Major Tribes of India

Scheduled Tribes (STs)

• Tribal communities are identified by some specific signs such as primitive traits, distinctive culture,
geographical isolation, shyness to contact with the community at large, and backwardness.
• In India, according to the 2011 census:
 Scheduled Tribes constitute 8.6% (10.45 crore) of the total population. They live in 15% of the
country's geographical area.
 Madhya Pradesh has the highest tribal population.
 Bhil is the largest tribe in India (38%), followed by Gonds.

History of Scheduled Tribes (STs)

• Tribe is a colonial concept introduced in the 19th century by colonial authorities and ethnographers to
describe all communities of India. In the latter half of the 19th century, the idea of tribe was narrowed
down to the primitive groups as distinct from castes.
• The nomenclature of the Scheduled Tribe fully emerged under the Government of India Act of 1935
and the Constitution of India.
• Article 366 (25) of the Indian Constitution provides that the "Scheduled Tribes" are tribes or groups
within tribes identified under Article 342 as Scheduled Tribes.

List of Scheduled Tribes (Article 342 of the Indian Constitution)

• In consultation with the Governor of States, the President can identify certain tribes or groups within
tribes as Scheduled Tribes for a State or UT.
 Using the powers under Article 342, the President notified the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes)
Order, 1950.
• Once the President makes the list, the Parliament can make laws to modify the list.

Constitutional Safeguards for STs

Educational and Cultural Safeguards
1. Article 15(4): Special provisions were made for the educational advancement of STs.
2. Article 29: Protection of Interests of Minorities (which includes STs). Under Article 29:
 Any section of the citizens having a distinct language, script, or culture of its own has the right
to conserve the same.
 Citizens cannot be denied admission into any educational institution maintained by the State or
receiving aid out of State funds on grounds only of religion, race, caste, or language.
3. Article 46: The State shall promote the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of
the people, especially Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
4. Article 350A: Facilities for instruction in Mother Tongue.
 Every state and local authority should make every effort to provide adequate facilities for instruction
in the mother tongue at the primary stage of education to children belonging to linguistic
minority groups. The President may issue such directives to any state as he deems necessary or
appropriate to ensure that such facilities are provided.

Economic Safeguards
• Article 275: Grants in-Aid to specified States (STs and Scheduled Areas) covered under the Fifth and
Sixth Schedules of the Constitution.
 It provides specific grants for promoting the welfare of the scheduled tribes in a state or for raising
the level of administration of the scheduled areas in a state.

Political Safeguards
1. Article 164(1): Provides for Tribal Affairs Ministers in Bihar, MP and Orissa.
2. Articles 330 and 332: Under Articles 330 and 332, seats are reserved for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha
and State Legislative Assembly, respectively.

Agency for monitoring safeguards

• Article 338A: There shall be a Commission for the Scheduled Tribes to be known as the National
Commission for the Scheduled Tribes.

Commission

• Under Article 339(1), the President may appoint a Commission to report on the administration of the
Scheduled Areas and the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes in the State.

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

• PVTG (PTG) is a sub-classification of Scheduled Tribes considered more vulnerable among the tribal
groups.
• Most of these groups have not attained significant educational or economic progress and have low
health indices.
• The Government of India follows the following criteria for the identification of PVTGs:
1. Pre-agricultural level of technology
2. Low level of literacy
3. Economic backwardness
4. A declining or stagnant population

• The central government has recognized 75 tribal communities in 18 States and 1 Union Territory
(Andaman and Nicobar Islands) as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
• Odisha has 13 PVTGs (highest), followed by 12 in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and nine in Bihar.
75 PVTGs
State / UT Name PVTGs Name
Andhra Pradesh and 1. Bodo Gadaba 2. Bondo Poroja 3. Chenchu 4. Dongria Khond 5. Gutob
Telangana Gadaba 6. Khond Poroja 7. Kolam 8. Kondareddis 9. Konda Savaras 10. Kutia
Khond 11. Parengi Poroja 12. Thoti
Bihar and Jharkhand 13. Asurs 14. Birhor 15. Birjia 16. Hill Kharia 17. Konvas 18. Mal Paharia 19.
Parhaiyas 20. Sauda Paharia 21. Savar
Gujarat 22. Kathodi 23. Kohvalia 24. Padhar 25. Siddi 26. Kolgha
Karnataka 27. Jenu Kuruba 28. Koraga
Kerala 29. Cholanaikayan 30. Kadar 31. Kattunayakan 32. Kurumbas 33. Koraga
Madhya Pradesh 34. Abujh Marias 35. Baigas 36. Bharias 37. Hill Korbas 38. Kamars 39. Saharias
and Chhattisgarh 40. Birhor
Maharashtra 41. Katkaria (Kathodia) 42. Kolam 43. Maria Gond
Manipur 44. Marram Nagas
Odisha 45. Birhor 46. Bondo 47. Didayi 48. Dongria-Khond 49. Juangs 50. Kharias 51.
Kutia Kondh 52. Lanjia Sauras 53. Lodhas 54. Mankidias 55. Paudi Bhuyans 56.
Soura 57. Chuktia Bhunjia
Rajasthan 58. Seharias
Tamil Nadu 59. Kattu Nayakans 60. Kotas 61. Kurumbas 62. Irulas 63. Paniyans 64. Todas
Tripura 65. Reangs
UP and Uttarakhand 66. Buxas 67. Rajis
West Bengal 68. Birhor 69. Lodhas 70. Totos
A&N Islands 71. Great Andamanese 72. Jarawas 73. Onges 74. Sentinelese 75. Shompens

Recent Addition
• In February 2024, the Parliament passed the bill to add seven (PVTGs) — four in Odisha and three in
Andhra Pradesh as synonyms, sub-tribes, or phonetic variations of existing tribes.
• While these seven communities were already counted among the 75 PVTGs of the country when the
designation was created, their individual community names (which qualify as either synonyms, sub-
tribes, or phonetic variations of existing tribes) were not mentioned specifically.

