the maharashtra government has established a 27-member committee to assess whether members of scheduled tribes (sts) who convert to other religions can retain their eligibility for reservation benefits and government concessions.headed by tribal development minister ashok uike, the panel will analyze central laws and legal frameworks in other states before recommending policy changes.the decision follows pressure from rss-affiliated groups demanding that converted sts be 'delisted' from the category, arguing they no longer adhere to traditional adivasi customs.however, activists like sanjay dabhade criticize this as part of hindutva politics, stressing that religion should not determine st status under the constitution.the 2011 census notes that while 97.2% of sts identify as hindus, there are significant muslim, christian, and buddhist communities within the group.the committee's report lacks a specified deadline, raising questions about the urgency of addressing this contentious issue.