**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs supports the preservation of tribal culture by extending financial support to 29 Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs). This support covers research, documentation, training, and the promotion of cultural heritage through festivals and exchange visits. Furthermore, the 'Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL)' aims to document and promote endangered tribal languages. The CIIL has developed 128 primers for 116 Indian languages. There will be a workshop from Nov 17 to 22, 2025 at CIIL, Mysuru.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs):**
* Financial support extended to 29 TRIs based on their Annual Action Plan.
* Funds support research, documentation, training, tribal festivals, and exchange visits.
* TRIs are primarily institutions under State Government/UT Administration control.
* Funding supports publishing Varnamala, local rhymes, tribal language stories, books, and journals.
* Funding supports translation and publication of a training module about Sickle Cell Anaemia.
* **Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL):**
* Initiated by the Ministry of Education via the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL).
* Aims to document languages spoken by less than 10,000 speakers.
* Involves developing primers, dictionaries, grammatical sketches, and ethno-linguistic profiles.
* Annexure I lists 117 identified endangered languages.
* **Bhasha Sanchika:**
* CIIL's digital language repository for preservation and technological advancement.
* Provides Indian linguistic resources in text, image, audio, and video formats.
* Aids in creating language technology resources and language pedagogy materials.
* Annexure II lists the languages covered under Sanchika.
* Details are available at: https://sanchika.ciil.org/home
* **CIIL-NCERT Indian Language Primers:**
* 128 Primers developed for 116 languages.
* 119 primers for 110 Indian languages released
* 7 primers for 6 Indian languages developed, not yet released.
* Annexure III provides a list of these primers with ISBNs.
* Details at: https://ciil.org/primers\_book.
* There will be a workshop for Zeme-Manipuri Primer from November 17 to 22, 2025.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Tribal Communities:**
* **Impact:** Benefits from the preservation of cultural practices, languages, and traditions through TRI activities and the SPPEL scheme.
* **Action Required:** Participate in TRI programs and engage with SPPEL initiatives to document and promote their languages and cultures.
* **Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs):**
* **Impact:** Receive financial support to conduct research, documentation, and training programs.
* **Action Required:** Develop and submit Annual Action Plans to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to secure funding for relevant projects.
* **Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL):**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing the SPPEL scheme and maintaining the Bhasha Sanchika repository.
* **Action Required:** Continue developing language resources, conduct workshops, and collaborate with NCERT for primer development.
* **Ministry of Tribal Affairs:**
* **Impact:** Responsible for overseeing and funding initiatives related to tribal culture and language preservation.
* **Action Required:** Review Annual Action Plans, allocate funding to TRIs, and monitor the progress of SPPEL and other related projects.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The central ministry responsible for the ‘Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs)' scheme.
Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs): A centrally sponsored scheme providing financial support to tribal research institutes.
Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL): A project initiated by the Ministry of Education under the CIIL for promoting endangered languages.
Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru: The institute under the Ministry of Education which has initiated the SPPEL project and developed language primers.
Bhasha Sanchika: A digital language repository of the CIIL, aiming to preserve and disseminate Indian linguistic resources.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
PRESERVATION OF TRIBAL CULTURE
प्रव तथ: 04 DEC 2025 5:51PM by PIB Delhi
Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India under the Centrally Sponsored scheme ‘Support to Tribal
Research Institutes (TRIs)’ extends financial support to 29Tribal 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/homeCIIL, 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/ East Central Zone
GUTOB
14 BONDO East Central Zone
15 DHIMAL East Central Zone16 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 Zone
28 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 ZoneSl. 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 Zone
58 RANGLONG North East Zone59 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/YOBINLIJU 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 ZoneSl. 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 Zone
88 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 Zone101 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 Zone
Annexure II
Bhasha Sanchika
List of Languages
Sl.No. Language
1 Aimol2 AoMongsen
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 DirangMonpa
23 Eravallan24 Gahri
25 Gojapuri
26 GutobGadaba
27 Gutob-Gadaba
28 Hakkipikki
29 Hassadi
30 Holiya
31 Jad
32 JenuKuruba
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 Meshabi46 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 Sora
66 Spiti
67 Tai Phake68 Tangkhul
69 ThachanadanMoopan
70 Tharua
71 Thoti
72 Toda
73 Toto
74 Uchoi
75 Urali
76 Yimkhiung
Annexure 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. AoPrimer 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) 978-81-970769-4-79. Bhili (Wagdi) Primer 8. Bhili (Wagdi) 978-81-977586-3-8
10. BhumijPrimer 9. Bhumij 978-81-977442-6-6
11. BhutiaPrimer 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. ChokriPrimer 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. DogriPrimer 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 978-81-971106-7-2
27. 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 978-81-973948-8-131. Idu Mishmi Primer 28. IduMishmi 978-81-19411-66-5
32. Jatapu (Kuvi) Primer 29. Jatapu(Kuvi) 978-81-19411-27-6
33. JuangPrimer 30. Juang 978-81-19411-57-3
34. Kabui (Rongmei) Primer 31. Kabui 978-81-19411-42-9
(Rongmei)
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. KhandeshiPrimer 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. KinnauriPrimer 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. KolamiPrimer 46. Kolami 978-81-970769-0-9
52. Kolami-Telugu Primer 46. Kolami 978-81-977442-5-953. KomPrimer 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 978-81-970769-9-2
58. KorwaPrimer 52. Korwa 978-81-970769-8-5
59. Koya Primer 53. Koya 978-81-19411-65-8
60. KuiPrimer 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. LadakhiPrimer 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. LepchaPrimer 61. Lepcha 978-81-19411-60-3
68. LiangmaiPrimer 62. Liangmai 978-81-19411-46-7
69. Limbu Primer 63. Limbu 978-81-19411-94-8
70. LothaPrimer 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. MaltoPrimer 67. Malto 978-81-977586-4-574. 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. MaramPrimer 71. Maram 978-81-971148-0-9
78. Marathi Primer 72. Marathi 978-81-971106-1-0
79. MaringPrimer 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. MoghPrimer 76. Mogh 978-81-19411-71-9
83. MonpaPrimer 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
Primer
88. Nicobarese: Nancowry (Mūöt) 81. Nicobarese 978-81-977586-7-6
Primer
89. Nocte Primer 82. Nocte 978-81-971148-3-0
90. NyishiPrimer 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 978-81-973948-1-295. Phomprimer 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. RengmaPrimer 93. Rengma 978-81-972541-3-0
101. SangtamPrimer 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. TangsaPrimer 105. Tangsa 978-81-970769-7-8
116. Telugu Primer 106. Telugu 978-81-971106-0-3117. Thadou-Kuki Primer (Not 107. Thadou-Kuki 978-81-972541-7-8
Published)
118. Tibetan Primer 108. Tibetan 978-81-973948-3-6
119. 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. WanchoPrimer 113. Wancho 978-81-19411-15-3
124. YimkhiungPrimer 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.
*****
RN/
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2198869) आगंतुक पटल : 292
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही