**Executive Summary**
This document details initiatives by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to improve the Human Development Index (HDI) of tribal populations in India. It highlights the increasing MPCE for Scheduled Tribes and outlines government actions including development plans, sub-plans, and specific missions and schemes, with some programs having defined timelines and budgetary allocations.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Human Development Index (HDI) for India**
* The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) releases the Human Development Index (HDI) annually, measuring life expectancy, expected years of schooling, and Gross National Income (GNI) per capita.
* India's HDI increased from 0.590 in 2010 to 0.685 in 2023.
* Disaggregated data for Scheduled Tribes (STs) within HDI is not yet published.
**Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) for Scheduled Tribes (STs)**
* The average Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) for Scheduled Tribes in 2023-24 was Rs.3363 for rural areas and Rs.6030 for urban areas, as per the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES).
* There has been a significant increase in MPCE for STs in both rural and urban areas since 2011-12.
* Rural ST MPCE: Rs.1122 (2011-12) to Rs.3363 (2023-24)
* Urban ST MPCE: Rs.2193 (2011-12) to Rs.6030 (2023-24)
**Government Actions for Tribal Development**
* **Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST):** This is a cross-ministerial strategy to bridge developmental gaps for STs through various projects in education, health, agriculture, housing, employment, and skill development. Obligated Ministries/Departments allocate a percentage of their budget for tribal welfare.
* Statement 10B for 2023-24 and 2024-25 are available via provided links for scheme details and allocated funds.
* **State Tribal Sub Plan (TSP):** A State TSP Monitoring Portal has been launched to track TSP allocation, expenditure, and other essential information uploaded by States and UTs.
* The objective of TSP is to bridge the gap between ST and non-ST populations by enhancing human resource development, quality of life, reducing poverty and unemployment, creating productive assets, and improving access to opportunities and facilities.
* **DhartiAabaJanjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan:** Launched on October 2, 2024, this Abhiyan involves 25 interventions by 17 line Ministries to saturate infrastructural gaps in 63,843 villages and improve access to health, education, and livelihood opportunities for over 5 crore tribals across 549 districts.
* Total budgetary outlay: Rs.79,156 Cr (Central share: ₹56,333 Cr; State share: ₹22,823 Cr).
* Timeline: 5 years.
* **Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN):** Launched on November 15, 2023, this mission aims to provide basic facilities like housing, drinking water, sanitation, education, health, and livelihood opportunities to PVTG households.
* Financial outlay: Approximately Rs.24,000 Crore.
* Timeline: 3 years.
* **Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM):** This mission, merged from two existing schemes, aims to promote tribal livelihood, entrepreneurship, and optimum use of natural resources through initiatives like Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs). It is implemented by TRIFED.
* **Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS):**
* The scheme aims to provide quality education to tribal children.
* A target to establish 728 EMRSs is set, benefiting approximately 3.5 lakh ST students.
* Existing 288 EMRS schools are being upgraded to the new model.
* **Pre-Matric Scholarships to ST students:**
* Applicable to students in Classes IX-X with parental income not exceeding Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum.
* Scholarship rates: Rs.225/month for day scholars, Rs.525/month for hostellers, for 10 months.
* Funding ratio: 75:25 (Centre:States), except for North East and Hilly States/UTs (90:10). UTs without legislatures have 100% central share.
* **Post Matric Scholarship to ST students:**
* Provides financial assistance for post-matriculation or post-secondary education to ST students with parental income not exceeding Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum.
* Reimburses compulsory fees and provides a scholarship amount of Rs.230 to Rs.1200 per month.
* Funding ratio: 75:25 (Centre:States), except for North East and Hilly States/UTs (90:10). UTs without legislatures have 100% central share.
**Impact Analysis**
**Scheduled Tribes (STs)**
* **Impact:** Increased MPCE in rural and urban areas indicates improvement in consumption expenditure and potentially living standards. Government schemes aim to bridge developmental gaps, improve access to education, health, housing, and livelihood opportunities, and reduce poverty and unemployment. EMRS and scholarships aim to enhance educational opportunities.
* **Action Required:** Continue to participate in and benefit from the various development programs and schemes implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and other concerned ministries.
**States and UTs**
* **Impact:** States and UTs are responsible for implementing many of the outlined schemes, including uploading data to the State TSP Monitoring Portal and managing scholarship disbursements. They are also involved in the funding of scholarships and programs like DhartiAabaJanjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan.
