Races and Tribes of India

• Tribal people are also known as the Adivasi and some of them are still dependent on hunting, agriculture, and fishing. Some of the major tribal groups in India include Gonds, Santhals, Khasis, Angamis, Bhils, Bhutias, and the great Andamanese.

Races in India

• The concept of race refers to a category of humankind distinguished by certain physical traits. Typically associated with biology, it often involves characteristics like skin color or hair texture

• Dr. BS Guha has categorized the current population of the Indian subcontinent into six major racial groups. Let's explore one of these groups:

The Negritos:

• Believed to be among the first racial groups to arrive in India.
• Settled in the hilly regions of Kerala and the Andaman Islands.
• Tribes such as Kadar, Irula, and Puliyan in Kerala share significant resemblances with the Negritos.
• They share connections with populations in Africa, Australia, and neighboring islands.
• Characteristics include dark skin, woolly hair, broad and flat noses, and slightly protruded jaws.

Proto-Australoids

• The Proto-Australoid race likely arrived in India after the Negritos, with Australian aborigines as their source. Their settlement spans from the Rajmahal hills to the Aravallis, and tribes like Santhal, Bhil, Gond, Munda, Oraon, etc., are affiliated with this group. Physically distinct from Negritos, their hair is coarse and straight, deviating from the woolly texture.
• Considered contributors to the Indus Valley Civilization in collaboration with the Mediterranean race, their skeletons have been unearthed in Mohenjodaro and Harappa excavations.

Mongoloids

• Originating in Mongolia (China), the Mongoloids migrated to India through the passes of the Northern and Eastern mountain ranges. Concentrated in Himalayan regions like Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and other areas in the North-East, Mongoloids exhibit pale or light pale skin, short stature, large heads, half-open eyes, flat faces, and broad noses.

Subcategories of Mongoloids include:

• Paleo-Mongoloids: Settled in the Himalayan border areas, predominantly in Assam and neighboring states, represented by various tribes.
• Tibeto-Mongoloids: Migrants from Tibet, settled in Bhutan, Sikkim, North-Western Himalayas, and areas beyond, including Ladakh and Baltistan.

Mediterranean

Originating from Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean in India can be classified into three groups:

• Paleo-Mediterraneans: The earliest arrivals, characterized by medium height, black skin, a robust physique, and long heads.
• Mediterraneans: Arrived later, collaborated with Proto-Australoids, and contributed to the Indus Valley Civilization.
• Oriental-Mediterraneans: Arrived late, concentrated in North-Western border areas of Pakistan and Punjab, along with Sindh, Rajasthan, and Western Uttar Pradesh.

Brachycephalics (Western race with broad head)

Besides Mongoloids, India hosts other races with broad heads:

• Alpinoid: Characterized by broad heads, medium stature, and light skin, found among the Bonias of Gujarat and the Kayastha caste of Bengal.
• Dinaric: Found among Brahmins of Bengal and non-Brahmins of Karnataka, characterized by broad heads, long noses, tall stature, and dark skin.
• Armenoid: Recognized by a more marked shape of the back of the head and a prominent, narrow nose, represented by Parsees in Bombay.

Nordics

• The last racial group to arrive in India, the Nordics migrated from Taiga and Baltic regions.
•  Aryan-speaking families with long heads, fair complexions, sharp noses, and well-developed, well-built bodies, are primarily found in the regions of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Jammu.

Scheduled Tribes

• India is home to a significant number of indigenous people, living outside the influence of modern society, totaling over 104.2 million.
• There are 697 tribes, identified in accordance with Article 342 of the Indian Constitution, listed in various States and Union Territories, with the highest concentration in Odisha.
• Approximately 80% of the tribal population resides in the central region, encompassing states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Gujarat. Notably, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Puducherry, and Chandigarh have no designated tribes.
• Other states with prominent tribal communities include Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and the North-Eastern and Himalayan regions.
• Overall, tribal areas make up around 18.7% of the country's total geographical area. Some tribes, labeled as primitive tribal groups, continue to live in isolation, practicing primitive agriculture, hunting, and gathering.
• These groups (numbering 75) are found in 17 States and 1 Union Territory, maintaining a primitive lifestyle with a nearly stagnant population.
• Tribal-inhabited regions play a significant role in the underdeveloped areas of the country, with most tribals residing in remote or isolated areas. A smaller fraction has migrated to urban centers.

