**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched a two-day National Workshop in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on July 7, 2026, aimed at strengthening Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) as centers for research and cultural preservation. Key highlights include the launch of the "TribeX" digital learning platform and the signing of strategic MoUs to promote tribal entrepreneurship and academic certification. The workshop concludes with the adoption of the "Bhubaneswar Declaration," a roadmap for institutional reform.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Digital Learning and Preservation (TribeX)**
* Launch of TribeX, a first-of-its-kind platform featuring a Digital Academy and a Heritage Archive.
* Provision of free certificate and UGC-aligned diploma courses in tribal arts, languages, and traditional knowledge.
* Partnership with Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya to develop recognized programs in museology, textiles, and tribal wisdom.
* **Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment**
* Signed an MoU with KIIT Technology Business Incubator (KIIT-TBI) to identify and mentor tribal entrepreneurs.
* Focus on providing tribal startups with capacity building, market linkages, and access to funding.
* **Modernization of Research Methodologies**
* Transitioning TRIs from conventional research bodies into "policy think tanks" and "centers of excellence."
* Integration of modern tools including Artificial Intelligence (AI) analytics, GIS-based mapping, and digital documentation.
* Focus on emerging priorities: climate resilience, digital inclusion, women’s empowerment, and the Forest Rights Act.
* **Institutional Strengthening**
* Addressing critical challenges in human resources, domain expertise, and institutional capacity at TRIs.
* Creation of four thematic breakout groups to deliberate on governance, technology integration, and evidence-based policymaking.
**Impact Analysis**
**Tribal Communities**
**Impact:** Enhanced preservation of oral traditions and languages; improved access to formal education and economic opportunities.
**Action Required:** Participate actively in research processes and utilize TribeX for educational advancement.
**Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs)**
**Impact:** Transformation into vibrant knowledge centers with upgraded technological capabilities and a role in shaping national policy.
**Action Required:** Share best practices across states and implement the roadmap defined in the Bhubaneswar Declaration.
**Tribal Entrepreneurs**
**Impact:** Direct support for business growth through incubation and specialized mentoring.
**Action Required:** Engage with the KIIT-TBI program for capacity building and seeking market linkages.
**Ministry of Tribal Affairs / State Welfare Departments**
**Impact:** Development of a unified national strategy to support inclusive tribal development and "Viksit Bharat@2047."
**Action Required:** Consolidate recommendations from working groups to finalize the institutional reform roadmap.
Key Entities Referenced
Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs): Nodal institutions for tribal research and cultural preservation that the workshop seeks to transform into policy think tanks and centres of excellence.
TribeX: A digital learning platform launched to preserve tribal heritage, languages, and traditional knowledge while offering UGC-aligned courses.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The primary central ministry responsible for tribal welfare and the execution of the national workshop to strengthen research institutions.
Bhubaneswar Declaration: A policy roadmap adopted at the workshop to standardise and strengthen the role of TRIs across India.
Forest Rights Act: Key legislation identified as a priority area for TRI research to ensure meaningful implementation for tribal communities.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
National Workshop on Strengthening Tribal
Research Institutes (TRIs) begins in
Bhubaneswar, Odisha
TribeX, a first-of-its-kind digital learning platform developed
by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, launched; Ministry signs MoU
with Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi
Ministry signs another MoU with KIIT Technology Business
Incubator to promote tribal entrepreneurship
प्रव तथ: 07 JUL 2026 7:27PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs today began a two-day National Workshop on Strengthening Tribal
Research Institutes (TRIs) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The workshop reaffirms the Government of India's
commitment to strengthening institutions that preserve tribal heritage and support inclusive development.
The workshop was inaugurated by Shri Jual Oram, Hon’ble Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, in the
presence of Shri Durgadas Uikey, Hon’ble Minister of State for Tribal Affairs; Dr R. Balasubramaniam,
Hon’ble Member, NITI Aayog; Shri Nityananda Gond, Hon’ble Minister for ST & SC Development,
Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare, Government of Odisha; Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Secretary,
Ministry of Tribal Affairs; Shri B. Parmeshwaran, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, ST & SC Development,
Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha; and Shri Anant Prakash
Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, along with senior officials of the Central and State
Governments. The proceedings began with the National Anthem and the National Song, followed by the
ceremonial lighting of the lamp.India is witnessing a transformative era in tribal development under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The Government seeks to preserve tribal languages, traditions and
knowledge systems while advancing socio-economic empowerment through education, healthcare,
livelihood generation and sustainable development. Strengthening TRIs as centres of research, innovation
and cultural preservation forms an integral part of this vision.
