# List of Scheduled Tribes in Odisha

The term "Scheduled Tribes" signifies specific indigenous groups whose status is formally acknowledged to some extent by Indian legislation, often colloquially referred to as "tribals" or "adibasi." In adherence to the Constitution of the Indian Republic, the state of Odisha officially recognizes a total of 64 distinct tribes as Scheduled Tribes. Among these 64 tribes, 13 hold the designation of "Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups" (PVTGs).
According to the 2011 census, Odisha counted 9,590,756 Scheduled Tribes, ranking as the third-largest state in India in terms of its Scheduled Tribes population, trailing behind Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. These tribal communities collectively make up around 22.84% of the state's total population, 9.20% of the nation's Scheduled Tribes population, and about 0.79% of the nation's entire population.

## Main tribes

The Kondha or Kandha is the largest tribe of the state in terms of population. They have a population of about one million and are based mainly in the Kandhamal and adjoining districts namely Rayagada, Koraput, Balangir and Boudh. The Santals with a population over 800,000, inhabit the Mayurbhanj district. The Ho people with a population more than 100,0000 inhabit in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sonepur, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Anugul, Jharsuguda, Sundergarh, Kandhamal district. The Saura, with a population over 300,000, are found mainly in the undivided Ganjam and Puri district. The Bonda, are known as 'the Naked People', and have a population of about 5,000 and live in Malkangiri district formerly part of undivided Koraput. The Kisans are the main residents of Sundergarh, Sambalpur and Keonjhar.

## List of scheduled tribes

As per the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, amended by Modification Order 1956 and subsequent modification order the following were listed as Scheduled Tribes in Odisha;
* Bagata (Bhakta)
* Baiga
* Banjara (Banjari)
* Bathudi (Bathuri)
* Bhottada (Dhotada, Bhotra, Bhatra, Bhattara, Bhotora, Bhatara)
* Bhuyan (Bhuinya)
* Bhumia
* Bhumij (Teli Bhumij, Haladipokhria Bhumij, Haladi Pokharia Bhumija, Desi Bhumij, Desia Bhumij, Tamaria Bhumij)
* Bhunjia
* Binjhal (Binjhwar)
* Binjhia (Binjhoa)
* Birhor (Mankidi, Mankirdia)
* Bondo Poraja (Bonda Paroja, Banda Paroja)
* Chenchu
* Dal
* Desua Bhumij
* Dharua (Dhuruba, Dhurva)
* Didayi (Didai Paroja, Didai)
* Gadaba (Bodo Gadaba, Gutob Gadaba, Kapu Gadaba, Ollara Gadaba, Parenga Gadaba, Sano Gadaba]
* Gandia
* Ghara
* Gond (Gondo, Rajgond, Maria Gond, Dhur Gond)
* Ho
* Holva
* Jatapu
* Juang
* Kandha (Khond, Kond, Nanguli Kandha, Sitha Kandha, Kondh, Kui, Buda Kondh, Bura Kandha, Desia Kandha, Dungaria Kondh, Kutia Kandha, Kandha Gauda, Muli Kondh, Malua Kondh, Pengo Kandha, Raja Kondh, Raj Khond)
* Kandha Gauda
* Kawar (Kanwar)
* Kharia (Kharian, Berga Kharia, Dhelki Kharia, Dudh Kharia, Erenga Kharia, Munda Kharia, Oraon Kharia, Khadia, Pahari Kharia)
* Kharwar
* Kisan (Nagesar, Nagesia)
* Kol
* Kolah (Loharas, Kol Loharas)
* Kolha (larka)
* Koli (Malhar)
* Kondadora
* Kora
* Korua
* Kotia
* Koya (Gumba Koya, Koitur Koya, Kamar Koya, Musara Koya)
* Kulis (Kuli)
* Lodha (Nodh, Nodha, Lodh)
* Madia
* Mahali
* Mankidi
* Mankirdia (Mankria, Mankidi)
* Matya (Matia)
* Mirdhas (Kuda, Koda, Mirdha)
* Munda (Munda Lohara, Munda Mahalis, Nagabanshi Munda, Odia Munda)
* Mundari
* Omanatya (Omanatyo, Amanatya)
* Oraon (Dhangar, Uran)
* Parenga
* Paroja (Parja, Bodo Paroja, Barong Jhodia Paroja, Chhelia Paroja, Jhodia Paroja, Konda Paroja, Paraja, Ponga Paroja, Sodia Paroja, Sano Paroja, Solia Paroja)
* Pentia
* Rajuar
* Santal
* Saora
* Shabar Lodha
* Sounti
* Tharua (Tharua Bindhani)
* Muka Dora, Mooka Dora, Nuka Dora, Nooka Dora (in Koraput, Nowrangapur, Rayagada and Malkangiri districts)
* Konda Reddy, Konda Reddi
Among the 64 Scheduled Tribes listed, many are subsections of larger Scheduled Tribes.

