Major Tribes in India: Arranged State-Wise

India is a melting pot of numerous races and tribes and is counted as one of the largest tribal populations in the world. Various communities in India are socially, economically, and educationally backwards, needing special attention.

According to the Constitution, these groups are labelled as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in India under the provision of Clause 1 of Articles 341 and 342. According to the 2011 census, 104 million tribes in India account for 8.6% of the total population. So, let us study what is a tribe, the aspects which classify them, and the major tribes in India, arranged state-wise.

What Is a Tribe?

A tribe or the native people of any place is considered the earliest settler of that place. The tribes in India are termed ‘Adivasi’, which means the original inhabitants of the place. A study will tell you that there have been many Adivasis living in India since accountable history or even before that. 

These tribes in India exist in the remotest of areas, mostly comprising hilly or forest regions. The significant features of these tribes are distinct culture, primitive traits, geographical isolation, economic backwardness, and a tendency to remain aloof as a community at large. 

Classification of Tribes in India

Tribes can be categorised in terms of ethnicity or location.

Classification Based on Ethnicity 

Six main races have been identified under this group, and they are

1. Negritos

Kadars, Irulas, and Puliyans live in the hills and forests of the Indian subcontinent. At the same time, Onne, Great Andamanese, Sentinels, and Jarawas fall in the same classification and live in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 

2. Proto-Australoids

Tribes under this group are Ved, Chenchu, Santhal, Kutumba, Munda, Kol, and Bhil, and they reside in the hilly and forested tracts of India. 

3. Western Brachycephals

This category of tribes is found in the interiors of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Bihar, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

4. The Mediterranean

 Kolarians like Mundas and Santhals are tribes of the Chota Nagpur plateau, and they speak a dialect known as Mundari. Another type of Mediterranean tribe is Dravidian, who speaks dialects of Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada. A few of them are Gonds, Kondhs, and other similar tribes, Deccan Plateau and Central Vindhyachal.

5. Mongoloids

Palaeo Mongoloids live in the states of Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Manipur, while Tibeto Mongoloids reside around Sikkim, Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, and Ladakh.

6. Nordics

They are primarily found in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, and the North-West region of Pakistan. 

Classification Based on Location

Based on location, the tribes in India can be divided into four major categories, and they are:

1. Northern and North-Eastern

It covers the tribes residing in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Mizoram, Terai areas of Uttar Pradesh, Eastern Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and the mountainous West Bengal.

2. Central

The mountain belt lying between Narmada and the Godavari falls in this group.

3. South-Western

This group concerns only the southernmost parts of the Western Ghats. 

4. Scattered Tribes in the Region of Andaman and Nicobar

This category entertains only the locals residing in the Andaman Islands.

Major Tribes in India: Arranged State-Wise

While studying what is a tribe, it is important to know the major tribes in India, arranged state-wise. 

Conclusion:

The article deals with the definition of Tribe. From what is a tribe to classification based on ethnicity and location, and the major tribes in India arranged state-wise, this material has provided a vast picture of the tribes in India.