Odisha
• In Odisha, the PVTG communities added are:
 Pauri Bhuyan and Paudi Bhuyan as synonyms of the Bhuyan tribe
 Chuktia Bhunjia as synonym of Bhunjia tribe
 Bondo as a sub-tribe of the Bondo Poraja tribe
 Mankidia as a synonym for the Mankirdia tribe
Andhra Pradesh
• In Andhra Pradesh, the PVTG communities included are
 Bondo Porja and Khond Porja as synonyms of Porja tribe
 Konda Savaras as a synonym for Savaras tribe

History of PVTGs
• In 1973, the Dhebar Commission (Tribal Panchsheel Committee) created Primitive Tribal Groups
(PTGs) as a separate category, which are less developed among the tribal groups.
• Based on the committee’s report, the Indian Government created PTGs in 1975 and declared 52 groups
as PTGs. In 1993, 23 groups were added to the category, making it 75.
• In 2006, the Union Government renamed the PTGs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

Habitat Rights
• Habitat rights recognition grants communities the right to their traditional territory, socio-cultural
practices, livelihoods, ecological and traditional knowledge, and the protection of their natural and
cultural heritage.
• Habitat rights are given to PVTGs under The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers
(Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, or the Forest Rights Act (FRA).
• According to FRA, “Habitat comprises the customary habitat and such other habitats in reserved forests
and protected forests of primitive tribal groups and pre-agricultural communities and other forest
dwelling Scheduled Tribes.”

How the Government Fixes a Habitat

• The procedure is based on guidelines from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) in 2014.
• The tribal leaders are consulted about the extent of their culture, traditions, and occupation. The
government corroborates it, and then a habitat is declared.
• The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) provides technical assistance to the
administration to implement the habitat rights law.
• Four state-level departments, i.e., Forest, Revenue, Tribal, and Panchayati Raj, coordinate with the
UNDP team to ascertain habitats.

PVTGs with Habitat Rights

• Only three PVTGs have habitat rights.
1. Bharia Tribe (Madhya Pradesh): 1st PVTG to get habitat right.
2. Kamar Tribe (Chhattisgarh)
3. Baiga Tribe (Chhattisgarh)

Benefits of Habitat Rights to PVTGs

 Protects traditional habitats from developmental activities: Habitat rights don't grant ownership
like private property but require consent and consultation of gram sabha for development activities.
This provision helps protect traditional habitats from harmful activities like mining.
 Forest Rights have legal protection under the Forest Conservation Act, the Land Acquisition Law
of 2013, and the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
 The grant of habitat rights under the Forest Rights Act provides additional legal protection.
 Protects livelihoods
 Preserves cultural identity
 Promotes sustainable development
 Conserves biodiversity

Tribes of the Himalayan Region

Hattis
• Hattis reside in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the basin of the Giri and Tons Rivers (both
tributaries of the Yamuna River; Tons River marks the border between the HP and Uttarakhand).
• They got their name from their traditional occupation of selling home-grown crops, vegetables, meat,
and wool at small-town markets known as ‘haats’.
• The two Hatti clans are Trans-Giri (HP) and Jaunsar Bawar (Uttarakhand).
• The Hattis are governed by a traditional council called ‘Khumbli’ (like the ‘Khaps’ of Haryana).
• Hatti men traditionally don distinctive white headgear on ceremonial occasions.
• A rigid caste system is followed, and inter-caste marriages are traditionally discouraged.
• Polyandry (a form of polygamy where a woman has more than one husband at the same time) is a
common practice among the Hatti community.

ST status to Hatti Community

• The Hatti community in Himachal Pradesh organised a protest to press their demand for implementing
a law giving the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the community.
• The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Act, 2023, granted ST status to
the Hattis of the Trans-Giri region of HP’s Sirmaur district.
• But the order was stayed by the High Court of Himachal Pradesh.

Gujjars (Gurjar)
• Gujjars are a nomadic pastoral tribe of India (J&K and HP), Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
• They are religiously diverse, with the majority being Muslim.
• They are fighting for ST status in other North Indian states.

Bakarwals
• Bakarwals is a Muslim nomadic pastoral tribe that is less integrated into mainstream society.
• They, along with Gaddis and Gujjars, have been major tribal communities of J&K and Ladakh.

Dardic Tribes
• Dardic tribes, i.e., Brokpa, Drokpa, and Shin, speak the Dardic languages of the Indo-Aryan Group.
• Drokpa tribe is found in the Drass region of Kargil (Ladakh).
• The Shin tribe is found in the Gurez Valley of J&K.
• Brokpa (Dard Aryans), a tribal community of Ladakh, asserted descent from Alexander's lost army,
claiming to be the last pure-blood Aryans.
• The Brokpa region, renowned as the Aryan Valley, attracts pregnancy tourism for accessing its
purported pure genetic pool.

Changpa
• Changpas, a Tibetan nomadic tribe in Ladakh, primarily raise pashmina goats and yaks.
• Due to their Buddhist beliefs, they do not kill animals. They only use carcasses from natural deaths.
• Climate change has badly affected its livestock, endangering the generations of co-existence.

[UPSC 2014] With reference to 'Changpa' community of India, consider the following
statements:
1. They live mainly in the State of Uttarakhand
2. They rear the Pashmina goats that yield a fine wool.
3. They are kept in the category of Scheduled Tribes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

• The Changpa people were granted the status of Scheduled Tribe in 1989.

