A tribe is a social division in a traditional society consisting of families linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, with a common culture and dialect. A tribe possesses certain qualities and characteristics that make it a unique cultural, social, and political entity. This post is about the major tribes in India. They are also known by the name ‘Adivasis’ in India.
Tribes in India
The nature of what constitutes an Indian tribe and the very nature of tribes have changed considerably over the course of centuries. Constitution of India has recognized tribal communities in India under ‘Schedule 5’ of the constitution. Hence the tribes recognized by the Constitution are known as ‘ Scheduled Tribes’. There are around 645 distinct tribes in India.
Major Tribes in India: Arranged State-wise
- Andhra Pradesh: Andh, Sadhu Andh, Bhagata, Bhil, Chenchus (Chenchawar), Gadabas, Gond, Goundu, Jatapus, Kammara, Kattunayakan, Kolawar, Kolam, Konda, Manna Dhora, Pardhan, Rona, Savaras, Dabba Yerukula, Nakkala, Dhulia, Thoti, Sugalis.
- Arunachal Pradesh: Apatanis, Abor, Dafla, Galong, Momba, Sherdukpen, Singpho.
- Assam: Chakma, Chutiya, Dimasa, Hajong, Garos, Khasis, Gangte.
- Bihar: Asur, Baiga, Birhor, Birjia, Chero, Gond, Parhaiya, Santhals, Savar.
- Chhattisgarh: Agariya, Bhaina, Bhattra, Biar, Khond, Mawasi, Nagasia.
- Goa: Dhodia, Dubia, Naikda, Siddi,Varli.
- Gujarat: Barda, Bamcha, Bhil, Charan, Dhodia, Gamta, Paradhi, Patelia.
- Himachal Pradesh: Gaddis, Gujjars, Khas, Lamba, Lahaulas, Pangwala, Swangla.
- Jammu and Kashmir: Bakarwal, Balti, Beda, Gaddi, Garra, Mon, Purigpa, Sippi.
- Jharkhand: Birhors, Bhumij, Gonds, Kharia, Mundas, Santhals, Savar.
- Karnataka: Adiyan, Barda, Gond, Bhil, Iruliga, Koraga, Patelia, Yerava.
- Kerala: Adiyan, Arandan, Eravallan, Kurumbas, Malai arayan, Moplahs, Uralis.
- Madhya Pradesh: Baigas, Bhils, Bharia, Birhors, Gonds,Katkari, kharia, Khond, Kol, Murias.
- Maharashtra: Bhaina, Bhunjia, Dhodia, Katkari, Khond, Rathawa, Warlis.
- Manipur: Aimol, Angami, Chiru, Kuki, Maram, Monsang, Paite, Purum, Thadou.
- Meghalaya: Chakma, Garos, Hajong, Jaintias Khasis, Lakher, Pawai, Raba.
- Mizoram: Chakma, Dimasa, Khasi, Kuki, Lakher, Pawai, Raba, Synteng.
- Nagaland: Angami, Garo, Kachari, Kuki, Mikir, Nagas, Sema.
- Odisha: Gadaba, Ghara, Kharia, Khond, Matya, Oraons, Rajuar, Santhals.
- Rajasthan: Bhils, Damaria, Dhanka, Meenas(Minas), Patelia, Sahariya.
- Sikkim: Bhutia, Khas, Lepchas.
- Tamil Nadu: Adiyan, Aranadan, Eravallan, Irular, Kadar, Kanikar, Kotas, Todas.
- Telangana: Chenchus.
- Tripura: Bhil, Bhutia, Chaimal, Chakma, Halam, Khasia, Lushai, Mizel, Namte.
- Uttarakhand: Bhotias, Buksa, Jannsari, Khas, Raji, Tharu.
- Uttar Pradesh: Bhotia, Buksa, Jaunsari, Kol, Raji, Tharu.
- West Bengal: Asur, Khond, Hajong, Ho, Parhaiya, Rabha, Santhals, Savar.
- Andaman and Nicobar: Oraons, Onges, Sentinelese, Shompens.
- Little Andaman: Jarawa.
- North-East: Abhors, Chang, Galaong, Mishimi, Singpho, Wancho.
Points to remember
- Total population of Scheduled Tribes is 84,326,240 as per the Census 2001 which accounts for 8.2% of the total population of country. The share of the Scheduled Tribe population in urban areas is a meager 2.4%.
- Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra, Orissa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Karnataka are the State having larger number of Scheduled Tribes These states account for 83.2% of the total Scheduled Tribe population of the country. Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Jammu & Kashmir, Tripura, Mizoram, Bihar, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, account for another 15.3% of the total Scheduled Tribe population. The share of the remaining states / Uts is negligible.
