Spatial Distribution of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Population: A Case Study of Samba District (Jammu and Kashmir)

The spatial distribution of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) reflects historical processes of settlement, occupation, socio-economic differentiation, and state policy intervention. This paper examines the spatial distribution of SC and ST populations in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir using Census data (primarily 2011) and historical-geographical interpretation. The study reveals that SCs form a substantial proportion of the district population and are largely concentrated in rural plains and agricultural settlements, while STs are comparatively fewer and exhibit dispersed distribution patterns. The paper contextualizes these patterns historically through migration trends, agrarian structures, and socio-political transformations in the Jammu region.