Answer: b) 2 and 3 only

Tharu Tribes
• The Tharu community belongs to the Terai lowlands, of the Shivaliks or lower Himalayas.
• Most of them are forest dwellers, and some practice agriculture.
• The word tharu is believed to be derived from sthavir, meaning followers of Theravada Buddhism.
• The Tharus live in both India and Nepal.
• In the Indian terai, they live mostly in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
• They speak various dialects of Tharu, a language of the Indo-Aryan subgroup.
• Tharus worship Lord Shiva as Mahadev, and call their supreme being “Narayan”.
• Tharu women have stronger property rights.
• Recently, the Uttar Pradesh government planned to take the unique culture of its ethnic Tharu tribe
across the world.

Other Tribes of the Himalayan Region

Tribe State Significance
Tharus Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar Terai regions of India and Nepal
Lahaulas HP Tibetan descent
Khas Uttarakhand, Sikkim, WB A Gorkha tribe (Gorkhas speaks Nepali)
Bhutia Uttarakhand, HP, J&K, Sikkim Tibetan heritage
Pangwalas HP Pangi Valley
Gaddi HP and J&K Semi-pastoral Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic tribe
Balti J&K Muslim tribe of Tibetan origin
Gara/Garra Ladakh Mongoloid tribe of blacksmiths
Mon Ladakh Mongoloid tribe of musicians
Beda Ladakh Perform art and music
Raji Uttarakhand PVTG
Jaunsari Uttarakhand Polyandry
Others: Lamba (HP), Sippi (J&K), Purigpa (Ladakh), Buksa/Bukhasiya (Uttarakhand and UP), Bhot/Bodh
(HP) and Bot/Boto (Ladakh)

Tribes of North-East Region

Nyishi/Dafla
• Nyishi is the largest tribe of Arunachal Pradesh.
• They primarily inhabit the Dafla hills, which border Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Their language, Nyishi, belongs to the Sino-Tibetan family.
• Polygyny (more than one wife) is a prevalent practice among them.

Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival

• Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF) is celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh.
• The festival aims to recognize the efforts of the Nyishi community turned conservationists and
highlights the critical need to preserve hornbills.
• It focuses on wildlife conservation, particularly hornbills, with four species (Oriental pied hornbill,
wreathed hornbill (vulnerable), rufous-necked hornbill (vulnerable), and great hornbill (near threatened))
in the Pakke Tiger Reserve.
• This year's theme of the festival is "Let Our Hornbills Remain” (“Domutoh Domutoh, Paga hum
Domutoh” in Nyshi language).

Apatani
• Apatani inhabit the Ziro Valley of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Their wet rice cultivation system is extensive, even without farm animals or machines.
• Apatani Valley has been proposed for inclusion as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its “extremely
high productivity” and “unique” way of preserving the ecology.

Mishmi
• The Mishmi tribe is found in Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet.
• Idu Mishmi are protesting the notification of Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve (TR).
• Idu Mishmis, traditional hunters, practice 'iyu-ena', a belief system with strict taboos and myths, like the
complete prohibition on killing tigers. Tigers are considered elder brothers by them.
• The Idu Mishmi language is considered endangered by UNESCO.

Singpho
• Singphos inhabit Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
• They are considered the original tea drinkers in India from indigenous tea plants. Robert Bruce
discovered this fact, which led to the start of the tea industry in Assam.

Bugun (Khowa) Tribe

• It is one of India’s smallest tribe communities with a population of around 2000.
• The Buguns belongs to the Mongoloid Race. They reside in western Arunachal Pradesh along the
border with Bhutan.
• The Tenga Valley serves as their primary habitat, while some also inhabit the subtropical forests in the
Himalayan foothills of the West Kameng district.
• Diying Kho is the main festival of the Buguns.

Bugun Community Reserve

• Arunachal Pradesh, at the Republic Day parade, showcased its Singchung Bugun Village Community
Reserve (SBVCR).
• Singchung Bugun Village Community Reserve is a 17-square-kilometre biodiversity hotspot, around 40
km from the famous Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The reserve was created in 2017 to protect biodiversity in the region. It is home to many rare and
endangered species, such as the Bugun Liocichla (CR) and the red panda.

Bugun Liocichla (Liocichla bugunorum)

• It is a songbird that is named after the Bugun community.

• It is a critically endangered species, with only 14 to 20 individuals believed to exist in the world.
• The bird was first described in 2006 after being discovered in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary.
• A five-day Bugun Liocichla Utsav was organised in 2021 at Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in AP.

Kuki
• Kukis inhabit the NE states of Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, and Nagaland.
• They are also found in Bangladesh and Myanmar.
• The recent ethnic clashes in Manipur resulted from the Kuki-Meitei conflict.
 Kuki-Meitei has a long history of conflict, but the recent clashes erupted due to the following:
1. Meitei demands for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status
2. Kukis seeking a separate administration for the Manipur hills

Khasi
• Khasi mainly inhabit Meghalaya; they are the state's largest community.
• They are also found in Assam, Mizoram, and Tripura.
• They are a matriarchal society where inheritance passes from the mother to the youngest daughter.

Tangkhul Nagas
• Tangkhul Nagas live in the Indo–Myanmar border area of Manipur.
• This Tibeto-Burmese ethnic group’s Longpi Pottery is made without a pottery wheel.
• This black and grey pottery is made with hands and moulds.

Monpa
• Monpa is a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group of Arunachal Pradesh.
• They are known for masks, handmade paper, thanka (a painting on cloth), etc.
• Handmade paper is made from a shrub called Dapne Botanical Papercia, locally called Shugu-Sheng.

Konyak
• Konyaks, the largest of the Naga ethnic groups, are found in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
• They were the last to give up head-hunting (severing heads of enemies after attacking rival tribes).

