Sri Vijaya Puram, August 1: The Union Government has informed Parliament that the Scheduled Tribe (ST) population in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands stands at 28,530, according to the 2011 Census, while reiterating that a range of welfare schemes, educational initiatives and reservation provisions continue to be implemented for the socio-economic development of tribal communities across the country.
The information was shared by Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on July 30.
According to the data placed before Parliament, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have an ST population of 28,530. Among the Union Territories, Jammu & Kashmir recorded the highest Scheduled Tribe population at 12,75,106, followed by Ladakh with 2,18,193, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu with 1,93,927, and Lakshadweep with 61,120. Chandigarh, Delhi and Puducherry have no notified Scheduled Tribes. The Ministry also stated that updated figures for the Scheduled Tribe population will be available only after the release of the next Population Census.
The Ministry informed Parliament that the Government continues to support the welfare and socio-economic advancement of Scheduled Tribes through a number of centrally sponsored schemes aimed at improving education, infrastructure, healthcare, livelihoods and access to essential services. These programmes are intended to ensure inclusive development while addressing the specific needs of tribal communities across the country.
Among the key initiatives highlighted is the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA), which focuses on saturating tribal villages with basic infrastructure and essential public services. The Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) is being implemented for the holistic development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), with interventions covering housing, roads, healthcare, education, drinking water and livelihood opportunities.
The Ministry further stated that educational support for tribal students is being provided through Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), along with Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarships, the National Scholarship for Higher Education, National Fellowship and National Overseas Scholarship schemes. These initiatives aim to improve educational access and encourage higher learning among Scheduled Tribe students.
To strengthen economic opportunities, the Government is also implementing programmes such as the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission, financial assistance through the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) and the Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes, which provide concessional credit, entrepreneurship support and livelihood promotion. Additional funding is being extended through grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution for bridging critical infrastructure gaps in tribal areas, as well as assistance to voluntary organisations working in education, health and livelihood sectors. Research, documentation and capacity-building initiatives are also being undertaken through Tribal Research, Information, Education, Communication and Events (TRI-ECE).
The Ministry added that several development interventions relating to health, education, drinking water supply, connectivity and other public infrastructure are being implemented through convergence with other Central Ministries and Departments to ensure comprehensive development in tribal regions.
On the issue of reservation, the Government clarified that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, being one of the Union Territories with a notified Scheduled Tribe population, provide reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in political institutions in accordance with applicable laws. Reservation in direct recruitment to civil posts under Union Territory administrations follows the Department of Personnel and Training’s policy, which provides 7.5 per cent reservation for Scheduled Tribes at the all-India level, while Union Territories with substantial tribal populations may notify higher reservation percentages for local cadre recruitment based on demographic composition.
The Ministry also clarified that no proposal is currently under consideration for granting Scheduled Tribe status to any community solely on the basis of the duration of residence in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. It reiterated that the inclusion or exclusion of any community in the Scheduled Tribes list is governed by Article 342 of the Constitution and requires a notification by the President, followed by an Act of Parliament after consultation with the concerned State or Union Territory Administration and statutory authorities.