* **Action Required:** Monitor TSP allocation and expenditure through the State TSP Monitoring Portal. Implement and manage pre-matric and post-matric scholarship schemes according to stipulated funding patterns and guidelines. Participate in and facilitate the implementation of other identified development programs within their jurisdiction.
**Ministry of Tribal Affairs**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing and overseeing key initiatives such as PMJVM, PM-JANMAN, and the overall strategy for tribal development. Plays a crucial role in monitoring and coordinating efforts across other ministries and states.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement, monitor, and coordinate the various schemes and missions aimed at improving the socio-economic development of tribal people. Ensure timely fund disbursement and progress tracking of all outlined initiatives.
**National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI)**
* **Impact:** Conducts the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES), providing critical data on MPCE for Scheduled Tribes, which is used to assess economic trends and inform policy.
* **Action Required:** Continue to conduct the HCES and provide reliable data on consumption expenditure for policy analysis and program evaluation.
Key Entities Referenced
Human Development Index (HDI): A composite statistic of life expectancy, education, and per capita income indicators, used to rank countries into four tiers of human development.
Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES): A survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) to collect data on household consumption expenditure.
Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST): A strategy implemented to bridge the developmental gap between Scheduled Tribes (STs) and non-ST populations through various tribal development projects.
Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN): A government mission launched to saturate PVTG households and habitations with basic facilities and improve livelihood opportunities for tribal populations.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): A scheme to provide quality education at par with Navodaya Vidyalaya to tribal children in their own environment.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX OF TRIBAL
PEOPLE
Posted On: 12 MAR 2026 4:32PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed Lok Sabha that United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) releases Human Development Index (HDI) every year at
the national level. The Human Development Index measures development based on: Life expectancy
at birth, (ii) Expected years of schooling /Mean years of schooling, (iii) Gross national income (GNI)
per capita. The official link where the HDI is released by UNDP is Human Development Report 2025 |
Human Development Reports
The Human Development Index for India increased from 0.590 in 2010, 0.633 in 2015, to 0.685 in
2023 as per Human Development Report 2025, UNDP. However, ST disaggregated data is not been
published in the country.
Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE)
As per Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) - 2023-24 conducted by National Sample
Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics &Programme Implementation, average Monthly Per
Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) during 2023-24 by Scheduled Tribes for rural & urban is
Rs.3363 & Rs.6030 respectively. Average estimated MPCE in 2023-24 is observed to be Rs.4,122 in
rural India and Rs.6,996 in urban India as per fact-sheet for Household Consumption Expenditure
Survey (HCES) published by MoSPI.
All -India Average MPCEs(Rs)
2011-12 2022-23 2023-24
Average MPCEs without without without
(Rs) imputation imputation imputation
Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban
Scheduled Tribes 1122 2193 3016 5414 3363 6030
Source: Household Consumption Expenditure Survey, HCES 2011-12, 2022-23,2023-24
The All-India Average Monthly Per Capita Expenditure (MPCE) for Scheduled Tribes (STs) has
shown rise over time in both rural and urban areas. In 2011–12, the average MPCE for Scheduled
Tribes was ₹1122 in rural areas and ₹2193 in urban areas. This increased significantly by 2022–23,reaching ₹3016 in rural areas and ₹5414 in urban areas, indicating substantial growth in
consumption expenditure. The upward trend continued in 2023–24, when the average MPCE for
Scheduled Tribes further rose to ₹3363 in rural areas and ₹6030 in urban areas.
The action taken by the Government to reduce the disparities among the States in this regard and to
ensure improvement in the living standards of Scheduled Tribes across the country is given below:
i) Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes: Government is implementing Development
Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST) as a strategy for the development of Scheduled Tribes and
areas having tribal concentration in the country. Besides Ministry of Tribal Affairs, 41
Ministries/Departments are allocating certain percentage of their total scheme budget every year for
tribal development under DAPST to bridge the developmental gap between Scheduled Tribes (STs) and
non-ST populations and for various tribal development projects relating to education, health,
agriculture, irrigation, roads, housing, electrification, employment generation, skill development, etc.
