**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer given by the Minister of State for Tribal Affairs to Unstarred Question No. 786 regarding the preservation of tribal culture, to be answered on December 4, 2025. It outlines the Government of India's efforts to support tribal research and promote the preservation of endangered tribal languages. The document references existing schemes and projects, including 'Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs)' and 'Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL)'.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs):**
* The Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides financial support to 29 TRIs in States/Union Territories.
* Support is based on Annual Action Plans approved by the Apex Committee.
* Funded activities include research, documentation, training, capacity building, tribal festivals, and exchange visits.
* Funds are provided for publishing materials in tribal languages, including:
* Varnamala, local rhymes, and stories
* Books and journals
* Training modules related to Sickle Cell Anaemia
* Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) material.
* **Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL):**
* Initiated by the Ministry of Education through the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru in 2013.
* Aims to document languages with fewer than 10,000 speakers.
* Methods include developing primers, bi/trilingual dictionaries, grammatical sketches, pictorial glossaries, and ethno-linguistic profiles.
* The CIIL has developed primers for Indian languages.
* 117 languages identified in the first phase for stepwise work.
* **Digital Language Repository (Bhasha Sanchika):**
* CIIL's digital archive portal facilitates language preservation, dissemination, and technological advancement.
* Provides Indian linguistic resources in diverse formats (text, image, audio, video).
* Aids in creating language technology resources and language pedagogy materials.
* **CIIL Collaboration with NCERT:**
* Developed 128 primers for 116 Indian languages.
* 119 primers for 110 languages have been released by the Ministry.
**Impact Analysis**
**Tribal Communities**
* **Impact:** The initiatives aim to preserve and promote tribal cultures, languages, and traditions, potentially enhancing cultural identity and knowledge transfer.
* **Action Required:** Engage with TRIs, CIIL, and relevant State Government departments to leverage available resources and participate in initiatives like language documentation and cultural festivals.
**State Governments/Union Territory Administrations**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the administrative control of TRIs and can leverage financial support from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
* **Action Required:** Develop and submit Annual Action Plans for TRIs to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, ensuring alignment with the scheme guidelines and objectives.
**Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing SPPEL and developing primers for endangered languages.
* **Action Required:** Continue documenting endangered languages, developing and releasing primers, and maintaining the digital language repository (Bhasha Sanchika).
**Ministry of Tribal Affairs**
* **Impact:** Responsible for providing financial support and overseeing the implementation of the 'Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs)' scheme.
* **Action Required:** Approve Annual Action Plans submitted by States/UTs for TRIs and monitor the progress of funded activities.
**Ministry of Education**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the 'Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL)' through CIIL.
* **Action Required:** Continue supporting CIIL in the documentation and preservation of endangered languages.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The primary governmental body responsible for the policy related to the preservation of tribal culture, languages, and traditions.
Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme extending financial support to Tribal Research Institutes in States/Union Territories.
Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL): Project initiated by the Ministry of Education under the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru for the promotion of endangered/tribal languages.
Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL): Institute under the Ministry of Education that initiates projects to promote endangered/tribal languages.
Bhasha Sanchika: Digital language repository of the CIIL, focusing on language preservation, dissemination, and technological advancement.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 786
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2025
PRESERVATION OF TRIBAL CULTURE
786. SHRI CHINTAMANI MAHARAJ:
Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has formulated any policy for the preservation of tribal culture,
traditions and customs and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether cultural traditions and customs are being permanently destroyed through religious
conversion in tribal areas, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether there is any proposal to take steps to preserve tribal cultural traditions and customs
by banning religious conversion; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, whether it is likely to be considered?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)
(a) to (d): Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India under the Centrally Sponsored scheme
‘Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs)’ extends financial support to 29 Tribal Research
Institutes (TRIs) in States/Union Territories (UTs) on the basis of the Annual Action Plan
submitted by the States/UTs subject to the approval of the Apex Committee chaired by the
Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Under the scheme, proposals relating to, inter-alia research
& documentation activities and training & capacity building programmes, organization of tribal
festivals, yatras for promotion of unique cultural heritage and tourism and organisation of
exchange visits by tribals are organised so that their cultural practices, languages and rituals are
preserved and disseminated. TRIs are primarily institutions under the administrative control of
the State Government/UT Administration. Under the scheme, funds are also provided for/to:
i. Publishing Varnamala, local rhymes, and stories in tribal languages.
ii. Publishing books, journals on different tribal languages to promote tribal literature.
iii. Translation and publication of Training module about Sickle cell Anaemia disease
Awareness and Counselling Modules and Diagnosis & Treatment Module and other
Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material in relevant Tribal
languages/Dialects.