Tribal Communities

• Indigenous and tribal peoples encompass more than 370 million individuals across 70 countries, sharing distinct cultures, languages, customs, and institutions that set them apart from the larger societies they coexist with.

Tribal Regions

India's tribal population can be categorized into seven zones based on distribution and diversity.

North Zone

• This zone includes tribes from Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Sub Himalayan, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. Tribes like Lahul, Lepcha, Bhutia, Tharu, Buxa, Jaunsari, Khampa, Bhoksa, Gujjars, and Kanauta exhibit Mongoloid racial characteristics.
•  Major challenges faced by these tribes include inaccessibility, lack of communication, poverty, illiteracy, and land alienation.

North-Eastern Zone

•  Encompassing tribes from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram, all with Mongoloid racial features.

Major Tribal Groups

• Mizoram includes Lusai, Kuki, Garo, Khasi, Jayantia, and Mikir.
• Nagaland comprises Naga, Kuki, Mikir, and Garota.
• Meghalaya features Garo, Khasi, and Jayantia.
• Sikkim includes Lepcha, Bhutia, Limbu, and Tamang.
• Tripura consists of Chakma, Garo, Khasi, Kuki, Lusai, Liang, and Santhal.
•  Arunachal Pradesh has Dafla, Khampti, and Singpho.
•  Assam includes Boro, Kachari, Mikir (Karbi), Lalung, and Hajong.
• Manipur features Meities, Pangals, Naga tribes, and Kuki.

These tribes have experienced high literacy rates and conversions to Christianity, largely due to missionary activities during colonial rule.

Central Zone

• This zone includes tribes from Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Western Rajasthan, and Northern Andhra Pradesh.
• Chhattisgarh's prominent tribes include the Gond, Baiga, Maria, and Abujhamaria.
• They predominantly reside in Madhya Pradesh's Mandla district, Chhattisgarh's Bastar district, and the Eastern region of Andhra Pradesh.

Southern Zone

• This zone encompasses tribes from the Central and Southern Western Ghats, extending south of the 20th latitude.
• Tribes from Western Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Western Tamil Nadu, and Kerala fall under this category.
• Key tribes in the Nilgiri region include Toda, Kota, and Bagada, along with others like Kurumba, Kadar, Paniyan, Chenchu, Allar, Nayak, and Chetti.

Eastern Zone

• Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar are home to tribes in this zone.
• Odisha's tribes include Juang, Kharia, Khond, and Bhumij, while Jharkhand hosts the Munda, Oraon, Santhal, Ho, and Birhor tribes.
• They belong to the Austric language family and communicate through Kol and Munda languages.

Western Zone

• Tribes from Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Western Rajasthan, and Northern Andhra Pradesh form this zone.
• Major tribes in Rajasthan are Bhil, Garasia, Mina, Banjara, Sansi, and Saharia. Gujarat's tribes include Mahadeokoli, Bali, and Dabala, while Madhya Pradesh hosts the Jayanti tribe.

Island Region

•  Andaman and Nicobar, as well as Lakshadweep groups, fall under this zone.
• Key tribes in Andaman and Nicobar are Shompen, Onge, Jarawa, and Sentinelese, with the latter facing extinction. They belong to the Negrito racial group.

Major Tribes of India

Bhil

• This ethnic Adivasi group is primarily found in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. Bhil is the largest tribal group in India as per the 2011 census, known for their exceptional archery skills.

Gond

• The Gond tribe, second in population only to the Bhils, spans across various states, including Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Odisha. Gonds are subdivided into Raj Gonds, Dhurve Gonds, Madia Gonds, and Khatulwar Gonds, primarily speaking the Gondi language.

Munda

• The Munda tribe, an Austro-Asiatic speaking group, is concentrated in the South and East Chhota Nagpur plateau region of Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. They predominantly speak Mundari, a language belonging to the Munda sub-group of Austro-Asiatic languages, and celebrate the Sarhul festival.

Tharu

• Tharu, a Scheduled Tribe found in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, mostly resides in forest areas and practices agriculture. They speak various dialects of Tharu, an Indo-Aryan sub-group language, as well as variants of Hindi, Urdu, and Awadhi.
• Tharus revere Lord Shiva as Mahadev and refer to their supreme being as Narayan, believing in their role as the provider of sunshine, rain, and harvests.

