1.Background and Formation of the Committee

In August 2013, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) constituted a High-Level Committee (HLC) led by Professor Virginius Xaxa, a prominent sociologist focusing on tribal communities.

The Committee’s key purpose was to assess and analyze the socio-economic, educational, and health status of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India, examining gaps in policy, legislative enforcement, and institutional frameworks.

2.Context for Commissioning the Report

Scheduled Tribes account for 8.6% of India’s population per Census 2011 (~104.3 million). Yet they rank notably lower on Human Development Index (HDI) markers compared to non-tribal populations:

Higher poverty ratios (estimated to exceed 26% in 2011–12, vs. ~22% national poverty rate).

Greater vulnerability to land dispossession, forced displacement, and suboptimal health outcomes.

Despite constitutional safeguards (Fifth/Sixth Schedule) and multiple welfare schemes, STs continue to face systemic marginalization, compelling the government to mandate a wide-ranging review of existing measures.