India's Adivasis: An Overview

Who India's Scheduled Tribes are, where they live, and why they remain among the poorest groups despite rich natural resources in their regions.

India’s Adivasis (“original inhabitants”), officially Scheduled Tribes (STs), are a diverse group of communities.

Numbers

According to the 2011 Census, STs were about 8.6 percent of India’s population, over 10 crore people.
There are over 700 notified tribal communities.

Where they live

Central India: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Northeast: where STs are the majority in states like Mizoram, Nagaland and Meghalaya.

Poverty

STs have among the highest poverty rates of any social group in India, and lag on education and health indicators.

The resource paradox

Many tribal regions are rich in forests and minerals like coal, iron ore and bauxite, yet their residents remain poor. Benefits from resources often flow elsewhere.

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups

75 communities are classified as PVTGs, facing the most severe challenges. The PM-JANMAN mission (2023) targets their housing, water and services.

The mineral district

A district in Jharkhand produces large amounts of coal and iron ore, but many tribal villages nearby lack clean water, roads and schools.

Thinking all tribal communities are the same

India has over 700 diverse tribal communities with different economies.

Key takeaways

STs were about 8.6 percent of India's population in 2011.
They live mainly in central India and the Northeast.
STs have among the highest poverty rates.
Resource-rich tribal regions often remain poor.