Which one of the following states or Union Territories of India has more than 50 percent tribal population in its total population?

Introduction / Context:
Scheduled Tribes form an important part of India's social structure, and their distribution varies widely across different states and Union Territories. Some regions have only a small tribal population, while a few have a majority of residents belonging to tribal communities. This question asks which of the given states or Union Territories has more than half of its total population classified as tribal.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The options are Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Himachal Pradesh, and Puducherry.
• We are looking for a region where tribals form more than 50 percent of the population.
• We assume census based classification of Scheduled Tribes and official statistics on their population shares.

Concept / Approach:
Dadra and Nagar Haveli is known for having a very high proportion of tribal population in its total population, exceeding 50 percent. This is due to the presence of several tribal communities that have historically inhabited the area. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, while having a notable tribal presence, do not have tribals forming a majority of the total population. Himachal Pradesh and Puducherry both have relatively small shares of Scheduled Tribes compared with their overall population. Therefore, Dadra and Nagar Haveli is the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This Union Territory does include tribal groups such as the Andamanese and Nicobarese, but the overall share of tribals is less than half of the total population.Step 2: Consider Dadra and Nagar Haveli. This Union Territory has a population in which tribal communities form a clear majority, with more than 50 percent of residents identified as Scheduled Tribes.Step 3: Consider Himachal Pradesh. It has some tribal districts and communities but the tribal share is much smaller than 50 percent of the state population.Step 4: Consider Puducherry. This Union Territory has a negligible tribal population in terms of percentage.Step 5: From this comparison, it is clear that only Dadra and Nagar Haveli fits the condition of having more than 50 percent tribal population.

Verification / Alternative check:
Demographic data from the census and exam guides on social groups show that the proportion of Scheduled Tribes in Dadra and Nagar Haveli is above 50 percent. In contrast, the corresponding figures for Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Himachal Pradesh, and Puducherry are much lower. This consistent reporting across sources verifies that Dadra and Nagar Haveli is the correct option.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Contains important tribal groups but tribals do not form the majority of the population.

Himachal Pradesh: Has tribal pockets but the total tribal population is a small fraction of the state total, well below 50 percent.

Puducherry: Has almost no tribal population in percentage terms and therefore cannot satisfy the condition given in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may incorrectly assume that any region famous for tribal communities must have a majority tribal population. It is important to distinguish between the presence of notable tribal groups and the actual percentage of tribals in the total population. Remembering that Dadra and Nagar Haveli is one of the few Union Territories with a tribal majority helps avoid confusion.

Final Answer:
Dadra and Nagar Haveli has more than 50 percent tribal population in its total population.