Scheduled Tribes – State Wise List of Scheduled Tribes in India

Scheduled Tribes in India

Although not explicitly stated in the Constitution, the concept of criteria for scheduled tribes in India is now widely accepted among Indian tribes. These Scheduled Tribes are dispersed around the nation, mostly in hilly and forested areas. The criteria to designate a group as one of India’s scheduled tribes are signs of primitive behaviour, a distinctive culture, geographic isolation, reluctance to interact with the wider community and backwardness.

Scheduled Tribes in India PDF

Check more facts about Scheduled tribes in India below:

Scheduled Tribes in India
Total States having STs communities	More than 30 states & UTs had notified STs.
Total number of Scheduled tribes in India	700+.
Population of STs in India	Approximately 10.43 crores. The rural population is approximately 9.38 crores, whereas the Urban population is around 1.05 crores.
Sex Ratio among STs	The overall sex ratio of the ST community is 990. In rural areas, the ratio is 991, and in urban areas, it is only 980.
States/UTs with no STs	There are five states or UT which do not have STs. These are Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, NCT of Delhi, and Puducherry.

Scheduled Tribes in India: Article 342

Article 342 of the Indian Constitution pertains to the provisions regarding the Scheduled Tribes of India. This article enables the President of India to specify the tribal communities deemed to be Scheduled Tribes. The President can also make additions or deletions to the Scheduled Tribes as he/she deems fit.

Scheduled Tribes in India are groups of people identified by the Indian government as having unique cultural identities and a history of social, economic, and political disadvantage. As a result, they are given special protections and benefits, such as reserved seats in education and government jobs.

Furthermore, there are over 700 different tribal communities recognised as Scheduled Tribes in India across the country. Some of the well-known tribes include Adivasis in central and eastern India, Gonds in central India, Bhils in western India, and Santhals in eastern India. Lastly, the provisions of Article 342 aim to provide a constitutional framework for the protection and upliftment of the Scheduled Tribes in India.

Specification of a Community as Scheduled Tribes in India

The scheduled tribes of India are the indigenous, or aboriginal, inhabitants of the country who are said to have inhabited the Indian Peninsula at an early date. Their common name, Adivasis, connotes that they are the original occupants. Numerous Indian tribes are mentioned in ancient and medieval literature.

The following are these communities’ fundamental traits:

• Basic Characteristics
• Solitude due to the location
• Different cultures
• Avoiding social interaction with the general public
• Economically sluggish

The Plan’s goal of empowering India’s tribes is accomplished through a three-pronged method of social empowerment, economic empowerment, and social justice, just like it was for the SCs.

State-wise List of Scheduled Tribes in India

Around 30 States and UTs have notified the Scheduled Tribes, and 705 distinct ethnic groups have received notification as Scheduled Tribes. Below is a list of all the Scheduled Tribes in each State and UT. Below the table, candidates can access the PDF of the complete list of STs by state:

State/UTs	List of STs	State/UTs	List of STs
Andhra Pradesh	34	Sikkim	4
Gujarat	32	Madhya Pradesh	46
Assam	14	Uttar Pradesh	16
Jammu & Kashmir	12	Manipur	34
Chattisgarh	42	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	6
Goa	8	Mizoram	15
Telangana	32	Uttarakhand	5
Himachal Pradesh	10	Odisha	62
Kerala	43	Karnataka	50
Jharkhand	32	Meghalaya	17
Tamil Nadu	36	Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu	12
Tripura	19	Maharashtra	47
Nagaland	5	West Bengal	40
Arunachal Pradesh	16	Rajasthan	12
Bihar	33	–	–

In general, the scattered tribes of Andaman and Nicobar, Central India, and the Northern and North-Eastern regions of the world are home to the Scheduled tribes. In Central India, which includes Madhya Pradesh (14.69%), Jharkhand (8.29%), Chhattisgarh (7.5%), Maharashtra (10.08%), Andhra Pradesh (5.7%), Gujarat (8.55%), Orissa (9.2%), and Rajasthan (8.86%), more than half of the Scheduled Tribe population resides. The North East is another different region (Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Sikkim, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh).

Only seven States of India, i.e., Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Orissa, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, are home to more than two-thirds of the nation’s tribes. No Scheduled Tribe has been designated in 3 States (Delhi NCR, Punjab, and Haryana) and 2 UTs (Puducherry and Chandigarh).

