The Government enacted the Panchayat Extension of Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act in 1996. Which one of the following is not identified as its objective?

The Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) was enacted to extend the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution to Fifth Schedule areas [2]. Its primary objectives include providing self-governance to tribal populations through empowered Gram Sabhas [4] and recognizing their traditional rights over land, water, and forest resources [5]. Furthermore, the Act aims to protect tribal communities from exploitation by granting them control over minor minerals, minor forest produce, and the power to prevent land alienation [4]. However, creating 'autonomous regions' is not an objective of PESA; rather, that concept is associated with the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which establishes Autonomous District Councils in specific North-Eastern states [4]. PESA focuses on decentralizing democracy and integrating traditional governance systems within the existing Panchayati Raj framework rather than creating separate autonomous administrative regions [3].

Sources

1. [1] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 39: Panchayati Raj > PESA ACT OF 1996 (EXTENSION ACT) > p. 393
2. [2] https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/1973/1/A1996-40.pdf
3. [3] https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2207293&reg=3&lang=1
4. [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PESA_Act
5. [5] https://www.pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=156625&ModuleId=3&reg=3&lang=1