Moreover, as informed, for the promotion of endangered/tribal languages, a project ‘Scheme for
Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL)’ has been initiated by the Ministry
of Education under the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru in 2013. The Institute
with the help of Core Committee identified 117 languages in its first phase to work upon in step
wise manner.SPPEL aims to document the language & culture of the mother tongues/languages of India spoken
by less than 10,000 speakers by developing primers, bi/trilingual dictionaries (electronic and print
formats), grammatical sketches, pictorial glossaries and ethno-linguistic profile of the community.
List of the 117 languages are attached herewith as Annexure I.
Bhasha Sanchika, the digital language repository of the CIIL, where language preservation,
dissemination, and technological advancement converge in a pioneering initiative. The primary
objectives of the archive portal is to provide Indian linguistic resources in diverse formats - text,
image, audio, and video; Aiding in creating language technology resources, language pedagogy
materials, and other language-related products and services. Kindly see Annexure II, the language
covered under Sanchika. The details available in the following link: https://sanchika.ciil.org/home
CIIL, in collaboration with NCERT, has developed 128 Primers for 116 Indian languages. Out of
which, 119 primers for 110 Indian languages have been released by the Ministry. Kindly see
Annexure III. The details are available in the following link: https://ciil.org/primers_book.Annexure I
Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL)
List of Endangered Languages Zone-wise
Sl. No. Languages / MTs Zone
1 LAMONGSE Andaman & Nicobar
2 LURO Andaman & Nicobar
3 MOUT Andaman & Nicobar
4 ONGE Andaman & Nicobar
5 PU Andaman & Nicobar
6 SANENYO Andaman & Nicobar
7 SENTILESE Andaman & Nicobar
8 SHOMPEN Andaman & Nicobar
9 TAKAHANYILANG Andaman & Nicobar
10 BHUNJIA East Central Zone
11 BINJHIA/BIRJIA/BRIJIA East Central Zone
12 BIRHOR East Central Zone
13 BODO GADABA/ GUTOB East Central Zone
14 BONDO East Central Zone
15 DHIMAL East Central Zone
16 DIDAYI / GATA East Central Zone
17 GORUM East Central Zone
18 HOLIYA East Central Zone
19 MANDA East Central Zone
20 MRU East Central Zone
21 PARENGA East Central Zone
22 THARUA East Central Zone
23 THOTI East Central Zone
24 TOTO East Central Zone
25 AIMOL North East Zone
26 ATONG North East Zone
27 BAGI North East Zone28 BAITE/ BIATE North East Zone
29 BANGRO North East Zone
30 BAWM North East Zone
31 CHINZ / ZYPHE North East Zone
32 CHIRU North East Zone
33 CHOTHE North East Zone
34 DARLONG North East Zone
35 DIRANG MONPA North East Zone
36 GURUNG North East Zone
37 KAGATE North East Zone
Sl. No. Languages / MTs Zone
38 KAMI / KHAMI North East Zone
39 KHAMBA North East Zone
40 KHAMIYANG North East Zone
41 KHAMPTI North East Zone
42 KOIRENG North East Zone
43 KOMKAR North East Zone
44 KONGBO North East Zone
45 LAMGANG North East Zone
46 LIJU North East Zone
47 MARA North East Zone
48 MEYOR /ZAKHRING North East Zone
49 MOYON North East Zone
50 MUKHIYA/ SUNUWAR North East Zone
51 NAA North East Zone