Chakma
• Chakma inhabits Tripura, Mizoram, Assam, Meghalaya, and WB.
• Chakma is the largest ethnic group in the Chittagong Hills of Bangladesh.
• They are predominantly Buddhists.
• Many Chakma refugees settled in India from erstwhile East Pakistan.

Hajong
• Hajong inhabits Meghalaya, Assam, and Mizoram.
• Hajong is a major ethnic group in the Chittagong Hills of Bangladesh.
• They are predominantly Hindus.
• Many Hajong refugees settled in India from erstwhile East Pakistan.

Chakma and Hajong Refugee Issue

• During the 1960s, Chakmas and Hajongs from the Chittagong Hills of erstwhile Bangladesh have
migrated to India due to:
 Submergence of their land by the Kaptai dam on the Karnaphuli River.
 Alledged religious persecution.
• In 2015, the Supreme Court ordered the Centre to confer citizenship to Chakma refugees from
erstwhile East Pakistan in the 1960s.

Bru/Reang
• Bru is a community indigenous tribe living mostly in Tripura (PVTG), Mizoram, and Assam.
• They were targeted by groups who do not consider them indigenous in Mizoram. Being ethnically
distinct from the majority Mizos, the Brus are often referred to as “Vai” in the state, meaning outsiders.
• While many Brus of Assam and Tripura are Hindu, the Brus of Mizoram are Christians.

Protests against Bru Resettlement in Tripura

• In 1997, 37,000 people of the Bru (Reang) tribe fled to Tripura from Mizoram, due to ethnic clashes.
Since then, 5,000 have returned to Mizoram while 32,000 remain in camps in Tripura.
• An agreement was signed by the Centre and the two state governments and Bru representatives to allow
the remaining 32,000 to permanently settle in Tripura. This led to protests from Bengali and Mizo groups
in Tripura.

What is the Re-Settlement plan?

• Union Government, Mizoram, Tripura, and Burs signed a quadripartite agreement in 2020. Under the
pact, the Union Government will sponsor the rehabilitation of Brus in Tripura.
• The state has planned 12 resettlement spots across six districts with 300 families each. Under the
agreement, the Centre has announced a special development project with funding of Rs 600 crore.

Bodo
• Bodo are the largest plain tribe of Northeast India. They are found in Assam and Meghalaya.
• The tribe is one of the largest among the Indo-Mongoloid origin of Tibeto-Burmese languages.
• They are the largest Boro language-speaking tribe in North Eastern India.
• According to the 2011 census, Bodo is the largest ethnic group in North East India.
• Bodos are the single largest community among the notified Scheduled Tribes in Assam. Part of the
larger umbrella of Bodo-Kachari, the Bodos constitute about 5-6% of Assam’s population.
Bodo Accord
• Bodos saw the 1985 Assam Accord as essentially focusing on the interests of the Assamese-speaking
people. In 1987, the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) revived the Bodo statehood demand.
• The armed group Bodo Security Force arose in 1986. It subsequently renamed itself the National
Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), and later split into factions.
• Government of India, the Assam government, and Bodo groups signed an agreement in 2020 (Bodo
Accord) for peace and development.
• The 2020 agreement says the Government of Assam “will notify Bodo language in Devanagari script
as the associate official language in the state”. Under the agreement, all NDFB factions should disband
their armed organisations.

Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC)

• It is an autonomous body under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. There have been two Bodo
Accords earlier, and the second one led to the formation of BTC.
• The area under BTC, formed under the 2003 Accord, is called the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
BTR comprises Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, and Udalguri districts, accounting for 11% of Assam’s area
and 10% of its population.

Other Tribes of North-East Region

Tribe Name State Significance
Kuki Manipur, Mizoram, Kuki-Meitei conflict
Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura,
and Nagaland
 Garos Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, Matriarchal (inheritance passes from
Nagaland, and WB the mother to the youngest
daughter)
Jaintia/Syntengs/Pnars Meghalaya, Assam, and Matriarchal (inheritance passes from
Mizoram the mother to the youngest
daughter)
Lepcha Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Bhutan, Sikkim, and Darjeeling
Adi/Abor Arunachal Pradesh A new species of Cascade frog is
named after the Adi tribe
Tai Khampti Arunachal Pradesh Follow Buddhism
Angami Nagaland and Manipur Galho (made from rice, vegetables,
and various meats)
Karbi/Mikir Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Nagaland
Kachari Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya
Chakma Tripura, Mizoram, Assam, Buddhists; Many came as refugees
Meghalaya, and WB from erstwhile East Pakistan
Hmar Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Mongoloid ethnic group
Tripura, and Meghalaya
Rabha Assam, WB, and Meghalaya Tibeto-Burman ethnic group
Maram Naga Manipur Tibeto-Burman tribe, which is a PVTG
Lushai (Mizo) Mizoram, Tripura, Assam, A Kuki-chin tribe
Meghalaya, and Manipur
Deori Assam Sino-Tibetan family
Mishing/Miri Assam and Arunachal Pradesh Brahmaputra's banks
Tiwa/Lalung Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur
Others: Aimol (Manipur), Aka/Hruso (Arunachal Pradesh), Ao (Nagaland), Chaimal (Tripura), Chiru
(Manipur), Lakher (Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Assam), Mech (Assam and WB), Mizel (Tripura), Monsang
Naga (Manipur), Namte (Tripura), Paite (Manipur and Mizoram), Pawi/Lai (Mizoram, Meghalaya, and
Assam), Purums (Manipur), Sumi/Sema (Nagaland and Assam) and Thadou (Manipur).

