The criteria for identifying Scheduled Areas, as laid down by the Dhebar Commission (1960-61) and generally followed, include: 1. Preponderance of tribal population: The area must have a significant proportion of tribal people. 2. Compactness and reasonable size of the area: The area should be geographically contiguous and of a manageable size to facilitate administration. 3. Underdeveloped nature of the area: The area is economically backward compared to its surroundings. 4. Markedly different from neighbouring areas in the matter of the level of administration: There may be specific administrative challenges or requirements in the area. Statements 1, 2, and 3 directly reflect the first three key criteria.