How have tribes been classified in India?
Tribes in India have been classified primarily on the basis of permanent traits and acquired traits.
Classification based on permanent traits includes region, language, physical characteristics, and ecological habitat. In terms of language, tribes are categorised into Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Austric, and Tibeto-Burman groups. In physical-racial terms, they are classified under Negrito, Australoid, Mongoloid, Dravidian, and Aryan categories.
Classification based on acquired traits uses two main criteria: mode of livelihood and the extent of incorporation into Hindu society. On the basis of livelihood, tribes are categorised as fishermen, food gatherers and hunters, shifting cultivators, peasants, and plantation or industrial workers. The dominant classification, however, is often based on the degree of assimilation into Hindu society.
Explanation
The answer is derived from the section 'Classifications of Tribal Societies'. It distinguishes between 'Permanent traits' (like language and race) and 'Acquired traits' (like livelihood and assimilation) as the two main frameworks for classification mentioned in the NCERT text.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify the two main bases of classification from the text: Permanent and Acquired traits.
Step 2: Detail the sub-categories under Permanent traits (Language and Physical-racial).
Step 3: Detail the sub-categories under Acquired traits (Livelihood and Incorporation into Hindu society).