Tribes of Central India Region

Khond
• Khonds are the largest tribal group of Odisha.
• They are also found in Bihar, Jharkhand, WB, Odisha, Chattisgarh, MP, and Maharashtra.
• They speak Kui of the Dravidian language family.
• Dongria Khond, a PVTG of the Niyamgiri Hill, fought against the bauxite mining.
• The Supreme Court in 2013 upholded the rights of gram sabhas at Niyamgiri, Rayagada, and Kalahandi
(Odisha) against the conversion of forest land for proposed bauxite mining.

Gond
• Gonds are found in MP, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand,
Karnataka, Telangana, UP, WB, and Odisha.
• They are divided into four tribes: Raj Gonds, Madia Gonds, Dhurve Gonds, and Khatulwar Gonds.
• Their language, Gondi, belongs to the Dravidian family.
• Each Gond village has a ghotul (youth dormitory) for teaching life skills and culture.
• Their staple foods include two kinds of millet — kodo and kutki.
• Their Sulur flute, distinct from traditional flutes, creates melodies with a simple one-handed twirl. The
surface of the flute is crafted with fish emblems, geometric lines, and triangles.

Santhal
• Santhals inhabit Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and WB.
• They speak Santali, a Munda language of the Austro-Asiatic family.
• Historically, they cleared forests, practised agriculture, and excelled in hunting and sericulture.
• The Santhal governance system, Manjhi-Paragana, resembles local self-governance.
• Santhals worship Marang Buru or Bonga as the supreme deity. Bonga is a court of spirits responsible
for different aspects of the world.
• Santhal villages feature a sacred grove on the settlement's edge, believed to be the home of spirits.
• President Draupadi Murmu belongs to the Santhal community.

Bhil
• Bhils inhabit Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, MP, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
They derive their name from the word 'billu', which means bow.
• According to the 2011 census, they are the largest tribe in India (38% of India’s ST population).
• Archery skills and deep local knowledge made them experts in guerrilla warfare.
• Bhils are known for the Mangarh massacre (1913), which occurred in the Mangarh hills of Rajasthan.
The British Indian Army opened fire on a gathering of Bhil tribals led by social reformer Govind Guru,
who were protesting against bonded labour. The event is also called Adivasi Jallianwala.
• In 2022, Mangarh Dham was given National Monument status.

Oraon/Kurukh/Dhangar
• Oraons inhabit Chhotanagpur area of Jharkhand, WB, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra.
• They speak Kurukh, which belongs to the Dravidian language family.
• The word Oraon means to roam.
• During British rule, Oraons migrated to tea gardens of Assam, WB, and Bangladesh and to countries
like Fiji, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mauritius, where they were known as Hill Coolies.

Bison Horn Maria

• Bison Horn Maria, a sub-tribe of the Gond, lives in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and MP. They derived
their name from a distinctive headgear from the extinct wild bison worn during weddings.
• Each village has a ghotul (youth dormitory) for teaching life skills and culture.
• They inhabit dense forests, practising shifting cultivation and relying on forest produce.

Munda
• Munda, a tribe from the Chotanagpur plateau, inhabits Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, MP, Odisha,
Tripura, and WB. They speak various Munda languages of the Austro-Asiatic language family.
• They are known for their love of dance and music, with special dances like Nupur involving anklets.
• Their most important festival is the Magha or Ba, a thanksgiving festival celebrated in spring.
• Originally wanderers and hunters, they now practice cultivation.
• Buried ancestors are revered as guardian spirits, symbolised by sasandiri, the burial stone.

Baiga
• Baiga, meaning sorcerers, live in Chhattisgarh (PVTG), Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, WB, MP, and UP.
Formerly semi-nomadic, they now rely on minor forest produce for livelihood.
• They are skilled in honey collection and folk medicine.
• Baiga's practices include building a new house after a family member's death.
• Tattooing is integral, with specific tattoos for various ages and body parts.
• In 2023, Baiga became the second PVTG to get habitat rights in Chhattisgarh.

Kamar
• Kamar inhabit central India, primarily in Chhattisgarh (PVTG) and MP.
• Their main livelihood is crafting bamboo items, traded for essentials at weekly markets.
• Larger villages are near foothills or deep in forests, while smaller settlements line roadsides.
• Kamar is the first PVTG to get habitat rights in Chhattisgarh.

Birhor
• Birhor, a PVTG, lives in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, WB, Odisha, Bihar, MP, and Maharashtra.
• This semi-nomadic tribe’s language belongs to Munda of the Austro-Asiatic group.
• They live in small settlements called tanda at the forest edge.
• Barter is a continuing practice among them.
• The Birhor religion is a blend of animism, animatism, naturalism, and belief in spirits.

Kol
• Kol tribe of Chotanagpur plateau lives in MP, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Orissa, and UP.
• The Kol Revolt (1831) against the British was led by Buddhu Bhagat, Joa Bhagat, and Madara Mahato.

Other Tribes of Central India Region

Tribe State(s) Significance
Abhuj Maria Chhattisgarh Sub-tribe of the Gond
Birhor Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, WB, Odisha, Bihar, MP PVTG
Pahari Korwa Chhattisgarh Branch of Kolarian tribe
Dhanwars MP, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand
Nagasia MP, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra
Biar MP and Chhattisgarh
Agaria MP and Chhattisgarh Iron smelters
Bhattra Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and MP
Mawasi MP and Chhattisgarh
Dhulia MP, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh
Pardhan MP, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh
Bhunjia MP, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Orisha A PVTG in Odisha
Bhaina MP, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra

Tribes of Eastern India Region

Mankidia
• Mankidia, a PVTG, is a nomadic tribal group who live in Odisha.
• Their name derived from Odia's word ‘Mankada’ (monkey) due to their ability to catch monkeys.
• They are fighting for their forest rights in Simlipal Tiger Reserve.

