SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES IN UNDER GRADUATE LEVEL OF DIBRUGARH UNIVERSITY IN ASSAM- A CASE STUDY IN JORHAT DISTRICT

The Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) are considered most disadvantaged socio-economic groups in India. The terms are recognized in the Constitution of India and the groups are designated in one or other of the categories. In the British period, SC and ST people were known as the Depressed Classes. After 1947, Scheduled Castes are known as Dalits, which means "grouped together" are traditionally and socially marginalised in India and Scheduled Tribes are known as Adivasis or tribal groups. After independence of India, the SC and ST were given reservation in education, jobs, promotion, political representation, scholarships for education, government schemes for the development for SCs and STs etc. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes cover about 16.6% and 8.6% respectively of India's total population (census report-2011). The Indian Constitution, 1950, Scheduled Castes Order, lists 1,108 castes across 28 states in its First Schedule, and Scheduled Tribes Order, 1950 lists 744 tribes across 22 states in its First Schedule