Tribal Development

Development of Scheduled Tribes is the Ministry's core allocated subject. Its largest village-level programme is the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA). The Prime Minister launched it at Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, on 2 October 2024, with an outlay of ₹79,156 crore (Central share ₹56,333 crore; State share ₹22,823 crore).

In a statement laid in the Lok Sabha on 5 February 2026, the Minister said that DAJGUA comprises 25 interventions by 17 line ministries. It aims to close infrastructure gaps in 63,843 villages and to benefit more than 5 crore tribal people in 549 districts and 2,911 blocks across 30 States/UTs over five years.

"Social security and social insurance with respect to the Scheduled Tribes" is one of the subjects allocated to the Ministry under the Allocation of Business Rules. In practice, most social-security entitlements, such as pensions, food security and health insurance, sit with other Union ministries and States. Tribal households are included in them through convergence mechanisms such as DAJGUA and PM-JANMAN, not through a separate scheme of this Ministry.

The Ministry's flagship education programme is the network of Eklavya Model Residential Schools for Classes VI to XII. According to the statement laid on 13 August 2026, 728 EMRSs have been approved and 508 are functional, with 1,56,593 students enrolled in the 2025–26 session. The Ministry's other education instruments include scholarships for tribal students and Ashram schools.

Education and EMRS covers this domain in full.

Health services are delivered mainly by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the States, with this Ministry working through convergence. Under PM-JANMAN, 831 mobile medical units had been put into operation through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as of 30 June 2026. The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, launched in July 2023, aims to eliminate sickle cell disease by 2047. Sickle cell disease is a significant concern among tribal populations.

In April 2025 the Ministry held a two-day medical camp at Sundargarh Government Medical College & Hospital with AIIMS Delhi and the Government of Odisha. The Minister inaugurated it on 5 April 2025.

The National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), established in 2001, provides concessional finance to Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs. At its 25th Foundation Day on 10 April 2026, the Minister stated that NSTFDC had extended over 16.80 lakh loans, with disbursements exceeding ₹4,400 crore.

The Minimum Support Price mechanism for Minor Forest Produce now covers 87 items, up from 10 in 2013–14, according to a Lok Sabha statement of 5 February 2026.

Van Dhan Vikas Kendras group forest-produce gatherers into self-help groups for value addition and marketing. As of 13 August 2026, 4,712 Kendras covering 12.94 lakh beneficiaries had been sanctioned in 28 States/UTs, and 3,406 were operational. RISA, launched in March 2026, is a premium brand for tribal weaves and crafts.

Livelihoods and Van Dhan covers the full value chain.

Both DAJGUA and PM-JANMAN are "saturation" programmes: they aim to bring basic infrastructure and services to every eligible habitation, not to a sample. Under DAJGUA this includes social infrastructure such as hostels, Anganwadi facilities and mobile medical units. Infrastructure for EMRSs is tracked separately. On 5 May 2026 the Minister reviewed construction nationally. Of 728 approved schools, 428 buildings were reported complete, 249 under construction and 46 at the pre-construction stage.

Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan builds a cadre of trained officials and community volunteers for responsive, last-mile governance. Its stated target is 20 lakh change leaders across 550 districts. The Phase 1 figures laid in Parliament on 13 August 2026 include about 15 lakh Adi Karmayogis mobilised and 62,187 Tribal Village Vision 2030 plans approved by Gram Sabhas.

"Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan is a historic step in realizing inclusive governance and people's participation."

Governance and Last-Mile Delivery sets out the full delivery system.

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 recognises individual and community rights over forest land and resources. The Ministry is the nodal agency for the Act, while State Governments and Gram Sabhas process claims.

At the first regional review conference on the Act, held in Bengaluru, the Ministry's Joint Secretary reported the national position as of 30 June 2026:

• over 54 lakh individual claims received
• about 25.42 lakh titles distributed, covering nearly 238 lakh acres
• over 10 lakh claims pending
• 19,845 Community Forest Rights recognised

India recognises 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in 18 States and one Union Territory. PM-JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan) was launched on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, 15 November 2023, for their socio-economic development. It has 11 interventions implemented by 9 line ministries. According to the Minister's Rajya Sabha statement of 2 April 2025, its outlay is ₹24,104 crore (Central share ₹15,336 crore; State share ₹8,768 crore).

Under Article 244(1) and the Fifth Schedule, Scheduled Areas have been declared in ten States: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Rajasthan. In these areas Tribes Advisory Councils advise on tribal welfare, and Governors have special powers to adapt laws and make regulations. Under Article 244(2), the Sixth Schedule provides Autonomous District Councils in parts of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

Integrated Tribal Development Agencies and Projects (ITDAs/ITDPs) are the main field institutions for tribal development. On 3 June 2026 the Ministry convened a national conclave on strengthening them, and the President of India attended the inaugural session. On 15 August 2026 the Minister and NITI Aayog Member Dr R. Balasubramaniam released a National Framework and Operational Guidelines for these bodies.

Tribal Research Institutes support research and documentation. The TribeX digital learning platform was launched on 7 July 2026 at a national workshop on strengthening them.