Bonda Tribes
• It’s a tribal community residing in the hill ranges of Malkangiri district in Odisha.
• Bondas, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG), live in settlements comprising small hutments
in the hills of the Khairaput block.
• Bondas have almost no connection to the outside world.
• The Bondas and Didiayis are found in the Malkangiri district of the state, which shares its border with
Andhra Pradesh on the east and south and Chhattisgarh on the west.
• Bonda and Didiayi tribes were in the news due to their members tested positive for the novel
coronavirus.

Other Tribes of Eastern India Region

Tribe Name State Significance
 Juang Odisha Austro-Asiatic ethnic group
Kharia Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha Austroasiatic ethnic group
Bhumij WB, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam Bhumij  one who is born from the soil
Savar Bihar, Jharkhand, WB, and Orisha PVTG
Asur Jharkhand Austro-Asiatic ethnic tribe, which is PVTG
Parhaiya Bihar and Jharkhand PVTG
Chero Bihar, Jharkhand, and UP
Birjia Jharkhand and Bihar PVTG

Tribes of Western India Region

Kokna
• Kokna is a tribe in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
• They were original inhabitants of the Konkan region. The present-day Konkani language has evolved
from their ancient dialects.
• They are skilled in making masks, bamboo and wooden crafts, and brass and copper motifs.
• They are opposing the deforestation of Arey Colony (Maharashtra) for Mumbai Metro.

Koli
• The Koli tribe, whose traditional occupation is fishing, is found in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
• They have constructed man-made ponds within the confines of the Mithi River amidst Dharavi Slum
(Asia’s largest slum) to protect their traditional livelihood.

Meena
• The Meena tribe is primarily found in Rajasthan and MP.
• Originally, they were nomadic tribes who practised animal breeding.
• They are known for the metal Ambabari craft.

Agariya
• Agariya is a nomadic denotified tribe of Gujarat who are traditional salt farmers.
• Agariya comes from the Gujarati word “Agar”, meaning “salt farm”. They live in their native place during
monsoon and migrate to the Rann of Kutch salt farms for the remaining months.
• Coastal salt is known as "sea salt" or "karkacch salt", while in the Little Rann of Kutch, Agariyas produce
crystal salt called "vadagaru" or "poda".
• Agariyas are protesting the forest departments’ restriction to entry in the Rann of Kutch.
 Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary is in the Little Rann of Kutch.

De-notified Tribes (DNT)

 • DNT refers to communities formerly notified under the British Raj's Criminal Tribes Acts (1871-1947).
These Acts were repealed by GoI in 1952, and these communities were "De-Notified".

[UPSC 1996] In the Indian context the term 'De-notified tribes' refers to :
a) tribes which are aboriginals
b) nomadic tribes
c) tribes practising shifting cultivation
d) tribes which were earlier classified as criminal tribes

Answer: d) tribes which were earlier classified as criminal tribe

Naikda/Nayaka
• Naikda is a forest tribe of the Panchamahal Hills of Gujarat.
• Parmeshwar Joriya and Roop Singh Nayak led the Naikda Revolt (1868) against the British.

Saharia
• Saharia, a PVTG, is found in MP and Rajasthan.
• Elder sons live separately post-marriage, while younger sons take on responsibilities for parents and
unmarried siblings.
• Every adult member of the Saharia community is part of a council headed by a Patel. Patel's appointment
is based on heredity criteria.
• They are particularly skilled in making catechu from khair trees.

Lambani/Sugali/Banjara
• Banjara (gypsies) is a nomadic tribe that originally belonged to Rajasthan.
• The Banjara/Lambani community is a scheduled tribe in Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana, and Gujarat.
• In HP, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Kerala, they are categorised as de-notified tribes. In other states,
they are recognised as Other Backward Classes.
• Lambani embroidery, known as ‘khilan’ and ‘toon’, is a symphony of colours, patterns, and symbols that
tell stories of ancient legends and celebrations.

[UPSC 1999] Which one of the following pairs of states and tribes is not correctly matched?
a) Assam : Miri
b) Nagaland : Konyak
c) Arunachal : Apatani
d) Madhya Pradesh : Lambada
 Explanation

• The Lambada tribe, also known as Banjara, is a nomadic community traditionally found in Andhra
Pradesh and Telangana.

Answer: d) Madhya Pradesh : Lambada

Other Tribes of Western India Region

Tribe Name State Significance
Bharwad/Gadaria Gujarat Herds livestock
Damor/Damaria Gujarat, Rajasthan, and MP Traditional agriculturists
Katkari/Kathodi Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat PVTG in Maharashtra
Old occupation of making Katha
(Catechu)
Dhodia Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, MP
Koli Dhor Maharashtra, Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Cattle hide tanning
Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Gujarat Live in settlements called wadi
(square or rectangular huts)
Warli Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Goa, Dadra Warli art reflects their nature-
and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu worshipping belief system
Patelia Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka
Bamcha Gujarat and Maharashtra
Barda Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka
Paradhi Gujarat, Maharashtra, and MP Denotified tribe
Charan/Gadhvi Gujarat and Rajasthan
Gamit Gujarat
Rathawa Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka

Tribes of Southern India Region

Siddi
• Siddi is primarily found in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Gujarat (PVTG).
• They trace their ancestry to the Bantu speakers from sub-Saharan Africa.
• They have been brought to South Asia by the Portuguese as enslaved people.
• Most of the siddis in India follow Islam.

Todas
• Toda, a pastoral tribe of the Nilgiri Hills of southern India, is a PVTG (TN).
• The Toda language is Dravidian, and the Toda religion centres on the all-important buffalo.
• Toda embroidery (locally called pukhor) with distinctive red and black thread work in geometric designs
on white cotton fabric has a Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.

