In which of the following pairs of states does a population group that forms…

Concept

Article 332 of the Constitution reserves seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in State Legislative Assemblies. Under clause (3), reservation ordinarily follows the community's share of the state's population; clause (3A) preserves a special minimum for Scheduled Tribe representation in specified north-eastern states.

Application

1. Identify the population group described in the stem as the Scheduled Tribes.

2. Check the states in which Scheduled Tribes form a population majority and receive reserved Assembly seats under the special constitutional framework.

3. Meghalaya and Mizoram satisfy both conditions. The Representation of the People Act allocates 55 of Meghalaya's 60 Assembly seats and 39 of Mizoram's 40 Assembly seats to Scheduled Tribes.

Contrast

• Assam and Nagaland: Nagaland is covered by the special rule, but Assam as a whole does not have a Scheduled Tribe majority; Assam has separate provisions for its autonomous districts.

• Madhya Pradesh and Assam: neither state as a whole meets the stated majority condition, although proportional or district-specific reservations apply.

• Rajasthan and Arunachal Pradesh: Arunachal Pradesh is covered by the special rule, but Rajasthan does not meet the stated majority condition.

Result

Therefore, the pair is Meghalaya and Mizoram.