Daily Mains Question - GS 1 - 6th September 2025
- TPP
- Sep 6
- 4 min read
Welcome to your Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice – GS Paper 1 (Indian Society & Diversity of India).
Today’s question focuses on Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) — a special sub-category within Scheduled Tribes identified for their extreme marginalisation and socio-economic backwardness. These communities are marked by declining or stagnant populations, subsistence-level economic practices, low literacy, and habitation in remote, ecologically fragile regions such as forests, hilly tracts, and islands.
The idea of identifying these most at-risk tribal groups dates back to the Dhebar Commission (1960–61), which recognised intra-tribal disparities and recommended a separate classification. Over time, 75 groups were notified across 18 States and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, but unlike Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, PVTGs have never been enumerated separately in any Census, leading to concerns of undercounting and inadequate policy targeting.
The issue has gained renewed significance with the launch of the ₹24,104 crore PM-JANMAN scheme (2023), aimed at addressing developmental gaps in health, education, housing, and livelihoods for PVTGs in more than 200 districts. In this context, the demand for a separate enumeration exercise becomes critical, raising important debates around welfare delivery, data accuracy, cultural preservation, and the challenges of surveying such small and scattered populations.
This makes the topic highly relevant for UPSC GS-I, touching upon themes of tribal diversity, vulnerable social groups, developmental policy, and the inclusive vision of India’s Constitution.
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QUESTION
Who are Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India? Examine their distinctive features, trace the historical evolution of this category, and analyse the potential advantages and limitations of conducting a separate enumeration of these communities.
Answer: India’s tribal population is internally diverse, with varying levels of socio-economic development. Within this spectrum, some groups remain far more deprived and at risk of extinction than others. These communities are officially classified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) — a sub-category within Scheduled Tribes (STs). They are characterised by low or stagnant population growth, subsistence-level economic practices, poor literacy, and relative isolation. At present, 75 PVTGs are recognised across 18 States and the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Historical Evolution of the Category
The idea of a separate category emerged from the Dhebar Commission (1960–61), which found stark disparities among different ST communities.
During the Fifth Five-Year Plan (1974–79), 52 tribal groups were identified as Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs).
In 2006, 23 more groups were added, raising the number to 75, and the terminology shifted from PTGs to PVTGs to reflect sensitivity in nomenclature.
Unlike Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, PVTGs have never been enumerated separately in the Census, often being merged under broader tribal identities.
Defining Characteristics of PVTGs
Demographic Fragility: Very small population sizes; some under 1,000 members (e.g., Jarawas, Onges, Sentinelese, Shompens).
Economic Backwardness: Dependence on pre-agrarian livelihoods like shifting cultivation, hunting–gathering, and pastoralism.
Educational Deficits: Extremely low literacy rates; schooling access remains minimal.
Spatial Isolation: Habitats largely in forests, hills, or islands with weak connectivity to mainstream society.
Health and Nutrition Challenges: Malnutrition, high infant mortality, and poor healthcare penetration.
Why Separate Enumeration Matters
Targeted Welfare Planning: Precise population data enables better design of schemes such as PM-JANMAN (2023), which has an outlay of ₹24,104 crore to address PVTG needs in over 200 districts.
Baseline for Development Indicators: Accurate enumeration provides benchmarks for literacy, health, and livelihood outcomes.
Addressing Undercounting: Prevents dilution of PVTG numbers when grouped under larger ST categories.
Equitable Resource Distribution: Helps states allocate funds and infrastructure proportionate to actual habitation-wise needs.
Cultural Recognition: Acknowledges unique socio-cultural identities, aiding in preservation and rights-based development.
Challenges in Conducting Separate Enumeration
Ambiguity of Criteria: Earlier parameters like “isolation” may not reflect current realities; periodic revision is essential.
Nomenclature Overlaps: Different states list the same group under varying names, risking duplication or omission.
Operational Difficulties: Scattered, remote habitations and linguistic barriers complicate surveys.
Privacy Concerns: Extremely small group sizes raise confidentiality issues.
Dynamic Vulnerability: Some groups may have improved socio-economically, while others have deteriorated — requiring constant re-assessment.
Recent Data Highlights
Habitation-level surveys under PM-JANMAN estimate 47.5 lakh PVTGs nationwide.
Madhya Pradesh has the highest numbers (~13.2 lakh), followed by Maharashtra (~6.7 lakh) and Andhra Pradesh (~5.1 lakh).
Several PVTGs remain critically endangered, including Raji (Uttarakhand), Kota (Tamil Nadu), and Birhor (Jharkhand/Odisha).
Separate enumeration of PVTGs is not just a statistical exercise but a crucial step toward evidence-based policy and inclusive development. For it to succeed, the government must combine robust, culturally sensitive enumeration methods with periodic review of inclusion criteria. This ensures that PVTGs — the most vulnerable among India’s tribal population — gain visibility, voice, and access to developmental justice without losing their cultural distinctiveness.
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