The Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) aims to extend the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution relating to Panchayats to the Scheduled Areas, recognizing and incorporating tribal traditions and customary laws. Its key objectives include enabling tribal self-governance through Gram Sabhas, preserving tribal traditions, recognizing community rights over resources, and protecting tribal populations from exploitation. PESA empowers Gram Sabhas significantly but does not create new, separate "autonomous regions" in the sense of distinct administrative entities with legislative powers akin to those under the Sixth Schedule. It rather integrates enhanced self-governance mechanisms within the existing state framework for Scheduled Areas.
The Government enacted the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act in 1996. Which one of the following is not identified as its objective?
Asked in UPSC IAS 2013 · Topic: Panchayati Raj and Community Development (Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), 1996: Objectives, Provisions, and Implementation)
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Answer: C. To create autonomous regions in tribal areas
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