52 NEWAR / PRADHAN North East Zone
53 NEWARI North East Zone
54 PHAKIAL / TAI PHAKE North East Zone
55 PUROIK / SULUNG North East Zone
56 PURUM North East Zone
57 RALTE North East Zone58 RANGLONG North East Zone
59 SHERDUKPEN North East Zone
60 SIMONG North East Zone
61 SINGPHO North East Zone
62 TANGAM North East Zone
63 TARAO North East Zone
64 THAPA North East Zone
65 UCHAI North East Zone
66 YOBIN/YOBIN LIJU North East Zone
67 ZAKHRING North East Zone
68 CHINALI Northern Zone
69 DARMIYA Northern Zone
70 GAHRI Northern Zone
71 JAD Northern Zone
72 JANGALI Northern Zone
73 JANGSHUNG Northern Zone
74 KANASHI / MALANI Northern Zone
75 RONGPO Northern Zone
76 SPITI Northern Zone
77 BALASTIN Northern Zone
78 BATERI Northern Zone
79 BEDA Northern Zone
Sl. No. Languages / MTs Zone
80 BHADRALIAM Northern Zone
81 DARGARI Northern Zone
82 GOJAPURI Northern Zone
83 HASSADI Northern Zone
84 KHANA Northern Zone
85 KHASHA/KHASH Northern Zone
86 KUSHWAHI Northern Zone
87 MASIDI Northern Zone88 MESHABI Northern Zone
89 PADDARI Northern Zone
90 SIAN Northern Zone
91 SIRAM Northern Zone
92 TEHGUL Northern Zone
93 ARANDAN Southern Zone
94 ERAVALLAN Southern Zone
95 HAKKIPIKKI Southern Zone
96 JENU KURUMBA Southern Zone
97 KADAR Southern Zone
98 KANIKER GOTTI Southern Zone
99 KUTIYA Southern Zone
100 MALAIMALASAR Southern Zone
101 MALASAR Southern Zone
102 MALAYAN Southern Zone
103 MANNAN Southern Zone
104 MOOPAN Southern Zone
105 MUDUGA Southern Zone
106 MUDUVAN Southern Zone
107 PALIYA Southern Zone
108 PULIYA Southern Zone
109 SIDDI Southern Zone
110 SOLIGA Southern Zone
111 TODA Southern Zone
112 URALI Southern Zone
113 BARADI West Central Zone
114 BHALA West Central Zone
115 BHARWAD/BHARWADI West Central Zone
116 DIWEHI West Central Zone
117 NIHALI West Central ZoneAnnexure II
Bhasha Sanchika
List of Languages
Sl.No. Language
1 Aimol
2 Ao Mongsen
3 Aranadan
4 Atong
5 Beda
6 Betta Kuruba
7 Bhadralium
8 Bharwad
9 Bhunjia
10 Biate
11 Birhor
12 Birjia
13 Bondo
14 Car Nicobarese
15 Chinali
16 Chiru
17 Chothe
18 Darlong
19 Darma
20 Dhimal
21 Didayi
22 Dirang Monpa
23 Eravallan
24 Gahri
25 Gojapuri
26 Gutob Gadaba
27 Gutob-Gadaba
28 Hakkipikki
29 Hassadi
30 Holiya31 Jad
32 Jenu Kuruba
33 Juang
34 Khamba
35 Khamiyang
36 Khana
37 Khash
38 Kudiya
39 Kui
40 Lamkang
41 Luro
42 Malasar
43 Malayan
44 Manda
45 Meshabi
46 Moyon
47 Muduga
48 Nancowry
49 Newari
50 Paddari
51 Palliyar
52 Parenga
53 Purum
54 Ranglong
55 Rongpo
56 Saihriem
57 Sanenyo
58 Sherdukpen
59 Shina
60 Siddi
61 Simong
62 Singhpo
63 Siram
64 Soliga
65 Sora66 Spiti
67 Tai Phake
68 Tangkhul
69 Thachanadan Moopan
70 Tharua
71 Thoti
72 Toda
73 Toto
74 Uchoi
75 Urali
76 YimkhiungAnnexure III
List of CIIL-NCERT Indian language primers (Language wise)
Date: Nov 12, 2025
SN Primer name SN Language name ISBN
1. Adi Primer 1. Adi 978-81-19411-41-2
2. Anal Primer 2. Anal 978-81-970852-4-6
3. Angami Primer 3. Angami 978-81-19411-37-5
4. Ao Primer 4. Ao 978-81-19411-22-1
5. Assamese Primer 5. Assamese 978-81-19411-72-6
6. Balti Primer 6. Balti 978-81-973948-9-8
7. Bengali Primer 7. Bengali 978-81-970852-9-1
8. Bhili (Vasava) Primer 8. Bhili (Vasava) 978-81-970769-4-7
9. Bhili (Wagdi) Primer 8. Bhili (Wagdi) 978-81-977586-3-8
