In which one of the following places is the Shompen tribe found?

Correct Option

The Shompen tribe is an indigenous community primarily inhabiting the interior forests of Great Nicobar Island, which is part of the Nicobar Islands. They are characterized as a Mongoloid, semi-nomadic, and hunter-gatherer group, maintaining a largely isolated existence. The Shompen are recognized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) and depend on forest and riverine resources for their sustenance. Their protection is ensured under the Andaman and Nicobar Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation (ANPATR), 1956.

Incorrect Options

• (a) Nilgiri Hills: This region is home to tribal communities such as the Toda, Kota, and Kurumba, not the Shompen tribe.
• (c) Spiti Valley: The valley is inhabited by Buddhist pastoralist communities. The Shompen tribe, being a Mongoloid hunter-gatherer group, is not found here.
• (d) Lakshadweep Islands: The population of Lakshadweep primarily consists of Muslim communities. Indigenous tribal groups like the Shompen are not native to these islands.