The largest tribe in India is

RRB Staff Nurse Jaipur-6th June 2018

Applied Sociology

Medium

Appeared in: RRB Staff Nurse Jaipur-6th June 2018

Explanation

The question asks to identify the largest tribe in India from the given options.
According to the 2011 Census, the Bhil tribe is the largest, followed by the Gonds.
Since 'Bhil' is not an option, 'Gonds' is the correct answer as they are the largest tribe among the choices provided and the second largest in India.
Gonds are a major Dravidian tribal group, predominantly found in the central Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra.

Option A: The Todas are a very small pastoral tribe residing in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu. Their population is numbered only in the thousands, making them one of the smaller tribal groups.
Option C: The Chenchus are a hunter-gatherer tribe designated as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). Their population is small and primarily located in the Nallamala Hills of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Option D: The Garos are a major tribe in the state of Meghalaya and parts of Assam and Bangladesh. While significant in their region, their total population is much smaller than that of the Gonds.

Visual 1: Map of India - A map highlighting the geographical distribution of major tribal groups, including Bhils, Gonds, and Santhals, to provide a visual context of their concentration in different states.
Visual 2: Infographic - A bar chart comparing the population figures of the top five largest tribes in India (Bhils, Gonds, Santhals, etc.) based on the 2011 Census data.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Major Tribal Groups in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While this is a general knowledge question, understanding the diverse demographics of India, including its tribal populations, is crucial for public health planning and delivering culturally competent care.
Healthcare professionals working in tribal areas (as per SRC_1 and SRC_3) must be aware of the specific health challenges, genetic predispositions (like sickle cell disease among some tribes), and cultural beliefs that can impact health outcomes.
What if? - If a nurse is posted in a PHC in Madhya Pradesh (a state with a large Gond population), knowing the local language basics (Gondi) and cultural health practices can significantly improve patient trust, communication, and treatment adherence.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which is to find the 'largest tribe' in India.
Access your general knowledge base. Recall that the Bhil tribe is the most populous tribe in India as per the latest census data.
Scan the options to see if 'Bhil' is present. In this case, it is not.
The question now becomes: 'Which of the given options represents the largest tribe?'
Evaluate the remaining options based on your knowledge of Indian demographics. Recall or deduce that the Gonds are the second-largest tribe in India and significantly more numerous than the Todas, Chenchus, and Garos.
Select 'Gonds' as the correct answer because it is the best fit among the choices provided.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QIDepsUFwu5WJ51I3x1IWo