10. Bhumij Primer 9. Bhumij 978-81-977442-6-6
11. Bhutia Primer 10. Bhutia 978-81-19411-17-7
12. Bishnupriya Manipuri Primer 11. Bishnupriya 978-81-19411-59-7
Manipuri
13. Bodo Primer 12. Bodo 978-81-19411-97-9
14. Chang Primer 13. Chang 978-81-972541-9-2
15. Chokri Primer 14. Chokri 978-81-971148-1-6
16. Deori Primer 15. Deori 978-81-19411-44-3
17. Dimasa Primer 16. Dimasa 978-81-19411-77-1
18. Dogri Primer 17. Dogri 978-81-970852-1-5
19. Gadaba (Gutob) Primer 18. Gadaba (Gutob) 978-81-19411-47-4
20. Gangte Primer (Not Published) 19. Gangte 978-81-973948-6-7
21. Garo Primer 20. Garo 978-81-970769-6-1
22. Gondi-Odia Primer 21. Gondi 978-81-977442-7-3
23. Gondi-Telugu Primer 21. Gondi 978-81-977442-4-2
24. Gujarati Primer 22. Gujarati 978-81-970852-5-3
25. Halabi (Halbi) Primer 23. Halabi (Halbi) 978-81-19411-51-1
26. Halam Primer 24. Halam 978-81-971106-7-227. Hindi Primer 25. Hindi 978-81-970852-0-8
28. Hmar Primer 26. Hmar 978-81-19411-25-2
29. Ho-Hindi Primer 27. Ho 978-81-977442-0-4
30. Ho-Odia Primer 27. Ho 978-81-973948-8-1
31. Idu Mishmi Primer 28. Idu Mishmi 978-81-19411-66-5
32. Jatapu (Kuvi) Primer 29. Jatapu (Kuvi) 978-81-19411-27-6
33. Juang Primer 30. Juang 978-81-19411-57-3
34. Kabui (Rongmei) Primer 31. Kabui (Rongmei) 978-81-19411-42-9
35. Kandha (Khond) Primer 32. Kandha (Khond) 978-81-977586-5-2
36. Kannada Primer 33. Kannada 978-81-970852-6-0
37. Karbi Primer 34. Karbi 978-81-19411-67-2
38. Kashmiri (Devanagari) Primer 35. Kashmiri 978-81-970852-3-9
39. Kashmiri (Perso-Arabic) Primer 35. Kashmiri 978-81-977586-0-7
40. Khandeshi Primer 36. Khandeshi 978-81-19411-86-3
41. Kharia Primer 37. Kharia 978-81-19411-30-6
42. Khasi Primer 38. Khasi 978-81-971148-9-2
43. Khiamniungan Primer 39. Khiamniungan 978-81-972541-4-7
44. Kinnauri Primer 40. Kinnauri 978-81-19411-75-7
45. Kisan (Kunhu) Primer 41. Kisan (Kunhu) 978-81-19411-52-8
46. Koch Primer 42. Koch 978-81-19411-40-5
47. Koda (Kora) Primer 43. Koda (Kora) 978-81-977442-1-1
48. Kodava Primer 44. Kodava 978-81-19411-83-2
49. Kokborok Primer (B) (Not Published) 45. Kokborok 978-81-971148-4-7
50. Kokborok Primer (R) (Not Published) 45. Kokborok 978-81-19411-45-0
51. Kolami Primer 46. Kolami 978-81-970769-0-9
52. Kolami-Telugu Primer 46. Kolami 978-81-977442-5-9
53. Kom Primer 47. Kom 978-81-971148-7-8
54. Konda Primer 48. Konda 978-81-19411-79-5
55. Konkani Primer 49. Konkani 978-81-970852-2-2
56. Konyak Primer 50. Konyak 978-81-972541-1-6
57. Korku Primer 51. Korku 978-81-970769-9-258. Korwa Primer 52. Korwa 978-81-970769-8-5
59. Koya Primer 53. Koya 978-81-19411-65-8
60. Kui Primer 54. Kui 978-81-19411-93-1
61. Kuki Primer 55. Kuki 978-81-970769-3-0
62. Kurukh Primer 56. Kurukh 978-81-19411-49-8
63. Kuzhale (Khezha) Primer 57. Kuzhale (Khezha) 978-81-19411-73-3
64. Ladakhi Primer 58. Ladakhi 978-81-973948-4-3
65. Lahauli (Pattani) Primer 59. Lahauli (Pattani) 978-81-977442-2-8
66. Lai (Pawi) Primer 60. Lai (Pawi) 978-81-972541-0-9
67. Lepcha Primer 61. Lepcha 978-81-19411-60-3
68. Liangmai Primer 62. Liangmai 978-81-19411-46-7
69. Limbu Primer 63. Limbu 978-81-19411-94-8
70. Lotha Primer 64. Lotha 978-81-19411-50-4
71. Maithili Primer 65. Maithili 978-81-971106-5-8