Irula/Iruliga
• Irulas that live in TN (a PVTG), Kerala, and Karnataka are a Dravidian tribe.
• They have expert knowledge of snakes and snake venom.
• Irula Snake Catchers' Industrial Cooperative Society is a major producer of anti-snake venom.
• In 2023, two Irula snake catchers were awarded Padma Shri for social work.
• Recently, Irula received title deeds for the land on the edges of the Bannerghatta National Park.

Paniya/Paniyan/Paniyar
• Paniya, a Dravidian tribe, is found in Kerala, Karnataka, and TN (a PVTG).
• The term Paniya means ‘someone who does work’ or ‘labourer’. Historically, they were slaves who
worked in the agricultural field of the janmis or landlords.
• The Paniya tribe of Nilgiri Hills Biosphere is crafting elephant statues from lantana under a project
by the Real Elephant Collective (TREC), an NGO, to address the lantana issue in an eco-sensitive manner.

Kotas
• Kota is an indigenous, Dravidian-speaking tribe of Karnataka, Kerala, and TN.
• Aiyanoor Ammanoor is a biennial festival where Kotas collect mud for pottery making.

Hakki Pikki
• Hakki Pikki is a semi-nomadic tribe in Karnataka, traditionally of bird catchers and hunters.
• They are believed to have originated from Gujarat and Rajasthan and have migrated to Karnataka via
Andhra Pradesh.
• They are called different names, like Mel-Shikari in northern Karnataka and Maharashtra.
• The eldest son in a family is not supposed to cut his hair for easy identification.
• The tribe prefers cross-cousin marriages, and monogamy is the norm.
• The society is matriarchal, where the groom gives a dowry to the bride’s family.
• In recent years, Hakki Pikki tribe members have been travelling to Africa to sell their Ayurvedic products,
which are in huge demand there. In 2023, Hakki Pikkis got caught in the Sudan conflict.

Koya Tribe
• Koya tribe is found in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.
• Traditionally, Koyas were soldiers of the palegars (feudal lords) and practised podu cultivation.
• Today, Koyas are mainly settled cultivators and artisans.

Koya Tribe Help Conserve Indian Bison

• The Koyas of Papikonda Hills switched from Bison horns to palm leaves for their traditional flute,
Permakore, as a conservation measure for the Indian Bison of Eastern Ghats.

Two New Tribes have been added to the ST list in Andhra Pradesh
• The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, recently passed by Parliament,
includes two tribal groups from Andhra Pradesh and their respective sub-groups in the Scheduled Tribes
(STs) list. The two tribal groups are Porja and Savaras, with several sub-groups under each category.

Porja Tribe
• The Porja tribe resides in the agency areas of Visakhapatnam and Parvathipuram Manyam districts in
Andhra Pradesh, as well as hilly regions of Odisha.
• They engage in shifting cultivation (Podu) on hill slopes and speak the Parji dialect, a form of the
Odia language.
• Endogamous sub-groups such as Bondo Porja, Khond Porja, and Parangi Porja exist, each with a
distinct language, food habits, and customs.
• The Porjas are among the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups in Andhra Pradesh, with an estimated
population of around 18,700 individuals belonging to 4,300 families.

Savaras Tribe
• The Savaras, also known as Sora in Odisha, inhabit the border forest areas of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram,
and Visakhapatnam districts.
• Similar to Porjas, Savaras have distinct cultural practices and deep-rooted religious beliefs, speaking the
Munda dialect.

Other Tribes of Southern India Region

Tribe Name State Significance
Kurumbas Kerala and TN PVTG
Kadars Kerala and TN PVTG in Kerala
Chenchus Andhra Pradesh Nallamala forests
Kolam Andhra Pradesh, MP, Chhattisgarh, and A PVTG in Andhra Pradesh and
Maharashtra Maharashtra
Thoti Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and A PVTG in Andhra Pradesh and
Maharashtra Telangana
Kammara Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, TN, and Blacksmiths and carpenters
Lakshadweep
Savara Andhra Pradesh and Telangana PVTG
Gadaba Andhra Pradesh and Telangana PVTG
Kattunayakan Andhra Pradesh, TN, Karnataka, and Kerala
Koraga Karnataka and Kerala PVTG
Adiyan Andhra Pradesh, TN, Karnataka, and Kerala
Others: Arandan (Kerala), Badagas (TN), Bagata (Andhra Pradesh and Odisha), Eranvallan (Kerala), Jatapus
(Andhra Pradesh), Kurumbas (Kerala and TN), Malai Arayan (Kerala and Tami Nadu), Manna Dhora
(Andhra Pradesh), Nakkala (Andhra Pradesh), Rona (Andhra Pradesh), Sugali (Andhra Pradesh and
Telangana), Uralis (Kerala), Yerava/Ravula (Karnataka and Kerala), Yerukala/Erukala/Erukula (Andhra
Pradesh and Telangana), etc.

[UPSC 2013] Consider the following pairs

Tribe State
1. Limboo (Limbu) Sikkim
2. Karbi Himachal Pradesh
3. Dongaria Kondh Odisha
4. Bonda Tamil Nadu

Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?

a) 1 and 3 only
b) 2 and 4 only
c) 1, 3 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

The pair ‘Limboo (Limbu) — Sikkim’ is correct

• Limboo (or Limbu) is a recognised Scheduled Tribe primarily residing in Sikkim, Darjeeling hills of
West Bengal, and parts of Bhutan and Nepal.

The pair ‘Karbi — Himachal Pradesh’ is incorrect

• Karbi is a major tribe predominantly found in Assam, with some populations also residing in
Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland.