Organised in collaboration with the Government of Odisha, the workshop brought together nearly 200
participants, including representatives from Tribal Research Institutes, State Tribal Welfare Departments,
academia, research institutions, technology organisations, industry, development partners and civil society.
A key highlight of the inaugural session was the launch of TribeX, a digital learning platform to preserve
and promote India's tribal arts, culture, languages and traditional knowledge. The platform includes a
Digital Academy offering free certificate and UGC-aligned diploma courses in tribal art forms, and a
Heritage Archive of tribal literature, oral traditions and cultural practices. The Ministry signed an MoU
with Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi, to jointly develop UGC-recognised diploma
programmes under TribeX on tribal languages, traditional knowledge, arts, textiles and museology.
The Ministry also signed an MoU with KIIT Technology Business Incubator (KIIT-TBI), Bhubaneswar, to
identify, incubate and mentor tribal entrepreneurs through capacity building, market linkages and access to
funding.Addressing the inaugural session, Shri Jual Oram, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, said:
"India's tribal communities possess an extraordinary wealth of languages, dialects, oral traditions and
indigenous knowledge that must be preserved for future generations. While several tribal languages have
developed scripts, many dialects survive primarily through oral tradition, making systematic
documentation an urgent national priority. Tribal Research Institutes have a crucial responsibility to
engage with communities, document their languages and traditional knowledge, and share best practices
across States."
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Durgadas Uikey, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, said:
"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, tribal development has become integral to
the nation's journey towards Viksit Bharat@2047, through initiatives such as PM JANMAN, Dharti Aaba
Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan and Eklavya Model Residential Schools. TRIs must now undertake
research on emerging priorities such as tribal livelihoods, women's empowerment, education, health,
nutrition, climate resilience, digital inclusion and implementation of the Forest Rights Act. The true value
of research lies in its ability to shape policies that bring meaningful change to tribal families."
Addressing the gathering, Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, Member, NITI Aayog, said:
"Tribal Research Institutes must evolve beyond conventional research bodies into policy think tanks,
repositories of indigenous knowledge and centres of excellence for innovation. Research must capture the
voices, lived experiences and traditional wisdom of tribal communities, for development is meaningful
only when communities become active participants in shaping their own future. As Artificial Intelligence
transforms governance, it is equally important to humanise data and keep evidence rooted in community
realities."
Welcoming delegates, Shri Nityananda Gond, Minister for ST & SC Development, Minorities &
Backward Classes Welfare, Government of Odisha, said:
"Tribal Research Institutes must evolve into centres for policy innovation, digital knowledge and
interdisciplinary research, covering tribal education, nutrition, healthcare, migration, climate resilience,
forest-based livelihoods and preservation of tribal languages. We must promote modern research tools
such as digital documentation, GIS-based mapping and AI-enabled analytics, while ensuring tribal
communities become active partners in the research process."
In her opening remarks, Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, said:"Tribal development has traditionally focused on health, education and infrastructure. There is an equal
need to strengthen institutions that preserve tribal heritage, protect constitutional rights and generate
evidence for policymaking. Tribal Research Institutes occupy this unique space, but many face challenges
of human resources, institutional capacity and domain expertise. This workshop is a platform for TRIs to
share experiences and exchange best practices. Its recommendations will guide the Ministry in developing
a roadmap to transform TRIs into vibrant centres of knowledge, research and policy support."
In his welcome address, Shri B. Parmeshwaran, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, ST & SC
Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha,
welcomed the dignitaries and participants. He spoke of Odisha's rich tribal heritage and the State
Government's efforts towards tribal welfare and expressed hope that the workshop would yield valuable
recommendations for strengthening TRIs across the country.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Shri Anant Prakash Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs,
said the workshop would lay the foundation for revamped Tribal Research Institutes, strengthening tribal
communities across India and furthering the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
The technical sessions on the first day featured presentations by TRIs from across the country on their
achievements, best practices and institutional challenges, followed by discussions on the role of TRIs in
policymaking.
Participants then took part in four thematic breakout groups: TRIs as Knowledge and Cultural Resource
Centres; Research, Documentation and Evidence Generation for Tribal Development; Technology
Integration, GIS, AI and Innovation; and Institutional Strengthening, Human Resources, Governance and
Partnerships.
Recommendations from the working groups will be consolidated and deliberated on the second day. The
concluding sessions will include expert panel discussions on research ecosystems, institutional reforms
and digital transformation, culminating in the adoption of the Bhubaneswar Declaration and a shared
roadmap for strengthening Tribal Research Institutes across the country.*********
RN/
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