- The scheduled Tribes in India form the largest proportion of the total population in Lakshadweep and Mizoram followed by Nagaland and Meghalaya.
- Madhya Pradesh has the largest number of scheduled Tribes followed by Bihar.
- Bastar district of Madhya Pradesh consists of largest number of Scheduled Tribes.
- There are no Scheduled Tribes in Punjab, Delhi, Chandigarh, Pondicherry, Haryana.
- In Lok Sabha there is reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes. Here also census figures are taken into account. Allocation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha are made on the basis of proportion of Scheduled Tribes in the State concerned to that of the total population, vide provision contained in Article 330 of the Constitution of India read with Section 3 of the R. P. Act, 1950.
- For Scheduled Tribes, 47 seats are reserved in Lok Sabha. The 1st schedule to R. P. Act, 1950 as amended vide Representation of People (Amendment) Act , 2008 gives the Statewise break up
Scheduled Tribes
Article 366 (25) defined scheduled tribes as “such tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed under Article 342 to be Scheduled Tribes for the purposes of this constitution”.
Article 342 in The Constitution Of India 1949
Scheduled Tribes
(1) The President may with respect to any State or Union territory, and where it is a State, after consultation with the Governor thereof, by public notification, specify the tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within tribes or tribal communities which shall for the purposes of this Constitution be deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in relation to that State or Union territory, as the case may be
(2) Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled Tribes specified in a notification issued under clause ( 1 ) any tribe or tribal community or part of or group within any tribe or tribal community, but save as aforesaid a notification issued under the said clause shall not be varied by any subsequent notification PART XVII OFFICIAL LANGUAGE CHAPTER I LANGUAGE OF THE UNION.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Ministry of Tribal Affairs is responsible for the over all development of the scheduled tribes in India. This Ministry was set up in 1999 after the bifurcation of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment with the objective of providing more focused approach on the integrated socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes (STs), the most underprivileged of the Indian Society, in a coordinated and planned manner.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs shall be the nodal Ministry for overall policy, planning and coordination of programmes of development for the Scheduled Tribes. In regard to sectoral programmes and schemes of development of these communities policy, planning, monitoring, evaluation etc. as also their coordination will be the responsibility of the concerned Central Ministries/ Departments, State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. Each Central Ministry/Department will be the nodal Ministry or Department concerning its sector.
Before the formation of the Ministry, tribal affairs were handled by different Ministries as follows:
- As a Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs named as ‘Tribal Division’ since independence up to September, 1985.
- Ministry of Welfare: From September 1985 to May 1998.
- Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment from May 1998 to September 1999.
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) was established by amending Article 338 and inserting a new Article 338A in the Constitution through the Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003. By this amendment, the erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was replaced by two separate Commissions namely- (i) the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), and (ii) the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) w.e.f. 19 February, 2004.
The Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) strategy
The Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) strategy is a Government of India initative aimed for the rapid socio-economic development of tribal people. The funds provided under the Tribal Sub Plan of the State have to be at least equal in proportion to the ST population of each State or UTs. Similarly Central Ministries/Departments are also required to earmark funds out of their budget for the Tribal Sub-Plan. As per guidelines issued by the Planning Commission, the Tribal Sub Plan funds are to be non-divertible and non-lapsable. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes is vested with the duty to participate and advise in the planning process of socio-economic development of STs, and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union and any State.
Reference:
- Ministry of Tribal Affairs
- Minstry of Law and Justice
- CensusIndia
Article by: Priyanka Sunil
Vijay karthik says
October 6, 2016 at 1:09 pmthanks
Linggi says
December 1, 2016 at 4:22 pmCan understand why govt reports like that of Ministry of Tribal Affairs come up with generalised shoddy lists of STs. But fails to understand how clearias.com cannot be critical in disseminating critical reports and studies. All of the STs mentioned in no 30 belongs to Arunachal. A reader must fail to understand why such lists are taken for granted and not corrected. What is the point of mentioning “Northeast” category when separate northeastern states are mentioned in the list above. Time we need to critically study rather than mechanically manufacture tutored mindset.
Bhaskar says
March 20, 2017 at 10:14 amPlease correct Bastard district is now in Chattisgarh
Krishnaprasad says
April 4, 2017 at 8:23 pmHello
I was noted that the writer not included the Banjara’s one of the important tribe group which has it’s routes In the states like Andhra pradesh, Telangana, karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamilnadu.
