Question 54 from UPSC CSE 2014 - Geography

Question

With reference to 'Changpa' community of India, consider the following statements:
1. They live mainly in the State of Uttarakhand.
2. They rear the Pashmina goats that yield fine wool.
3. They are kept in the category of Scheduled Tribes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 2 and 3 only

Strategy: Focus first on the region referenced: Changpa are associated with the high-altitude Ladakh area, not Uttarakhand, so eliminate Statement 1. The mention of Pashmina goats (renowned for Pashmina wool) is correct, as the Changpa are traditionally pastoralists who rear them. The Scheduled Tribe status holds true for Changpas in Jammu & Kashmir. So, only Statements 2 and 3 are correct.

Key Info: The Changpa are a semi-nomadic pastoralist community primarily residing in the Changthang plateau of Ladakh, now a union territory carved out of Jammu and Kashmir. Key features of Changpa life include:

- **Region:** The Changthang plateau is a cold desert at high altitudes, bordering Tibet. Changpas do not have traditional settlements in Uttarakhand.
- **Livelihood:** Their main occupation is rearing the Changra or Pashmina goat, which produces world-famous Pashmina wool. The harsh climate and migratory lifestyle center around their herds and the availability of grazing pastures.
- **Pashmina Wool:** Changpa Pashmina is the raw material for luxurious Kashmiri shawls. The goats survive in sub-zero temperatures, making their wool extremely fine and warm.
- **Scheduled Tribe Status:** In Jammu & Kashmir, 'Changpa' or 'Champa' are officially notified as a Scheduled Tribe under Presidential Orders. This enables access to ST benefits in that region.
- **Culture:** Changpas speak the Changskhat dialect and maintain Buddhist traditions influenced by Tibetan culture. Their migration patterns follow fixed seasonal routes.
- **Related Context:** Pashmina goat rearing is unique to the trans-Himalayan belt of Ladakh, with no comparable tradition among major groups in Uttarakhand.
- **Legal Reference:** Scheduled Tribes are listed under Article 342 of the Indian Constitution via Presidential notification in consultation with the respective state/UT governments.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: 3 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: 1, 2, and 3

With reference to 'Changpa' community of India, consider the following statements: They live mainly in the State of Uttarakhand. They rear the Pashmina goats that yield fine wool. They are kept in the category of Scheduled Tribes. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to 'Changpa' community of India, consider the following statements:

They live mainly in the State of Uttarakhand.

They rear the Pashmina goats that yield fine wool.

They are kept in the category of Scheduled Tribes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?