What are Scheduled Tribes?

Scheduled Tribes (STs) are communities officially recognised under Article 342 of the Indian Constitution as historically disadvantaged tribal groups entitled to special protections and affirmative action. The President of India, after consultation with the Governor of the concerned state, specifies communities as STs by public notification. Any modification to the list (inclusion or exclusion) can only be done by Parliament through legislation.

As of 2025, India recognises 705 Scheduled Tribe communities across various states and Union Territories. According to Census 2011, the tribal population stands at 10.43 crore (8.6% of the total population). The Constitution does not define STs explicitly, but the criteria evolved through administrative practice include primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact with the community at large, and backwardness — criteria established by the Lokur Committee (1965).

Tribal communities in India are among the most marginalised sections of society. In 2004-05, 43.8% of Adivasis lived below the poverty line against the national average of 27.5%. STs face challenges in health (higher infant mortality, malnutrition), education (lower literacy rates), and land rights (displacement due to development projects). The Constitution provides multiple safeguards including reservation in education and employment, the Fifth and Sixth Schedules, and the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

India's tribal communities are concentrated in a central-eastern tribal belt stretching from Gujarat and Rajasthan through Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and into West Bengal. The northeastern states (Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh) have the highest proportion of ST population (over 60-80% of state population). Within the 705 communities, 75 have been identified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) — characterised by pre-agricultural technology, stagnant or declining population, and extremely low literacy. These include groups like the Jarawa and Sentinelese (Andaman Islands), Birhor (Jharkhand), and Chenchu (Andhra Pradesh/Telangana).

Key Features

# Feature Details
1 Constitutional Basis Article 342 (specification); Article 366(25) (definition reference)
2 Total Communities 705 recognised Scheduled Tribe communities
3 Population (2011) 10.43 crore (8.6% of total population)
4 Reservation 7.5% in central government services and educational institutions
5 Identification Criteria Primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact, backwardness
6 Key Committee Lokur Committee (1965) — established identification criteria
7 Constitutional Protections Fifth Schedule, Sixth Schedule, PESA Act, FRA 2006, Art. 275(1)
8 PVTGs 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups identified for special programmes
9 Key States MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha (highest absolute ST population); NE states (highest percentage)
10 Land Rights FRA 2006, Fifth Schedule, PESA protect tribal land; Samata Judgement (1997) reinforces

Current Status / Latest Data

  • 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) receive special attention under the PM-JANMAN scheme (launched November 2023), with an outlay of Rs 24,000 crore for housing, roads, clean water, electricity, mobile connectivity, and nutritional support.
  • The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 has recognised community and individual forest rights, but implementation remains uneven — states like Odisha and Chhattisgarh have distributed more titles, while others lag behind.
  • Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): Government targets 740 EMRS across the country by 2026 for tribal students, modelled on Navodaya Vidyalayas.
  • ST literacy rate was 59% in 2011 versus the national average of 73%; the gap persists, especially among tribal women (49.4% literacy).
  • Land alienation and displacement from mining, dam construction, and industrial projects continue to threaten tribal livelihoods despite legal protections.
  • The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) under Article 338A monitors safeguards and investigates complaints; it was separated from NCSC by the 89th Amendment (2003).
  • Tribal sub-plan (now Tribal Development Programme) earmarks funds proportional to ST population share in total plan expenditure, but utilisation and diversion remain concerns.
  • The SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act provides special courts and enhanced penalties for offences against tribal communities.

UPSC Exam Corner

Prelims: Key Facts

  • Article 342 empowers the President to specify STs; Parliament alone can modify the list
  • 705 ST communities; 75 PVTGs in India
  • Lokur Committee (1965) laid down identification criteria for STs
  • NCST (Article 338A) is the constitutional body for ST safeguards; separated from NCSC by 89th Amendment (2003)
  • ST population: 10.43 crore (8.6%) as per Census 2011
  • PM-JANMAN (2023): Rs 24,000 crore for 75 PVTGs
  • Eklavya Model Residential Schools target: 740 by 2026

Mains: Probable Themes

  1. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of constitutional and legal safeguards for Scheduled Tribes in India
  2. Discuss the challenges of implementing the Forest Rights Act (2006) in recognising tribal land rights
  3. "Development and tribal displacement are two sides of the same coin." Examine with examples
  4. Analyse the role of the Fifth Schedule and PESA in ensuring tribal self-governance

Sources: ClearIAS — Scheduled Tribes in India, Article 342 — Constitution of India, Next IAS — Tribals in India