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1. Tribal Groups by Geographic Region

A. Northern & Himalayan Region

• Uttarakhand & Uttar Pradesh
  • Tharu: Terai region; celebrate Diwali as a festival of mourning.
  • Bhotias: Practice transhumance.
  • Bhoksas / Buksa: Tribe of Pauri-Garhwal (Uttarakhand).
  • Jaunsaris: Largest Scheduled Tribe of Uttarakhand; practice polyandry.
  • Raji: Tribe from Uttarakhand.
• Himachal Pradesh
  • Gaddi: Inhabitants of the Dhauladhar Range.
  • Bharmour: A tribal region in Himachal Pradesh.
• Ladakh
  • Changpa: Rears Pashmina goats; classified as a Scheduled Tribe.
• Haryana
  • Has not identified any tribal community.

B. North-Eastern Region

• Assam
  • Bodos: Inhabitants of Assam.
  • Karbi: Native tribe.
  • White-browed gibbon: The only anthropoid ape found in India is located here.
• Sikkim
  • Lepcha: Indigenous people.
  • Bhutia: Tribe from Sikkim.
  • Limboo (Limbu): Native tribe.
• Meghalaya
  • Khasi: Major tribe; practice Jhooming (shifting cultivation).
  • Garo: Major tribe.
• Nagaland
  • Naga Tribes (Angami, Konyak, Rengma): Native tribes.
  • Languages: Angami, Lotha.
• Mizoram
  • Settlement patterns are linear along ridges (valleys are densely forested; ridges are cooler).
• Manipur
  • Kukkis: Native tribe.

C. Central & Western India

• Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh
  • Gonds: One of the largest tribes in India; primarily in Madhya Pradesh.
  • Bhils: One of the largest tribes; found in Jhabua (M.P.), Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra.
  • Baigas: Tribe of M.P.; largest population among PTGs in Chhattisgarh.
  • Bharias: Tribe of M.P.; associated with Chhindwara district.
  • Korkus: Tribe of M.P.
  • Sahariya: Tribe found in Shivpuri (M.P.) and Rajasthan.
  • Oraon: Tribe of Jharkhand/Chhattisgarh; practice the social institution of Ghumkaria.
  • Kamar, Kanwar/Kawar, Binjhwar, Sawara, Halba, Bhunjia, Korba, Pahadi Korba, Murias: Tribes of Chhattisgarh.
• Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha
  • Santhals: Major tribe of Eastern India (Jharkhand, West Bengal); among the largest tribal groups. Commonest form of marriage is Bupla.
  • Munda: Native to Jharkhand/Bihar region; also found in Odisha.
  • Birhor: Tribe from Jharkhand.
  • Kol: Tribe of Central India (Jabalpur); not from Rajasthan.
  • Ho: Tribe with ‘Andi’ and ‘Portion’ forms of marriage.
  • Dongaria Kondh: Native to Odisha.
  • Bonda: Native to Odisha; not from Tamil Nadu.

D. Southern India

• Tamil Nadu
  • Toda: Inhabitants of the Nilgiri Hills; practice polyandry.
  • Kotas: Also from the Nilgiri area.
  • Irular: A Proto-Australoid tribe and a PVTG.
• Kerala
  • Chenchu: A tribe found in Kerala.
  • Moplah: A community from Kerala.

E. Islands

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands
  • Jarawas: Considered one of the most primitive tribes.
  • Onge: Native tribe.
  • Shompen: Native to the Nicobar Islands.
  • Sentinelese: Inhabit the islands.
  • Halchu and Rengma are not native to these islands.

2. Racial Groups in India

• Mongoloids: Yellow complexion, oblique eyes, high cheekbones. Found in north-eastern India.
• Proto-Australoids: Tribes include the Santhals and the Irula.
• Dravidian: Mainly concentrated in South India.

3. Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

• Criteria: Includes a stagnant or declining population.
• Distribution: Spread across 18 States and one Union Territory.
• Examples: Irular, Konda Reddi, Jarawas, Korwa.
• Note: The figure of 95 PVTGs is mentioned in the data but is flagged as part of an incorrect option.

4. Cultural Practices & Social Institutions

• Festivals:
  • Diwali as Mourning: Celebrated as a festival of sorrow by the Tharu tribe (also attributed to Bhils and Mundas in some contexts).
  • Sarhul: Celebrated by the Santhal, Munda, and Oraon tribes.
  • Regional Festivals: Bihu (Assam), Pongal (Tamil Nadu), Baisakhi (Punjab), Onam (Kerala).
• Marriage & Social Customs:
  • Polyandry: Practiced by the Toda and Jaunsaris.
  • Ghumkaria: A social institution of the Oraon tribe.
  • Andi & Portion: Forms of marriage related to the Ho, Paharia, and Munda tribes.
• Livelihood & Skills:
  • Transhumance: Seasonal movement practiced by the Bhotias.
  • Jhooming: Shifting cultivation practiced by the Khasis.
  • Kamar tribe: Traditional livelihood based on bamboo.
  • Khairwar tribe: Known for making Catechu.
  • Manganiyars: Community known for their musical tradition in North-West India.
• Religious Beliefs:
  • Korku and Agaria tribes: Worship ‘Lohasur’ as a deity.
• Architecture:
  • Bhunjia tribe: Their kitchen is called “Lal Bangala”.

5. Demographics and Administration

• Largest Tribes: Bhil and Gond are frequently cited as the largest tribes in India. Santhal is also among the largest.
• Constitutional Definition: There is no explicit definition of Scheduled Tribes in the Constitution of India.
• Basis for Determination: Primarily based on cultural specifications and different habitats.
• Population Concentration: North-East India accounts for less than half of India’s tribal population; the central Indian belt has a higher concentration.

6. Non-Indian Ethnic Groups (for clarification)

• Sherpa: Ethnic group from Nepal.
• Zulu: Ethnic group from Southern Africa (not from Odisha).

7. Key Matching Facts (Summary)

• Chhindwara (M.P.) -> Bharia tribe
• Jhabua (M.P.) -> Bhil tribe
• Gond – Agariya is not a correctly matched tribe and sub-caste. (Correct pairs include Baiga – Bijhwar, Bharia – Patliya, Korku – Mahar).
• Kaathi is identified as a Tribe.

Know More About Tribes of India:

• Tribes of India – Old Year Questions
• Tribes of India One Liner Questions & Answers