Meena

•  The Meena tribe is thought to be a blend of multiple tribes, primarily recognized as a fishing community with their distinct Meena language.
• They are found in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and the Union Territory of Delhi in India.
• Meena communities predominantly inhabit compact villages and were granted Scheduled Tribe status by the Government of India in 1954.

Bhutia

• Bhutia tribes typically trace their origins to Tibet and migrated to Sikkim in the 16th century, settling in the Northern part known as Lachungpa.
• The majority of the tribes are concentrated in the dry valley of North Sikkim, referred to as Denzongpa in Sikkim.
•  They are also present in Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

Bodo

• The authentic ethnic tribal community in the North-Western parts of Assam is the Bodo tribe.
• Residing in the Brahmaputra valley, they are recognized as the earliest settlers in Assam and were the first to cultivate rice and rear silkworms. They constitute the largest ethnic and linguistic group of tribes.

Chakma

• Chakma is the largest tribe in the hilly area of Eastern Bangladesh, known as the Chittagong hill tracts.
• Primarily Buddhist, the Chakma tribe is significant in the region.

Jarawa

• The Jarawa, one of the four tribes in the Andamans, are hunters and gatherers living on two large islands.
• With a population ranging from 200-400, they are considered substantial compared to other tribes in the Andaman Islands.
• Nomadic in nature, they live in groups of 40-50 individuals.

Khasi

•  Khasi, the earliest immigrant tribes, migrated from Myanmar and settled in the plains of East Assam.
• They once had their own kingdom until British control. The term "Khasi" is derived from Shankradeva's Baghavata Purana, an Indo-Aryan literature.

Khond

• These tribes are typically found in Bihar and are recognized as Scheduled Tribes, originating from Odisha and holding significance as one of India's major tribes. Khonds are also present in Andhra Pradesh.
•  They are also referred to as Kandhs, with the tribe divided into groups such as hill or kutia and plain-dwelling Khonds.

Naga

• Originally not identified as tribes, the Naga tribes are associated with tribes in Assam and Myanmar.
• Belonging to the Indo-Mongoloid family, each Naga tribe is divided into as many as twenty clans. Major Naga tribes include Angami, Chang, Konyak, Lotha, Phoms, Rengma, Sema, Pochury, and Zeliang.

Orans or Oraons

• The Orans or Oraons are among the most progressive tribes in India, actively involved in education and worshiping in churches.

Santhal

•  The Santhal tribe, the third-largest in India, primarily resides in West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Assam.
• Belonging to the pre-Aryan period, they were formidable fighters during the British regime in India, and a smaller group of Santhals can also be traced back to Bangladesh.

Toda

• Toda tribe is the most ancient and unusual tribe of the Nilgiri hills of Tamil Nadu. Todas have their own language.
• They have their own secretive customs and regulations.
• Todas worship nature like Hill Gods, Lord Amodr (the realm of the dead) and Goddess Teikirzi Toda community is well known for its embroidery garments, buffalo rearing, and expertise in silver-smith works.

Youth Dormitories

• Youth Dormitories are important institutions among tribal societies. They characterise the tribal culture and they form an inseparable part of tribal life.
•  They serve to train the youth in various socio-cultural, religious, economic, and political activities.

Distribution of tribes in India

Ancient Tribes on the Verge of Extinction

Census 2011: Scheduled Tribes

• A total of 10.42 crore individuals in India are officially recognized as Scheduled Tribes (ST), with 1.04 crores residing in urban areas.
•  According to the 2011 Census of India, there are 705 distinct groups classified as Scheduled Tribes.
•  Over the period from 2001 to 2011, the overall population of India experienced a decadal growth rate of 17.64%. In contrast, the Scheduled Tribes witnessed a higher growth rate of 23.7% during the same period.
• The decadal growth rate for Scheduled Tribes in rural areas was comparatively lower at 21.3%, while in urban areas, it surged to 49.7%.
•  Scheduled Tribes (STs) account for 8.6% of the country's total population and constitute 11.3% of the total rural population.
•  The sex ratio among Scheduled Tribes has seen a significant increase to 990 females per 1,000 males, compared to 978 in the 2001 Census.
•  Madhya Pradesh boasts the highest Scheduled Tribe population at 14.7%.
•  The tribes are broadly categorized into five regional groups: Himalayan region (North-Eastern Himalayan region, Central Himalayan region, and North-Western Himalayan region), Middle region (Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, where over 55% of India's tribal population resides), Western region (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli), Southern region (Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala), and Island region (Andaman and Nicobar in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep in the Arabian sea).
• The literacy rate in India stands at 74.04% as per the 2011 Census, while among Scheduled Tribes, it is 59%.
• State-wise, Mizoram leads with the highest literacy rate among Scheduled Tribes at 91.7%, while Andhra Pradesh has the lowest at 49.2%.
•  Among Union Territories, Lakshadweep boasts the highest literacy rate among Scheduled Tribes at 91.7%.
•  States and Union Territories with the highest ratio of Scheduled Tribes, as per the 2011 Census: Lakshadweep (94.8%) > Mizoram (94.4%) > Nagaland (86.5%) > Meghalaya (86.1%) > Arunachal Pradesh (68.8%).
• States and Union Territories with the lowest ratio of Scheduled Tribes, as per the 2011 Census: Uttar Pradesh (0.6%) < Tamil Nadu (1.1%) < Bihar (1.3%) < Kerala (1.5%) < Uttarakhand (2.9%) (Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Puducherry have no Scheduled Tribes population).
• States with the maximum tribal population as per the 2011 Census: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)

