Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: Bhils
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question connects Indian tribal groups with physical geography. In the north-eastern part of India, several hill ranges are named after major tribes living there. The task is to identify which listed tribe does not share its name with such a hill or mountain range in that region.
Given Data / Assumptions:
• Khasi, Jaintia and Garo are well-known tribes of Meghalaya.
• There are hill ranges called Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills.
• The question asks specifically about tribes that do not give their name to a hill range in north-eastern India.
Concept / Approach:
In Meghalaya, the plateau is divided into the Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills, all named after the dominant tribal groups living there. The Bhils (often written as Bhil or Bheel) are a tribal community of central and western India, especially in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, not a hill range of the north-east. Mizo is associated with Mizoram and the Mizo Hills, which are also part of the broader north-eastern hill system.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Link each tribal name with its known region in India.
Step 2: Recall that Khasi, Jaintia and Garo tribes live in Meghalaya and give their names to hill ranges there.
Step 3: Note that the Mizo people live in Mizoram, where the hill tracts are commonly called the Mizo Hills or Lushai Hills.
Step 4: Recognise that Bhils live mainly in central and western India, not in the north-eastern hill states.
Step 5: Conclude that Bhils is the correct answer because it does not denote a hill range in north-eastern India.
Verification / Alternative check:
Maps of India and NCERT geography books show distinct hill ranges in the north-east: Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills, Garo Hills and Mizo Hills. In contrast, the Bhil tribe is associated with the Aravalli and Vindhyan regions but does not lend its name to a specific hill range in the north-east. This confirms that Bhils is the correct choice for this MCQ.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option Khasi: There is a well-known hill range called the Khasi Hills in Meghalaya.
Option Jaintia: The Jaintia Hills are also a recognised hill range in Meghalaya.
Option Garo: The Garo Hills form the western part of the Meghalaya plateau.
Option Mizo: The people of Mizoram inhabit the Mizo Hills (also known historically as the Lushai Hills) in north-eastern India.
Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to focus only on whether a name sounds familiar as a tribe, without recalling its geographic location. To avoid this, remember that Khasi, Jaintia, Garo and Mizo are all tied to the north-eastern hill region, while Bhils are tribes of central and western India and do not provide the name of a north-eastern hill range.
Final Answer:
Hence, the tribe that does not share its name with a hill or mountain range in north-eastern India is the Bhils.
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