72. Malayalam Primer 66. Malayalam 978-81-971106-2-7
73. Malto Primer 67. Malto 978-81-977586-4-5
74. Manipuri Primer 68. Manipuri 978-81-19411-24-5
75. Mao Primer 69. Mao 978-81-19411-18-4
76. Mara (Lakher) Primer 70. Mara (Lakher) 978-81-972541-6-1
77. Maram Primer 71. Maram 978-81-971148-0-9
78. Marathi Primer 72. Marathi 978-81-971106-1-0
79. Maring Primer 73. Maring 978-81-971148-5-4
80. Mising Primer 74. Mising 978-81-19411-68-9
81. Mizo Primer 75. Mizo 978-81-19411-70-2
82. Mogh Primer 76. Mogh 978-81-19411-71-9
83. Monpa Primer 77. Monpa 978-81-971148-8-5
84. Munda Primer 78. Munda 978-81-977586-9-0
85. Mundari Primer 79. Mundari 978-81-19411-80-1
86. Nepali Primer 80. Nepali 978-81-19411-82-5
87. Nicobarese: Car Nicobarese (Pū) 81. Nicobarese 978-81-977586-1-4
Primer88. Nicobarese: Nancowry (Mūöt) 81. Nicobarese 978-81-977586-7-6
Primer
89. Nocte Primer 82. Nocte 978-81-971148-3-0
90. Nyishi Primer 83. Nyishi 978-81-19411-85-6
91. Odia Primer 84. Odia 978-81-971106-6-5
92. Paite Primer (Not Published) 85. Paite 978-81-973948-0-5
93. Parji (Durua) Primer 86. Parji (Durua) 978-81-977586-8-3
94. Pashto Primer 87. Pashto 978-81-973948-1-2
95. Phom primer 88. Phom 978-81-971148-2-3
96. Pochury Primer 89. Pochury 978-81-972541-8-5
97. Punjabi Primer 90. Punjabi 978-81-971106-8-9
98. Rabha Primer 91. Rabha 978-81-19411-23-8
99. Rai Primer 92. Rai 978-81-19411-29-0
100. Rengma Primer 93. Rengma 978-81-972541-3-0
101. Sangtam Primer 94. Sangtam 978-81-972541-2-3
102. Sanskrit Primer 95. Sanskrit 978-81-970852-7-7
103. Santali-Bengali Primer 96. Santali 978-81-970769-5-4
104. Santali-Hindi Primer 96. Santali 978-81-970852-8-4
105. Santali-Odia Primer 96. Santali 978-81-970769-1-6
106. Savara (Sora) Primer 97. Savara (Sora) 978-81-19411-81-8
107. Sherpa Primer 98. Sherpa 978-81-19411-39-9
108. Shina Primer 99. Shina 978-81-973948-7-4
109. Sindhi (Devanagari) Primer 100. Sindhi 978-81-971106-9-6
110. Sindhi (Perso-Arabic) Primer 100. Sindhi 978-81-971106-4-1
111. Sümi (Sema) Primer 101. Sümi (Sema) 978-81-19411-69-6
112. Tamang Primer 102. Tamang 978-81-19411-36-8
113. Tamil Primer 103. Tamil 978-81-971106-3-4
114. Tangkhul Primer 104. Tangkhul 978-81-19411-61-0
115. Tangsa Primer 105. Tangsa 978-81-970769-7-8
116. Telugu Primer 106. Telugu 978-81-971106-0-3
117. Thadou-Kuki Primer (Not Published) 107. Thadou-Kuki 978-81-972541-7-8
118. Tibetan Primer 108. Tibetan 978-81-973948-3-6119. Tiwa (Lalung) Primer 109. Tiwa 978-81-19411-63-4
120. Tulu Primer 110. Tulu 978-81-19411-21-4
121. Urdu Primer 111. Urdu 978-81-970769-2-3
122. Vaiphei Primer (Not Published) 112. Vaiphei 978-81-973948-5-0
123. Wancho Primer 113. Wancho 978-81-19411-15-3
124. Yimkhiung Primer 114. Yimkhiung 978-81-971148-6-1
125. Zeme Primer 115. Zeme 978-81-972541-5-4
126. Zeme-Manipuri Primer 115, Zeme ………………….
127. Zou Primer (Not Published) 116. Zou 978-81-973948-2-9
* 127 CIIL-NCERT Primers for 116 Indian languages.
** 119 primers for 110 Indian languages published and released.
*** 7 primers for 6 Indian languages developed but not published and released.
**** Zeme-Manipuri Primer is going to be developed in a workshop from Nov 17 to 22, 2025 at CIIL, Mysuru.
*****