• The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) is a constitutional body established through the Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003.
• It operates under Article 338(A), created after the bifurcation of the erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, to oversee the implementation of safeguards for Scheduled Tribes under the Constitution.
• Established on February 19, 2004, its purpose is to investigate and monitor all matters related to the safeguards provided for Scheduled Tribes under the Constitution or any other prevailing law or government order and to evaluate the effectiveness of these safeguards.
• The NCST submits its annual report on the implementation of these safeguards to the President.

Prelims Facts

• Which racial group is found in hilly and forested areas of North-Eastern India?

- Mongoloids [UPPSC (Mains) 2003]

• The Dravidian races mainly confirmed at which Part of India?

- South India [CGPSC (Pre) 2005]

•  Which tribe in India is the largest tribe of India?

- Bhil [JPSC (Pre) 2021]

•  As per Census 2011, which tribe is the second largest tribe in India?

- Gond [JPSC (Pre) 2021]

•  With reference to India, the terms 'Halbi, Ho, and Kui' pertain to

- Tribal languages [IAS (Pre) 2021]

• The Habitat of this tribe is known as 'Tanda'

- Birhor IJPSC (Pre) 2021]

•  Where does the Toda tribe mainly live?

- Tamil Nadu [WBCS (Pre) 2017, JPSC (Pre) 2021]

•  Which tribe is related to Lal Bangla?

- Bhunjia [CGPSC (Pre) 2022]

• Widow remarriage in which tribe is called 'Maiyari'

- Korwa IJPSC (Pre) 2021]

•  Iron Smelti is the traditional occupation of which tribe

- Asur tribe [JPSC (Pre) 2021]

• Diwali is a festival of mourning among the tribes known as

- Tharus [UPPSC (Pre) 2015]

•  Which tribe of India belongs to the Proto- Australoid race?

- Santhal [UPPSC (Pre) 2002

• Which tribe of India celebrates the 'Sarhul' festival?

- Munda [UPPSC (Pre) 2003, CGPSC (Pre) 2016)

•  Garo tribes are of Garo hills, which is situated in

- Meghalaya [BPSC (Pre) 1997]

•  Where do the Sahariya tribals, who were recently in the news live?

- Rajasthan [IAS (Pre) 2005]

• Which tribe inhabits mainly from the Southern Pir Panjal region to the Punjab Plans?

- Dogras [WBCS (Pre) 2018]

•  Which tribe of Nilgiri Hills practices polyandry

- Toda tribes [UPPSC (Mains) 2005]

• Which tribe worships 'Lohasur' as their deity?

- Agariya [UPPSC (Pre) 2016]

• The second highest percentage of scheduled tribe population in Rajasthan is found in 2011

- Dungarpur District [RAS/RTS (Pre) 2021]

•  In which tribe traditionally their livelihood is based on 003] 'Bamboo'

- Kamar ICGPSC (Pre) 2019]

• Which tribe of Meghalaya practices Jhooming Culture?

- Khasis [MPSC (Pre) 2016]

•  The Onge tribe people lives in which Union Territory of India?

- Andaman and Nicobar Islands [JPSC (Pre) 2011)

• The People of the Jarawa Tribe reside in which Union Territories of India?

- Andaman and Nicobar [UPPSC (Mains) 2013) 

•  In which place does the Shomper Tribe Live?

