) Gaddi
6. 'Luachundi' is related to which of the following?
(A) A type of clothing
(B) A type of ornaments
(C) Family tradition
(D) A type of religious custom
Ans: (A) A type of clothing
7. 'The Gujjars' of present Himachal Pradesh are the descendants of [ HP Election Kanungo 2013]
(A) Huns
(B) Mongols
(C) Cholas
(D) Chalukyas
Ans: (A) Huns
8. Which tribal community of Himachal is the second largest tribal community?
(A) Gujjar
(B) Gaddi
(C) Bhot
(D) Pangwala
Ans: (A) Gujjar
9. Which tribal community is the third largest tribal community in Himachal Pradesh?
(A) Bhot
(B) Gaddi
(C) Gujar
(D) Kanaura
Ans: (D) Kanaura
10. 'Kharid Vivah' is associated to which of the following tribe?
(A) Lahaula
(B) Gujjar
(C) Gaddi
(D) Kanaura
Ans: (B) Gujjar
11. Which tribe is living along Chandra and Bhaga in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh? [HP Naib Tehsildar 2014]
(A) Swangla
(B) Bhot
(C) Gaddi
(D) Beta
Ans: (A) Swangla
12. Which tribal group is also known as 'Negi'?
(A) Gaddi
(B) Kanaura
(C) Pangwala
(D) Gujjar
Ans:(B) Kanaura
13. The tribe Pangwala is associated with. ... state.
(A) Jammu and Kashmir
(B) Karnataka
(C) Himachal Pradesh
(D) Rajasthan
Ans: (C) Himachal Pradesh

14. Among these which one is not Tribes in Himachal Pradesh? [HP Allied Services 2016]
(A) Doom
(B) Lahaula
(C) Bhot
(D) Pangwala
Ans: (A) Doom
15. Which of the following Scheduled Tribes has the lowest population in Himachal Pradesh?
(A) Domba
(B) Jad
(C) Gujar
(D) Kanaura
Ans: (A) Domba
16. Which among the following Scheduled Tribes has the lowest literacy rate in Himachal Pradesh?
(A) Bhot
(B) Pangwala
(C) Kanaura
(D) Lahaula
Ans: (B) Pangwala
17. Which among the following Scheduled Tribes communities has the highest sex ratio im Himachal Pradesh?
(A) Kanaura
(B) Lahaula
(C) Bhot
(D) Gaddi
Ans: (A) Kanaura
18. Which among the following Scheduled Tribes has the lowest sex ratio in Himachal Pradesh?
(A) Kinaura
(B) Gaddi
(C) Bhot
(D) Beta
Ans: (D) Beta

19. According to Census 2011, the Scheduled Castes sex ratio of Himachal Pradesh is
(A) 963
(B) 983
(C) 978
(D) 973
Ans: (D)  973
20. The Kolis tribal community inhabits which region in Himachal Pradesh?
(A) Pangi valley of Chamba
(B) Saraj and Shimla hills
(C) Spiti valley
(D) Kangra, Mandi and Suket
Ans:(B) Saraj and Shimla hills
21. Which among the following districts of Himachal Pradesh has the lowest %of SCs population?
(A) Solan
(B) Mandi
(C) Lahaul and Spiti
(D) Kullu
Ans: (C) Lahaul and Spiti
22. As per Census 2011, the Scheduled Castes literacy rate of Himachal Pradesh is
(A) 88.92%
(B) 78. 92%
(C) 75.55%
(D) 80. 12%
Ans: (B) 78. 92%
23. Which district of Himachal Pradesh has the lowest SCs male literacy rate?
(A) Chamba
(B) Una
(C) Sirmaur
(D) Kangra
Ans: (A) Chamba
24. Which of the following districts has the highest SCs male literacy rate?
(A) Una
(B) Hamirpur
(C) Kangra
(D) Chamba
Ans: (B) Hamirpur
25. Which among the following districts of Himachal Pradesh has the highest % of SCs population?
(A) Sirmaur
(B) Kullu
(C) Bilaspur
(D) Shimla
Ans: (A) Sirmaur
26. Which district of Himachal Pradesh has the lowest SCs female literacy rate?
(A) Kangra
(B) Chamba
(C) Una
(D) Shimla
Ans: (B) Chamba
27. Which among the following districts of Himachal Pradesh has the highest SCs sex ratio?
(A) Hamirpur
(B) Kangra
(C) Shimla
(D) Kullu
Ans: (A) Hamirpur
28. Which of the following district has the lowest SCs sex ratio?
(A) Kangra
(B) Solan
(C) Sirmaur
(D) Mandi
Ans: (B) Solan
29. Which of the following districts has the second highest SCs literacy rate?
(A) Una
(B) Bilaspur
(C) Lahaul and Spiti
(D) Kangra
Ans: (A) Una
30. Which among the following districts of Himachal Pradesh has the highest SCs literacy rate?
(A) Bilaspur
(B) Shimla
(C) Hamirpur
(D) Kullu
Ans: (C) Hamirpur
31. As per Census 2011, Scheduled Tribes (STs) population of Himachal Pradesh is what % of India's total ST population?
(A) 0.55%
(B) 0.4%
(C) 0.66%
(D) 0.89%
Ans: (B) 0.4%
32. According to Census 2011, which district of Himachal Pradesh has the lowest STs literacy rate?
(A) Sirmaur
(B) Solan
(C) Una
(D) Lahaul and Spiti
Ans: (A) Sirmaur
33. Which among the following districts of Himachal Pradesh has the highest % of STs population? [HAS Pre 2009]
(A) Kangra
(B) Kinnaur
(C) Lahaul and Spiti
(D) Solan
Ans: (C) Lahaul and Spiti
34. According to Census 2011, the Scheduled Tribes sex ratio of Himachal Pradesh is
(A) 1,015
(B) 890
(C) 999
(D) 900
Ans: (C) 999
35. Which among the following districts of Himachal Pradesh has the highest STs sex ratio?
(A) Lahaul and Spiti
(B) Kinnaur
(C) Kangra
(D) Shimla
Ans: (B) Kinnaur
36. Which district of Himachal Pradesh has the lowest % of STs population?
(A) Kangra
(B) Hamirpur
(C) Kullu
(D) Kinnaur
Ans: (B) Hamirpur
37. Which among the following districts of Himachal Pradesh has the highest STs literacy rate?
(A) Kullu
(B) Kangra
(C) Hamirpur
(D) Una
Ans: (C) Hamirpur
38. Which district of Himachal Pradesh has the lowest STs sex ratio?
(A) Hamirpur
(B) Sirmaur
(C) Chamba
(D) Kangra
Ans:(B) Sirmaur
39. Which district of Himachal Pradesh has the highest SCs female literacy rate?
(A) Kangra
(B) Una
(C) Hamirpur
(D) Chamba
Ans: (C) Hamirpur
40. Which district of Himachal Pradesh has the highest STs male literacy rate?
(A) Una
(B) Sirmaur
(C) Hamirpur
(D) Kangra
Ans: (C) Hamirpur

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