Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups Latest News
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs requested the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGI) to consider enumerating particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) separately in the upcoming Census.
About Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups
- PVTGs are a sub-category of Scheduled Tribes (STs) and are more vulnerable among the tribal groups in India.
- The criteria for identifying Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups are:
- A declining or stagnant population,
- Geographical isolation,
- Use of pre-agrarian practices (such as hunting and gathering),
- Economic backwardness and relatively low literacy
- This category was created based on the recommendations of the Dhebar Commission (1960-61) — led by former Member of Parliament U N Dhebar.
- At present there are 75 tribal groups considered as PVTGs and they are currently spread across 18 states, and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- As per the recent survey, there were an estimated 47.5 lakh PVTGs across India. Madhya Pradesh had the highest estimated population of PVTGs, followed by Maharashtra with an estimated population of 6.7 lakh, and Andhra Pradesh.
- Livelihoods: PVTGs depend on various livelihoods such as food gathering, Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP), hunting, livestock rearing, shifting cultivation and artisan works.
- Welfare scheme for PVTGs
- PM JANMAN scheme: Under this the government rolled out the Rs 24,104 crore with an aim to improve the socio-economic status, health, education, livelihoods and amenities for PVTGs in more than 200 districts.
Source: IE
Last updated on July, 2026
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