- Nicobar Islands [IAS (Pre) 2009] 

•  A social institution called Dhumkaria belongs to which tribe?

- Oraon IJPSC (Pre) 2016] 

•  The commonest form of marriage among Santhal is known as

- Bupla [JPSC (Pre) 2016]

•  In which primitive tribal groups have the largest population in Chhattisgarh?

- Baiga CGPSC (Pre) 2019]

•  Which is an important tribe of the Dhauladhar range?

- Gaddi [UPPSC (Pre) 2021]

• The most common tribe in Madhya Pradesh is known as

- Bhil [MPPSC (Pre) 2021]

• Limboo and Dongaria tribes were found in which states of India?

- Sikkim and Odisha [IAS (Pre) 2013]

• The most widely spoken language after Hindi in the Indian Sub-continent is

- Bengali (IAS (Pre) 1993, MPPSC (Pre) 2005]

•  Which language was given classical language status in 2014?

- Odiya [UPPSC (Pre) 2015, UKPSC (Pre) 2016]

• Garo and Khasi-speaking population is found in which state?

- Meghalaya [UPPSC (Pre) 1992]

• The 'Kurukh' dialect is Spoken by which tribal people?

- Oraon tribe [CGPSC (Pre) 2018]

• What is common between Irular and Konda Reddi tribes

- Included in the list of PVTG [IAS (Pre) 2019]

•  Which linguistic group of India is the largest linguistic group?

- Indo-Aryan [CGPSC (Pre) 2015]

Self Check

1. Which is the largest tribe in India? JPSC (Pre) 2021

(a) Gond

(b) Kol

(c) Bhil

(d) Santhal

2. Which of the following is the largest linguistic group of India?

(a) Austro-Asiatic

(b) Indo-Aryan

(c) Sino-Tibetan

(d) Dravidian

3. Which is the most common tribe in Madhya Pradesh?

(a) Gond

(c) Bhil

(b) Korku

(d) Kol

4. Which of the following is the second largest tribe in India?

JPSC (Pre) 2021

(a) Bhil

(b) Mundu

(c) Gond

(d) Santhal

5. One of the tribes which celebrates the Sarhul festival is

UPPSC (Pre) 2005, CGPSC (Pre) 2016

(a) Santhal

(b) Munda

(c) Bhil

(d) Tharu

6. Where is the Bhil tribe founded?

BPSC (Pre) 2008

(a) Assam

(b) Jharkhand

(c) West Bengal

(d) Maharashtra

7. Jhooming is practiced by

UPPSC (Pre) 2010

(a) the Bhotiyas

(b) the Khasis

(c) the Santhals

(d) the Todas

8. In which primitive tribal groups have the largest population in Chhattisgarh?

CGPSC (Pre) 2019

(a) Abujhmaria

(b) Kamar

(c) Baiga

(d) Pahari Korwa

9. Who among the following is a primitive tribe?

(a) Kawar

(b) Kora

(d) Korwa

(c) Karmali

10. Which one of the following tribes of India belongs to the Proto-Australoid race?

(a) Irula

(b) Khasi

(d) Tharu

(c) Santhal

11. Which of the following tribes is not native to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India?

(a) Halchu

(b) Rengma

(c) Onge

(d) Shompen

12. A social institution called Dhumkaria belongs to which tribe?

JPSC (Pre) 2016

(a) Oraon

(b) Ho

(c) Gond

(d) Kol

13. The Dravidian races are mainly confirmed at which of the following parts of India?

BPSC (Pre) 2016

(a) South India

(b) North-Western India

(c) North-Eastern India

(d) North India

14. Which one of the following pair (s)is/are correctly matched?

UPPSC (Pre) 2022

Tribe

1. Keria
2. Kuki
3. Yanadi
4. Paliyan

State

Odisha

Uttar Pradesh

Rajasthan

Tamil Nadu

Codes

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 1 and 4

(c) 2 and 3

(d) 3 and 4

15. Iron smelting is the traditional occupation of tribe.

JPSC (Pre) 2021

(a) Birajia

(b) Korba

(c) Karmali

(d) Asur

Know Right Answer

1 (c)

2 (b)

3 (c)

4 (c)

5 (b)

6 (d)

7 (b)

8 (c)

9 (d)

10 (c)

11 (b)

12 (a)

13 (a)

14 (b)

15 (d)