Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India:
1. PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory.
2. A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status.
3. There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far.
4. Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: In India, PVTGs reside across 18 States and one Union Territory (Andaman and Nicobar Islands).
Statement 2 is correct: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs applies four criteria for identifying PVTGs: pre-agricultural level of technology, low level of literacy, economic backwardness, and a stagnant or declining population.
Statement 3 is incorrect: There are 75 officially notified PVTGs in India (identified by the Dhebar Commission), not 95.
Statement 4 is correct: Both Irular (Tamil Nadu) and Konda Reddi (Andhra Pradesh) are designated Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
Therefore, statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct — Option C.