SSC
The Chenchu scheduled tribe belongs mainly to which state?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option B — Telangana
Detailed Solution
The Chenchus are a tribe living mainly in the Nallamala forest hills, which spread across the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In Telangana, they live mainly in Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar districts, especially inside the Amrabad Tiger Reserve. In Andhra Pradesh, they live in Kurnool, Prakasam and Guntur districts, around the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve. Some Chenchus also live in Odisha and Karnataka.
The Chenchus are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). Key features:
They are traditionally hunter-gatherers. They live by collecting forest produce such as honey, tubers, fruits, gum and medicinal plants, and by hunting small animals with bows and arrows.
They live in small settlements called "pentas" (gudems), with huts made of bamboo and grass.
They speak the Chenchu language, a Dravidian language closely related to Telugu.
They have a close relationship with the Srisailam temple of Lord Mallikarjuna. According to local legend, Goddess Parvati was born as a Chenchu girl, Chenchu Lakshmi, and married Lord Mallikarjuna, so the Chenchus consider the god their son-in-law ("Chenchu Mallaiah").
Because they live in tiger reserves, the Chenchus play an important role in protecting the forest. Many work as forest watchers and anti-poaching guards. At the same time, their rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and the issue of relocation from core tiger areas are important policy concerns.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Kerala has tribes such as the Kani, Paniya and Kurichiya.
- ✗Jharkhand has tribes such as the Santhal, Munda and Oraon.
- ✗Rajasthan has tribes such as the Bhil, Mina and Sahariya.
Quick tip
Remember: Chenchus = Nallamala forests (Telangana and Andhra Pradesh), PVTG, hunter-gatherers, Amrabad and Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam tiger reserves; linked to Srisailam (Chenchu Lakshmi).
💬 Discussions on this question
Ask a doubt ›Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.
Ask a doubtMore Paintings, Crafts, Dress & Tribes Questions
View all ›- Q1.Jamini Roy, Amrita Sher-Gil and Nandalal Bose are famous Indian:
- Q2.The 'Mysore Peta', an important part of traditional attire in Karnataka, is worn on the:
- Q3.Pattachitra painting is a traditional art form of which state?
- Q4.Warli painting is a tribal folk art of which state?
- Q5.Phad paintings, a form of scroll painting depicting folk deities such as Pabuji and Devnarayan, are famous in:
More General Knowledge Questions
- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?Indian Dance Forms
- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?Indian Dance Forms
- Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:Indian Dance Forms
- Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?Indian Dance Forms
- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:Indian Dance Forms
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.