## List of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups

* Birhor
* Bondo
* Chukutia Bhunjia
* Didayi
* Dangria Khond
* Juangas
* Kharias
* Kutia Kondh
* Lanjia Sauras
* Lodhas
* Mankidias
* Paudi Bhuyans
* Soura

## Demographics

Tribe wise census statistics :
| Sl no | Scheduled Tribe | Segments/ Synonyms | Population (2011) | Literacy rate |
| 1 | Bagata | Bhakta | 8813 | 53.89 |
| 2 | Baiga | | 338 | 67.25 |
| 3 | Banjara | Banjari | 18257 | 62.28 |
| 4 | Bathudi | Bathuri | 217395 | 63.71 |
| 5 | Bhottada | Dhotada, Bhotra, Bhatra, Bhattara, Bhotora, Bhatara | 450771 | 40.03 |
| 6 | Bhuiya | Bhuyan, Paudi Bhuyan | 306129 | 63.14 |
| 7 | Bhumia | | 125977 | 41.94 |
| 8 | Bhumij | Teli Bhumij, Haladipokhria Bhumij, Haladi Pokharia Bhumija, Desi Bhumij, Desia Bhumij, Tamaria Bhumij | 283909 | 52.06 |
| 9 | Bhunjia | Chuktia Bhunjia | 12350 | 44.93 |
| 10 | Binjhal | Binjhwar | 137040 | 57.16 |
| 11 | Binjhia | Binjhoa | 11419 | 57.86 |
| 12 | Birhor | | 596 | 47.24 |
| 13 | Bondo | Bonda Paroja, Banda Paroja | 12231 | 36.51 |
| 14 | Chenchu | | 13 | 54.55 |
| 15 | Dal | | 25598 | 43.20 |
| 16 | Desua Bhumij | | 404 | 56.98 |
| 17 | Dharua | Dhuruba, Dhurva | 18151 | 31.39 |
| 18 | Didayi | Didai Paroja, Didai | 8890 | 34.56 |
| 19 | Gadaba | Bodo Gadaba, Gutob Gadaba, Kapu Gadaba, Ollara Gadaba, Parenga Gadaba, Sano Gadaba | 84689 | 39.30 |
| 20 | Gandia | | 1854 | 35.81 |
| 21 | Ghara | | 195 | 71.43 |
| 22 | Gond | Rajgond, Maria Gond, Dhur Gond, Gondo | 888581 | 59.65 |
| 23 | Ho | | 806008 | 54.79 |
| 24 | Holva | | 28149 | 48.90 |
| 25 | Jatapu | | 14890 | 47.22 |
| 26 | Juang | | 47095 | 42.85 |
| 27 | Kandha Gauda | | 26403 | 56.49 |
| 28 | Kawar | Kanwar | 5225 | 64.44 |
| 29 | Kharia | Kharian, Berga Kharia, Dhelki Kharia, Dudh Kharia, Erenga Kharia, Munda Kharia, Oraon Kharia, Khadia, Pahari Kharia (Hill Kharia) | 222844 | 58.46 |
| 30 | Kharwar | | 2265 | 62.49 |
| 31 | Khond | Kond, Kandha, Nanguli Kandha, Sitha Kandha, Kondh, Kui, Buda Kondh, Bura Kandha, Desia Kandha, Dungaria Kondh, Kutia Kandha, Kandha Gauda, Muli Kondh, Malua Kondh, Pengo Kandha, Raja Kondh, Raj Khond | 1627486 | 46.95 |
| 32 | Kisan | Nagesar, Nagesia | 331589 | 64.21 |
| 33 | Kol | | 4058 | 46.26 |
| 34 | Kolah Loharas | Kol Loharas | 9558 | 52.68 |
| 35 | Kolha | | 625009 | 42.23 |
| 36 | Koli | Malhar | 6423 | 57.57 |
| 37 | Kondadora | | 20802 | 48.27 |
| 38 | Kora | Khaira, Khayara | 54408 | 68.54 |
| 39 | Korua | | 499 | 32.60 |
| 40 | Kotia | | 7232 | 44.36 |
| 41 | Koya | Gumba Koya, Koitur Koya, Kamar Koya, Musara Koya | 147137 | 29.87 |
| 42 | Kulis | | 13689 | 78.88 |
| 43 | Lodha | Nodh, Nodha, Lodh | 9785 | 43.08 |
| 44 | Madia | | 2243 | 48.36 |
| 45 | Mahali | | 18625 | 51.24 |
| 46 | Mankidi | | 31 | 35.71 |
| 47 | Mankirdia | Mankria, Mankidi | 2222 | 21.14 |
| 48 | Matya | Matia | 30169 | 51.05 |
| 49 | Mirdhas | Kuda, Koda | 75940 | 62.31 |
| 50 | Munda | Munda Lohara, Munda Mahalis, Nagabanshi Munda, Oriya Munda | 558691 | 54.92 |
| 51 | Mundari | | 25655 | 59.89 |
| 52 | Omanatya | Omanatyo, Amanatya | 28736 | 36.27 |
| 53 | Oraon | Dhangar, Uran | 358112 | 67.57 |
| 54 | Parenga | | 9445 | 32.78 |
| 55 | Paroja | Parja, Bodo Paroja, Barong Jhodia Paroja, Chhelia Paroja, Jhodia Paroja, Konda Paroja, Paraja, Ponga Paroja, Sodia Paroja, Sano Paroja, Solia Paroja | 374628 | 34.92 |
| 56 | Pentia | | 10003 | 44.93 |
| 57 | Rajuar | | 3518 | 51.97 |
| 58 | Santal | | 894764 | 55.57 |
| 59 | Saora | Savar, Saura, Sahara, Arsi Saora, Based Saora, Bhima Saora, Bhimma Saora, Chumura Saora, Jara Savar, Jadu Saora, Jati Saora, Juari Saora, Kampu Saora, Kampa Soura, Kapo Saora, Kindal Saora, Kumbi Kancher Saora, Kalapithia Saora, Kirat Saora, Lanjia Saora, Lamba Lanjia Saora, Luara Saora, Luar Saora, Laria Savar, Malia Saora, Malla Saora, Uriya Saora, Raika Saora, Sudda Saora, Sarda Saora, Tankala Saora, Patro Saora, Vesu Saora | 534751 | 54.99 |
| 60 | Shabar | Lodha (Not to confused with Sl no. 43) | 516402 | 53.29 |
| 61 | Sounti | | 112803 | 59.58 |
| 62 | Tharua | Tharua Bindhani | 9451 | 50.44 |
(Note : PVTGs of Odisha are bold texted)

