**Policy Summary: Ministry of Tribal Affairs Mandate (July 31, 2025)**
This document outlines the mandate of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, as of July 3, 2025, detailed in Amendment Series no. 382 of the Government of India Allocation of Business Rules, 1961. Prior to the Ministry's formation in 1999, tribal development activities were overseen by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is designated as the nodal ministry for overall policy, planning, and coordination of development programs for Scheduled Tribes. However, individual Central Ministries/Departments, State Governments, and Union Territory Administrations retain responsibility for sectoral programs and schemes related to their respective areas.
The core responsibilities of the Ministry encompass the following:
* Social security and social insurance for Scheduled Tribes.
* Tribal welfare planning, project formulation, research, evaluation, statistics, and training.
* Promotion and development of voluntary efforts focused on tribal welfare.
* Scholarships and overall development initiatives for Scheduled Tribes.
* All legislative matters pertaining to the rights of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes on forest lands.
* Oversight of Scheduled Areas and regulations established by State Governors for these areas.
* Commission reports on the administration of Scheduled Areas and the welfare of Scheduled Tribes, including issuing directives for welfare schemes.
* Matters related to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), a constitutional body under Article 338A of the Constitution of India.
* Implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, excluding criminal justice administration related to offenses against Scheduled Tribes.
* Monitoring of the Tribal Sub-Plan, based on the framework established by NITI Aayog.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The central ministry responsible for tribal welfare and development in India.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the Union Minister of State MoS for Tribal Affairs addressed a question.
Government of India Allocation of Business Rules, 1961: Rules that allocate governmental functions to various ministries, including the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Ministry of Social Justice Empowerment: The ministry that previously supervised and implemented tribal development activities before the formation of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in 1999.
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes: A constitutional body constituted under Article 338A of the Constitution of India to safeguard the interests of Scheduled Tribes.
Article 338A of the Constitution of India: Article in the Constitution of India that establishes the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
Constitution Eightyninth Amendment Act, 2003: A constitutional amendment act related to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
Scheduled Tribes: Refers to specific tribes recognized by the President of India as being eligible for certain protections and benefits.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Objectives behind Constitution of Ministry for Tribal
Affairs
Posted On: 31 JUL 2025 4:59PM by PIB Delhi
In Lok Sabha, the Union Minister of State (MoS) for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey replying today to an
un-starred question of Dr. Manna Lal Rawat informed that as per Government of India (Allocation of
Business) Rules, 1961 (as amended upto Amendment Series no. 382, dated 3rd July, 2025), the mandate
assigned to Ministry of Tribal Affairs is given in Annexure-A. Prior to formation of Ministry of Tribal
Affairs in 1999, the responsibility of supervising and implementing tribal development-related activities was
rd
lying with Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. The relevant extracts of 243 amendment of
Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 relating to formation of Ministry of Tribal Affairs
is given as Annexure-B.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) is a constitutional body constituted under Article
338A of the Constitution of India. As per Article 338 A(4) the Commission shall have the power to regulate
its own procedure. Copy of the Constitution (Eighty-ninth Amendment) Act, 2003 is given as Annexure-C.
Annexure-A
Mandate of Ministry of Tribal Affairs
1. Social security and social insurance with respect to the Scheduled Tribes.
2. Tribal Welfare : Tribal welfare planning, project formulation, research, evaluation, statistics and training.
3. Promotion and development of voluntary efforts on tribal welfare.
4. Scheduled Tribes, including scholarship to students belonging to such tribes.
5. Development of Scheduled Tribes.
5A. All matters including legislation relating to the rights of forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes on forest lands.
NOTE:-The Ministry of Tribal Affairs shall be the nodal Ministry for overall policy, planning and
coordination of programmes of development for the Scheduled Tribes. In regard to sectoral programmes and
schemes of development of these communities policy, planning, monitoring, evaluation etc. as also their
coordination will be the responsibility of the concerned Central Ministries/ Departments, State Governments
and Union Territory Administrations. Each Central Ministry/Department will be the nodal Ministry or
Department concerning its sector.
6. (a) Scheduled Areas;
(b) regulations framed by the Governors of States for Scheduled Areas.
7. (a) Commission to report on the administration of Scheduled Areas and the welfare of the Scheduled
Tribes; and
(b) issue of directions regarding the drawing up and execution of schemes essential for the welfare of the
Scheduled Tribes in any State.
8. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
9. Implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 (22 of 1955) and the Scheduled Castes and the
Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (33 of 1989), excluding administration of criminaljustice in regard to offences in so far as they relate to Scheduled Tribes.
10. Monitoring of Tribal Sub-Plan, based on the framework and mechanism designed by NITI Aayog.
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RN
(Release ID: 2150805)