State	Tribes of India
Andhra Pradesh	Andh And Sadhu Andh, Dhulia, rona, Jatapus, Kolam, Thoti, Bhaghata, Goundu, Kammara, Gond, Savaras, Bhil, Dabba Yerukula, Nakkala, Gadabas, Sugalis, Chenchus A.k.a Chenchawar, Pardhan, Kattunayakan, Manna Dhora
Arunachal Pradesh	Singpho, Abor, Sherdukpen, Monpa, Galo, Apatanis
Assam	Khasis, Hajong, Chakma, Gangte, Garos, Dimasa, Chutiya
Bihar	Gond, Santhals, Birjia, Savar, Parhaiya, Asur, Chero, Birhor, Baiga
Chhattisgarh	Nagasia, Biar, Agariya, Bhattra, Khond, Mawasi, Bhaina,
Goa	Varli, Dubia, Dhodia, Naikda. Siddi
Gujarat	Patelia, Charan, Bhil, Bamcha, Barda, Dhodia, Paradhi, Gamta
Himachal Pradesh	Swangal, Lahaulas, Gujjars, Khas, Lamba, Pangwala, Gaddis
Jammu and Kashmir	Balti, Sippi, Gaddi, Bakarwal, Purigpa, Garra, Beda, Mon
Jharkhand	Gonds, Savar, Santhals, Birhors, Khaira, Mundas, Bhumji
Karnataka	Gond, Adiyan, Patelia, Yerava, Bhil, Barda, Koraga, Iruliga,
Kerala	Malai, Aarayan, Uralis, Kurumbas, Arandan, Arandan, Eranvallan
Madhya Pradesh	Bhils, Birhors, Kharia, Kol, Baigas, Murias, Katkari, Khond, Bharia, Gonds
Maharashtra	Warlis, Rathawa, Bhaina, Bhunjia, Katkari, Khond, Dhodia
Manipur	Thadou, Maram, Aimol, Paite, Purum, Kuki, Chiru, Monsang, Angami
Meghalaya	Pawai, Hajong, Chakma, Raba, Garos, Lakher, Jaintias Khasis
Mizoram	Dimasa, Chakma, Raba, Synteng, Lakher, Khasi, Kuki, Pawai.
Nagaland	Nagas, Sema, Angami, Garo, Kachari, Kuki, Mikir
Odisha	Gadaba, Kharia, Ghara, Oraons, Khond, Matya, Rajuar, Santhals
Rajasthan	Bhils, Damaria, Meenas(Minas), Patelia, Dhanka, Sahariya
Sikkim	Bhutia, Khas, Lepchas.
Tamil Nadu	Adiyan, Kanikar, Aranadan, Kadar, Eravallan, Kotas, Todas, Irular
Telangana	Chenchus.
Tripura	Bhil, Chakma, Bhutia, Halam, Lushai, Chaimal, Mizel, Khasia, Namte
Uttarakhand	Bhotias, Buksa, Khas, Raji, Jannsari, Tharu.
Uttar Pradesh	Bhotia, Buksa, Jaunsari, Kol, Raji, Tharu.
West Bengal	Asur, Santhals, Khond, Ho, Parhaiya, Hajong, Rabha, Savar.
Andaman and Nicobar	Oraons, Sentinelese, Onges, Shompens.
Little Andaman	Jarawa
North-East	Abhors, Mishimi, Chang, Galaong, Singpho, Wancho.

State-Wise Scheduled Tribes in India – Download PDF

Problems faced by Scheduled Tribes in India

Scheduled Tribes in India are communities that have a distinct cultural identity and a history of social, economic and political disadvantage. Hence, they require special measures for their protection and development. Here are some major problems faced by the Scheduled Tribes in India.

• Poverty: A large proportion of tribals live below the poverty line with limited access to basic amenities, healthcare and education.
• Education: Tribals have lower levels of literacy and educational attainment compared to the general population.
• Health: They face challenges in accessing healthcare facilities and suffer from high rates of malnutrition and disease.
• Unemployment: Unemployment rates are high among tribals, and they are often excluded from mainstream economic activities.
• Discrimination: They face discrimination and social exclusion, particularly regarding access to justice, political representation, and basic services.
• Environmental degradation: The traditional habitats and resources of tribals are often threatened by deforestation, mining and other forms of environmental degradation.

Growth of Scheduled Tribes in India

According to the 2011 census, there were 10.43 crore tribals in India or 8.6% of the overall population. 10.03% of people reside in cities, compared to 89.97% in rural areas. Compared to the overall population, tribal populations have grown by 23.66% throughout the decade from Census 2001 to 2011. The sex ratio for the entire population is 940 females to every 1000 males and 990 females to every 1,000 males for Scheduled Tribes.

Census	Total population of Scheduled Tribes in lakhs	Percentage of Scheduled Tribes to Total Population
1951	225	6.23
1961	302	6.87
1971	380	6.94
1981*	538	7.58
1991**	678	8.08
2001	848	8.20
2011	1,043	8.61

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

Among the tribal groups, a few are more vulnerable, known as PVTGs (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups). Due to this fact, the PVTGs need more funding, especially for their growth, as the developed and assertive tribal groups utilise a significant portion of the monies allocated to the development of tribes in India.

PVTG’s Tribes in India PDF

• Indian government designated 52 tribes as PVTGs in 1975.
• 23 new tribes were added in 1993.
• Now, 75 of the 705 Scheduled Tribes are PVTGs.
• The most significant number of PVTGs are in Odisha. The Odisha government selected an additional 888 villages and hamlets home to PVTGs in 2020.
• The PVTGs are dispersed among the states and one UT (Union Territory).

Important Notes for UPSC
Emergency Provisions in Indian Constitution	Rio Earth Summit 1992
Comparison of Indian Constitution with other Countries	Lok Sabha Speaker
National Health Policy	Buddhism
Lachit Borphukan	Local Winds
Bhagat Singh	Commissions and their Recommendations