<P> Since the 1850s these communities were loosely referred to as Depressed Classes, with the Schedule Caste and Scheduled Tribes . The early 20th century saw a flurry of activity in the British authorities assessing the feasibility of responsible self - government for India . The Morley--Minto Reforms Report, Montagu--Chelmsford Reforms Report and the Simon Commission were several initiatives in this context . A highly contested issue in the proposed reforms was the reservation of seats for representation of the Depressed Classes in provincial and central legislatures . </P> <P> In 1935, Parliament passed the Government of India Act 1935, designed to give Indian provinces greater self - rule and set up a national federal structure . The reservation of seats for the Depressed Classes was incorporated into the act, which came into force in 1937 . The Act introduced the term "Scheduled Castes", defining the group as "such castes, races or tribes or parts of groups within castes, races or tribes, which appear to His Majesty in Council to correspond to the classes of persons formerly known as the' Depressed Classes', as His Majesty in Council may prefer". This discretionary definition was clarified in The Government of India (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1936, which contained a list (or Schedule) of castes throughout the British - administered provinces . </P> <P> After independence the Constituent Assembly continued the prevailing definition of Scheduled Castes and Tribes, giving (via articles 341 and 342) the president of India and governors of the states a mandate to compile a full listing of castes and tribes (with the power to edit it later, as required). The complete list of castes and tribes was made via two orders: The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, respectively . Furthermore, independent India's quest for inclusivity was incident through the appointment of B.R. Ambedkar as the chair of the drafting committee for the Constitution . Ambedkar was a scheduled caste constitutional lawyer, a member of the low regarded Untouchables . </P> <P> The Constitution provides a three - pronged strategy to improve the situation of SCs and STs: </P>

Which state has the lowest percentage of scheduled tribes