Explanation
1. The Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, 1996, was enacted by the central Government to extend the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution (related to Panchayats) to the Scheduled Areas (primarily Fifth Schedule areas) with certain modifications.
2. Objective (A), to provide self-governance, is a core aim of PESA. It legally recognizes the right of tribal communities resident in the Scheduled Areas to govern themselves through their own systems of self-government and empowers the Gram Sabha.
3. Objective (B), to recognize traditional rights, is also central to PESA. The Act mandates that Gram Sabhas be endowed with powers to safeguard and preserve the traditions and customs of the people, their cultural identity, community resources, and customary modes of dispute resolution.
4. Objective (D), to free tribal people from exploitation, is an underlying goal. By giving Gram Sabhas powers related to land alienation, minor forest produce, money lending, etc., PESA aims to prevent the exploitation of tribal people.
5. Objective (C), to create autonomous regions in tribal areas, is *not* an objective of the PESA Act. The creation of Autonomous Districts and Regions with distinct councils is a feature of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which applies to different tribal areas (mainly in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram). PESA applies to Fifth Schedule areas and works within the Panchayat framework, albeit with modifications, rather than creating separate autonomous regions.