India is home to around 705 tribes, each with its own linguistic and cultural diversity, spread across 15 per cent of the country's geographical area. 

According to the 2011 Census of India, the Scheduled Tribe (ST) population accounts for approximately 8.6 per cent of the country’s total population (approx. 104 million). Among these, 94 million reside in remote rural areas, with over 50 percent of tribals inhabiting forested areas (GoI, TRIFED, 2019).

UNDP has a long-standing partnership with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and this serves as a critical bridge to address the socio-economic gaps faced by India’s tribal communities, working in close collaboration with the Government of India. 

The portfolio is designed to fast-track development in remote, tribal-inhabited regions by strengthening institutional capacities, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities, and empowering these communities to move out of deprivation.