The pair ‘Dongaria Kondh — Odisha’ is correct

• Dongaria Kondh is a Scheduled Tribe indigenous to the Niyamgiri hills in Odisha.

The pair ‘Bonda — Tamil Nadu’ is incorrect

• Bonda is a Scheduled Tribe primarily found in the Malkangiri district of Odisha.

Answer: a) 1 and 3 only

[UPSC 2005] Which one of the following statements is not correct?
a) There is no definition of the Scheduled Tribe in the constitutions of India
b) North-East India accounts for a little over half of the country's tribal population.
 c) The people known as Todas live in the Nilgiri area.
d) Lotha is a language spoken in Nagaland

Explanation

• The criteria for specifying a community as a Scheduled Tribe are not explicitly defined in the
Constitution.
• However, Article 342 considers historical factors such as backwardness, primitiveness, geographical
isolation, shyness, and social, educational, and economic backwardness as distinguishing traits.
• These criteria are rooted in the historical background of tribal communities and are based on
definitions adopted in the 1931 Census.
• The states of Maharashtra and Odisha host the largest number of tribes in India.
• Approximately 82% of tribes reside in western and central states, with only 11% found in southern
states. Among the major tribes in India are the Gonds, Bhils, Santals, Oraons, and Minas.

Answer: b) North-East India accounts for a little over half of the country's tribal population

Tribes of the Island Region

Sentinelese
• Along with the Great Andamanese, the Jarawas, the Onge, the Shompen, and the Nicobarese, the
Sentinelese are one of the six native people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Sentinelese, a PVTG, inhabits North Sentinel Island of A&N Island. They are probably the world’s
only Paleolithic people surviving today without contact with any other group or community.
• Unlike the other tribes, the Sentinelese have consistently been hostile to outsiders and have killed
people who approached or landed on the island.
• In 1956, the Government of India declared North Sentinel Island a tribal reserve and prohibited travel
within 3 nautical miles (5.6 kilometres) of it.
• Recently, the Anthropological Survey of India warns the threat to Sentinelese from commercial activity.

Other Tribes of the Island Region

Tribe Name State Significance
Onges Little Andaman, A&N Islands PVTG; Negrito racial stock
Andamanese Strait Island, A&N Islands PVTG; Once nomadic, now adopted agriculture
Jarawas Andaman Islands, A&N Islands PVTG; Nomadic tribe
Shompens Great Nicobar Island, A&N Islands PVTG; Like Nicobarese, they are Mongoloid

[UPSC 2009] In which one of the following places is the Shompen tribe found?
a) Nilgiri Hills
b) Nicobar Islands
 c) Spiti Valley
d) Lakshadweep Islands

Explanation

• The Shompen tribe are the indigenous inhabitants of the Great Nicobar Island.
• They are one of the most isolated tribal groups in India.
• They have historically maintained a semi-nomadic lifestyle, relying on hunting, gathering, and
some forms of agriculture for their sustenance.

Answer: b) Nicobar Islands

[UPSC 2004] In which one of the following Union Territories do people of the Onge tribe
live?
a) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
b) Dadra and Nagar Haveli
c) Daman and Diu
d) Lakshadweep

Explanation

• The Onges, considered one of India's most primitive tribes, reside on Little Andaman Island.
• They are a hunting and gathering community. The A&N Administration has resettled them at
Dugong Creek and South Bay on the same island.

Answer: a) Andaman and Nicobar Islands

[UPSC 1997] The tribal population in Andaman and Nicobar Islands belongs to the:
a) Australoid race
b) Caucasoid race
c) Mongoloid race
d) Negroid race

Explanation

• The Negrito group is characterised by dark skin colour (tending to look blue), round head, broad
nose, and frizzy hair.
• These features are found among the Kadar (Kerala), the Onge (Little Andaman), the Jarwa
(Andaman Islands), etc.

Answer: d) Negroid Race

[UPSC 2000] Which one of the following pairs of primitive tribes and places of their
inhabitation is NOT correctly matched?
a) Buksa : Pauri-Garhwa
 b) Kol : Jabalpur
c) Munda : Chhota Nagpur
d) Korba : Kodagu

Explanation

• The pair ‘Buksa : Pauri-Garhwa’ is correct: The Buksa tribe is primarily found in the Pauri-Garhwal
region of Uttarakhand.
• The pair ‘Kol : Jabalpur’ is correct: The Kol tribe is predominantly found in the Jabalpur and
surrounding districts of Madhya Pradesh.
• The pair ‘Munda : Chhota Nagpur’ is correct: The Munda tribe is one of the largest indigenous
communities in India, primarily inhabiting the Chota Nagpur Plateau region, spanning parts of
Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal.
• The pair ‘Korba : Kodagu’ is incorrect: The Korba tribe are spread across the states of Chhattisgarh
and Jharkhand.

Answer: d) Korba : Kodagu

[UPSC 1998] Among the Indian States shown labelled 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the rough outline
map given, the correct sequence in descending order of per cent of scheduled tribe
population to their total population is :

a) 1, 3, 2, 4
b) 3, 1, 2, 4
c) 3, 1, 4, 2
d) 1, 3, 4, 2

Explanation

• The states mentioned on the map are: 1. Arunachal Pradesh, 2. Manipur, 3. Mizoram, and 4. Odisha.
• According to the Census 2011, the population of tribes in these states are:
State Total Population (in lakhs) ST Population (in lakhs) % of STs / State’s Population
Arunachal Pradesh 13.84 9.52 68.8%
Manipur 28.56 11.67 40.9%
Mizoram 10.97 10.36 94.4%
Odisha 419.74 95.91 22.8%

Answer: a) 1, 3, 2, 4