Schemes along-with funds allocated by the obligated Ministries/Departments for the welfare of
Scheduled Tribes are given at Statement 10B of Expenditure Profile of Union Budget document in the
following links:
Statement 10B for 2023-24: https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/budget2023-24/doc/eb/stat10b.pd
f Statement 10B for 2024-25: https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/budget2024-25/doc/eb/stat10b.pdf
ii) State Tribal Sub Plan: State TSP Monitoring Portal (https://statetsp.tribal.gov.in) has been
launched by the Ministry to monitor TSP in States and UTs on which the States and UTs are to upload
the TSP allocation out of State budgetary grants, TSP expenditure and other essential information of
TSP on a regular basis.
The objective of the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), as stated in the aforementioned guidelines of Planning
Commission is to bridge the gap between Scheduled Tribe (ST) population and others by accelerating
the development of STs by securing to them: (i) Human resource development by enhancing their
access to education and health services, (ii) Enhanced quality of life by providing basic amenities in
tribal areas/localities including housing; (iii) Substantial reduction in poverty and unemployment,
creation of productive assets and income generating opportunities (iv) Enhanced capacity to avail
opportunities, gain rights and entitlements and improved facilities at par with other areas, and (v)
Protection against exploitation and oppression.
(iii) DhartiAabaJanjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan: Hon'ble PM launched DhartiAabaJanjatiya Gram
Utkarsh Abhiyan on 2nd October, 2024. The Abhiyan comprises of 25 interventions implemented by
17-line Ministries and aims to saturate infrastructural gaps in 63,843 villages, improve access to health,
education, Anganwadi facilities and providing livelihood opportunities benefiting more than 5 crore
tribals in 549 districts and 2,911 blocks in 30 States/UTs in 5 years. The Abhiyan has total budgetary
outlay of Rs.79,156 Cr (Central share: ₹56,333 Cr and State share: ₹22,823 Cr).
(iv) Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN): Government has
launched Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) on 15th November
2023, which is celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas. The mission with financial outlay of around
Rs.24,000 Crore aims to saturate PVTG households and habitations with basic facilities such as safe
housing, clean drinking water and sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition, road
and telecom connectivity, electrification of un-electrified households and sustainable livelihood
opportunities in time bound manner in 3 years.
(v) Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM): The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is
implementing the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM), which has been designed through
the merger of two existing schemes for the promotion of tribal livelihood, i.e., “Mechanism forMarketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development
of Value Chain for MFP” and “Institutional Support for Development and Marketing of Tribal
Products/Produce”.
The Ministry is implementing the scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM)’ through
Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) which envisions to
strengthen tribal entrepreneurship initiatives and to facilitate livelihood opportunities by promoting
more efficient, equitable, self-managed, optimum use of natural resources, agri / minor Forest Produce
(MFPs) / non-farm produce. Under the scheme, financial support is provided to the State Governments
for setting up of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) which are the centres of value addition activities
of MFPs/Non-MFPs.
(vi) Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) was
started in the year 2018-19 to provide quality education at par with Navodaya Vidyalaya to the tribal
children in their own environment. Under the new scheme, Government decided to establish 440
EMRSs, one EMRS in every block having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal
persons (as per census 2011). 288 EMRS schools were initially funded under Grants under Article
275(1) of the Constitution, which are being upgraded as per the new model. Accordingly, Ministry has
set the target to set up total of 728 EMRSs benefiting around 3.5 lakh ST students across the country.
(vii) Pre-Matric Scholarships to ST students: The scheme is applicable to students who are studying
in Classes IX –X. Parental income from all sources should not be more than Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum.
Scholarship of Rs.225/-per month for day scholars and Rs.525/-per month for hostellers is given for a
period of 10 months in a year. Scholarship is disbursed through the State Government/UT
Administration. Funding ratio is 75:25 between Centre and States for all States except North East and
Hills States/UT like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir where it is 90:10. For
UTs without legislature sharing pattern is 100% Central share.
(viii) Post Matric Scholarship to ST students: The objective of the scheme is to provide financial
assistance to the Scheduled Tribe students studying at post-matriculation or post-secondary levels to
enable them to complete their education. Parental income from all sources should not be more than
Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum. Compulsory fees charged by educational institutions are reimbursed subject
to the limit fixed by the concerned State Fee fixation committee and scholarship amount of Rs.230 to
Rs.1200 per month, depending upon the course of study is paid. The Scheme is implemented by the
State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. Funding ratio is 75:25 between Centre and
States for all States except NE and Hilly States/UT of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and
Kashmir where it is 90:10. For UTs without legislature sharing pattern is 100% Central share.
****
RN/
(Release ID: 2238942) Visitor Counter : 85
Read this release in: Urdu , ही