Railway
The 'Bhotiya' are a scheduled tribe of which state?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option C — Uttarakhand
Detailed Solution
The Bhotiyas (Bhotias) are a Scheduled Tribe living in the high Himalayan valleys of Uttarakhand, close to the border with Tibet (China). They live mainly in Pithoragarh, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts, in valleys such as Johar, Darma, Byans and Chaudans (Pithoragarh), Niti and Mana (Chamoli), and Nelang and Jadh (Uttarkashi). They are a group of communities, including the Shaukas (Rang), Jadhs, Marchhas and Tolchhas.
Key features:
They were traditionally trans-Himalayan traders. For centuries, they carried goods such as grain, cloth and sugar from India to Tibet across high mountain passes, and brought back salt, borax and wool. This trade largely ended after the 1962 India-China war, though trade through the Lipulekh pass resumed in 1992.
They practise seasonal migration (transhumance): in summer they live in high villages, and in winter they move down to lower valleys with their sheep and goats.
They are skilled in weaving woollen carpets, shawls and blankets, such as the "dan" and "thulma".
They follow both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
Uttarakhand has five communities notified as Scheduled Tribes under the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) (Uttar Pradesh) Order, 1967, which still applies to the state:
Tharu (in the Terai, Udham Singh Nagar).
Jaunsari (Jaunsar-Bawar, Dehradun).
Buksa (Bhoksa) (Terai).
Bhotiya (high Himalaya).
Raji (Van Rawat) (Pithoragarh), the only PVTG of the state.
The Bhotiyas of Uttarakhand should not be confused with the Bhutias of Sikkim, a different community.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Madhya Pradesh has tribes such as the Gond, Bhil and Baiga.
- ✗Kerala has tribes such as the Kani and Paniya.
- ✗Gujarat has tribes such as the Bhil and Rathwa.
Quick tip
Remember: Bhotiya = Uttarakhand (Pithoragarh, Chamoli, Uttarkashi), trans-Himalayan traders; Uttarakhand's 5 STs = Tharu, Jaunsari, Buksa, Bhotiya, Raji.
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Paintings, Crafts, Dress & Tribes — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Paintings, Crafts, Dress & Tribes, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India's traditional painting styles (such as Madhubani, Warli, Pattachitra, Kalamkari, Gond and Tanjore), handicrafts and textiles, traditional dresses, and the major tribes of each state and their customs. It also includes Geographical Indication (GI) tags given to crafts and products. Questions usually ask which state a painting or craft belongs to, which tribe lives in a region, or what a traditional dress is called. Warli belongs to Maharashtra, Madhubani to Bihar, Pattachitra to Odisha and West Bengal, and Gond art to Madhya Pradesh. Grouping tribes by state, and noting the largest tribe of key states (such as the Bhils and the Santhals), helps with elimination. Practise the paintings, crafts and tribes questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.