### Language

Languages of Scheduled Tribes of Odisha, 2011 census
According to the 2011 Census of India, Odisha's Scheduled Tribes constitute 22.84% (9,590,756) of the state's total population. Among them, Odia is spoken by 44.98% of the population, Kui by 10.17% (including 106,101 Khond speakers), and Santali by 8.81%. Sambalpuri is spoken by 5.63%, Munda by 4.64% (including 121,391 Mundari speakers), and Ho by 4.23%. Additionally, Savara is spoken by 3.07%, Sadan/Sadri by 2.56%, and Kisan by 2.01%. Proja is spoken by 1.54%, Koya by 1.48%, and Kurukh/Oraon by 1.37%. Desia is spoken by 1.35%, and Kharia by 1.26% of the population. Furthermore, Bhatri is spoken by 81,413 individuals, Telugu by 50,375, and Gondi by 45,042. Laria is spoken by 40,893, Bhumijali by 34,131, Chhattisgarhi by 33,342, and Gadaba by 32,534 individuals. Juang is spoken by 30,217, Bhuiya/Bhuyan by 28,275, and Halabi by 19,722. Hindi is spoken by 17,924, Bengali by 9,080, and Kuvi by 6,374. Banjari is spoken by 5,218, Ladakhi by 3,020, Urdu by 2,658, Koda/Kora by 1,995, Rai by 1,788, and Coorgi/Kodagu by 1,305 individuals.

## Inclusion in and exclusion from Scheduled list

Initially, the list of Scheduled Tribes in Odisha consisted of 42 tribes. The implementation of the Scheduled Tribes Modification Order in 1956 brought significant changes, including the inclusion of 21 new tribes as Scheduled Tribes, such as Bhottada, Bhumia, Bhumij, Bhunjia, Desua Bhumij, Dharua, Didayi, Gandia, Holva, Kandha Gauda, Kol, Kotia, Lodha, Madia, Matya, Omanatya, Parenga, Pentia, Rajuar, Sabar Lodha, and Sounti. Additionally, the tribe named Gorait was excluded from the list and enlisted in Scheduled Castes. However, after the establishment of the Tribal Research Institute, it was discovered that six communities viz. Chenchu, Ghara, Kandha Gauda, Kuli, Saunti had been mistakenly included in the list due to a lack of accurate local information when the list was originally drawn up in 1950 and revised in 1956. As they did not meet the basic criteria for tribal status, the Odisha government later proposed their exclusion from the list. However, this proposal faced opposition from members in Parliament, and as a result, there were no changes made to the list of Scheduled Tribes in Odisha. In the same way, 169 communities are proposed by the state government for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes list since 1970. These are mostly synonyms, segments and phonetic variations of existing Scheduled Tribes, such as Kandha Kumbhar, Jodia, Chuktia Bhunjia, Saara, Mankidia, Porja, Banda Paraja, Durua, and Paharia. As of 2023, the central government has rejected 81 communities, returning them to the state government due to a lack of supporting documents. In 2024, two more Dravidian tribal communities, namely Muka Dora (with area restrictions) and Konda Reddy, were scheduled to the Tribal list of Odisha.

## Footnotes

* ↑ 9.06% Kui and 1.11% Khond/Kondh
* ↑ 3.37% Munda and 1.27% Mundari