Paper: GS – I, Subject: Society and Social Justice, Topic: Population and Associates Issues, Issue: Denotified tribes.
Context:
Denotified tribes, nomadic tribes, and semi-nomadic tribes across India are uniting to advocate for a “separate column” in the 2027 Census. Their ultimate goal is constitutional recognition, placing them on par with Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Key Takeaways:
Historical Context:
- Colonial Legacy: Denotified tribes (DNTs) are communities that were notified as being ‘born criminal’ during the British regime under a see of laws starting with the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871.
- Repeal and Denotification: The Act was repealed in 1952, leading to these groups being known as “denotified” tribes.
- Current Status: The Social Justice Ministry has recommended to the Office of the Registrar-General of India (RGI) that these tribes be included in the Census. The RGI has agreed to include them in the upcoming caste enumeration.
Government Response and Action:
- Ministry Recommendation: The Social Justice Ministry has recommended to the Office of the Registrar-General of India (RGI) that DNTs, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic tribes be included in the Census.
- RGI Agreement: Officials have assured leaders that the RGI has agreed to include these groups in the Caste Enumeration exercise scheduled for February 2027.
- Skepticism: Despite assurances, community leaders worry that without a distinct column/code, they will remain invisible in the final data.
Implementation Challenges (SEED Scheme):
- Funding Utilization: The government runs the SEED scheme (Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs). However, funds are severely underutilized.
- Planned Expenditure: ₹200 crore.
- Actual Spent (last 5 years): Only ₹69.3 crore (as of Dec 2025).
- The Certificate Barrier: The primary reason for this underutilization is that State governments are not issuing DNT caste certificates, despite reminders from the Centre. Without these certificates, individuals cannot claim benefits.
Key Statistics:
- Population Estimates: Estimates suggest there are up to 1 crore people belonging to these tribes in Uttar Pradesh alone.
- Communities: The previous National Commission identified approximately 1,200 such communities across India.
Without constitutional recognition and proper enumeration, Denotified Tribes remain among India’s most invisible and marginalised communities, undermining the promise of social justice.
Source: (The Hindu)
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