Banjaras are the major traders of the India in the time of mughal’s peroid.
Banjaras are also well known as the great pastoralists.
They are the major sources for the milk products and meets to the society
Alauddin khalji named banjara’s as the their transport agents of grains to the city markets
Jahangir wrote about the banjaras carried grains on their bullocks for the Mughal army during military campaigns
Gureswar Bhoi says
May 26, 2017 at 11:48 amThis article is old one lacking sufficient data as tribal population is of 2001 census instead 2011 census report. This article has no data regarding largest tribes as well as lowest tribes. Bhil and Gond tribes are the largest tribes occupying first and second position. Gond tribe is the largest tribe in Chhatishgarh but that has not been mentioned in the Chhatishgarh and Madhya Pradesh lists. They are also 2nd largest in Odisha followed by Khondh tribe.
akshay says
July 27, 2017 at 12:05 pmwhat about the tribes of Lakshwadeep?
Mhabemo T Ngullie says
October 14, 2017 at 1:13 amApparently, the readers seems to notice some issues with the ST lists on the article. From my side , the point i would like to clarify is the list mentioned in the state of Nagaland.
* Garo and Mikir , they not tribes from Nagaland. Garos are one of the major tribes from Meghalaya.
* Naga is the common name used for the several tribes residing in Nagaland. The people of Nagaland are called Nagas, hence using the word “Nagas” might not be very suitable in the tribe list.
*Angami, kachari, kuki, sema…. all comes under Nagas.( they are just a couple of tribes taken out of the total 16 tribes. ….the list is incomplete)
The state of nagaland is inhabited by 16 tribes — Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Kachari, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Kuki, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi(sema), Yimchunger, and Zeme-Liangmai (Zeliang) .Each tribe is unique in character with its own distinct customs, language and dress.
ClearIAS.com says
October 16, 2017 at 3:04 pmThank you for the feedback. Most the details mentioned in our article were taken from government sources. But we shall check the latest data and update accordingly. Thank you once again.
Daglam says
November 5, 2017 at 1:25 pmBoro are largest tribes in Assam, but Boro is not mentioned here, they are demanding separate state bodoland
AMITKUMAR says
January 17, 2018 at 12:45 pmmay i know tribes comes under which list(union,state and concurrent )?
SHASHI says
March 15, 2018 at 7:20 pmKindly, include “Ho” and “Oraon” community in the state-wise tribal list. They are among the major tribal communities of Jharkhand.
arpit ekka says
May 13, 2019 at 10:35 amyes also in Chhattisgarh
BK Debbarma says
August 3, 2018 at 9:08 amWhere is the major tribe Debbarma and other Tripuri community in the list of Tripura ST.
Shubam says
September 3, 2018 at 1:14 pmPlz tell me different between clan and tribe.
sarangamech says
September 8, 2018 at 1:58 amMany tribes of many states are not enlisted in the list eg main tribe of assam Bodos,
the Siddis of Gujarat etc.
Elizabeth says
September 13, 2018 at 12:55 pmManipur Tribes such as Anaal, Tangkhul, Monsang, Mou, poumai, are not included which are actually the major tribes of the state. I suggest you to correct it and not make such mistakes before you publish
Bompung says
November 4, 2018 at 1:57 pmExcept Apatani all the other listed tribes of Arunachal are unknown to me , Are the other listed tribes are major???????😕😕😕😕????
anonymous says
December 28, 2018 at 11:21 amThe largest Tribe in
MIZORAM are Lusei,Ralte,Hmar,Lai,Mara.
MANIPUR are Thadou,Tangkhul,Poumai,Rongmei,Mao,Paite,Hmar,Vaiphei.
Meghalaya are Khasi,Garo,Jantia,Biate.
Assam are Bodo,Chakma,Karbi,Hmar.
Shiva Yein says
February 13, 2019 at 2:16 pmAssam’s major tribes are bodo, miching, karbi, deuri, sonowal kachari , rabha_hasong etc.. Please let correct..
Manisha says
April 26, 2019 at 10:18 amHi thanks I love your information
Thengal says
May 16, 2019 at 11:05 pmMost of the information about Assam is totally wrong.
Khalan Tisso Tisso says
July 3, 2019 at 6:24 pmThe Karbi tribe, which is the aboriginal tribe in the northern India mainly living in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam ,which is the biggest district in the country.
However,the name of the Karbi tribe of Assam is not figured in the list of tribal in of Assam in your information.
Dipankar Baro says
August 17, 2019 at 8:04 pmWhere is the BODO tribes in Assam?