Chhattisgarh
Population and Census
Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Population
Chhattisgarh's ST (30.62%) and SC (12.82%) population in Census 2011: numbers, where they live, PVTGs, reserved seats and the Fifth Schedule. CGPSC notes.
Prerequisites
- Census 2011 at a Glance: the state’s total population and headline shares
- Distribution and Density of Population: the plains versus the plateaus
- Tribes of Chhattisgarh: the individual tribes, their culture and customs (this page covers only their numbers)
The Hook: Twenty-Nine Plus Ten
Connect
Look at the 90 seats of the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha: 29 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes and 10 for Scheduled Castes. That is almost a third of the House for STs, far more than in most states. Four of the state’s eleven Lok Sabha seats (Bastar, Kanker, Surguja, Raigarh) are also ST-reserved.
These numbers are not chosen arbitrarily: they follow the census count of each community. So how many STs and SCs does Chhattisgarh have, where do they live, and what follows from that?
Why it matters: the ST and SC percentages are among the most-asked numbers in the Chhattisgarh paper. Mains uses them as the base for answers on tribal welfare, Fifth Schedule governance and social justice.
The Numbers (Census 2011)
| Indicator | Scheduled Tribes (अनुसूचित जनजाति) | Scheduled Castes (अनुसूचित जाति) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 78,22,902 | 32,74,269 |
| Share of state population | 30.62% | 12.82% |
| All-India share in its own population | 8.6% | 16.6% |
| Chhattisgarh’s share of India’s ST / SC total | About 7.5% of India’s STs | About 1.6% of India’s SCs |
| 2001 count | About 66.2 lakh (about 31.8%) | 24,18,722 (about 11.6%) |
| Main concentration | Southern (Bastar) and northern (Surguja, Jashpur) hills and plateaus | Central plains |
The headline to remember
ST 30.62% + SC 12.82% ≈ 43.4% of Chhattisgarh’s population. Chhattisgarh’s ST share is far above India’s (8.6%), while its SC share is below India’s (16.6%).
How Chhattisgarh compares
- Among the large mainland states, Chhattisgarh has the highest share of ST population (30.62%), ahead of Jharkhand (about 26%), Odisha (about 23%) and Madhya Pradesh (about 21%). Several small north-eastern states (Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh) have even higher shares.
- In absolute numbers, Madhya Pradesh has India’s largest ST population; Chhattisgarh’s 78.2 lakh places it among the top states, about 7th.
Where the Scheduled Tribes Live
| Region | ST presence | Examples of tribes |
|---|---|---|
| South (Bastar division) | Very high. Bijapur (80.0%) and Narayanpur (77.4%) were among the highest ST shares in the country in 2011 | Gond groups including Muria, Maria (Abujhmaria, Bison Horn Maria), Halba, Bhatra, Dhurwa |
| North (Surguja division) | High | Oraon, Kanwar, Korwa (including Pahadi Korwa), Gond, Pando |
| Central plains | Low to moderate | Gond, Kanwar, Baiga (Kabirdham hills on the west), Kamar (Gariaband, Dhamtari) |
- Of the 18 districts of 2011, 7 had more than 50% ST population and another 6 had between 25% and 50%.
- The Gond (गोंड) is the largest tribe of Chhattisgarh (and of India). Other large tribes include the Kanwar, Oraon, Halba and Bhatra.
- Around 42 tribal communities have been listed as Scheduled Tribes in Chhattisgarh; the list has been amended by Parliament since 2011 (see the Tribes chapter for the current list).
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
The Centre recognises five PVTGs (विशेष पिछड़ी जनजाति) in Chhattisgarh:
| PVTG | Main area |
|---|---|
| Abujhmaria | Abujhmarh hills (Narayanpur) |
| Baiga | Kabirdham, Mungeli, Bilaspur hills (Maikal range) |
| Birhor | Raigarh, Jashpur |
| Kamar | Gariaband, Dhamtari |
| Pahadi Korwa | Jashpur, Surguja, Balrampur |
The state government additionally treats the Bhunjia and Pando as special backward tribes for its own schemes.
Where the Scheduled Castes Live
- SCs are concentrated in the central plains: the Mahanadi and Seonath basins of the Raipur, Bilaspur and Durg divisions. Their share is low in the tribal south.
- The Satnami (सतनामी) community is the largest SC group in Chhattisgarh. The Satnami panth was founded by Guru Ghasidas (गुरु घासीदास), born in 1756 at Giraudpuri (now in Baloda Bazar district). He preached equality, rejected caste discrimination and idol worship, and gave the creed “manakhe-manakhe ek samaan” (all human beings are equal). His birth anniversary, 18 December, is celebrated as Guru Ghasidas Jayanti.
Why the Numbers Matter: Constitutional and Policy Consequences
| Consequence | Basis | Chhattisgarh detail |
|---|---|---|
| Who is ST / SC | Article 342 (ST) and Article 341 (SC): the President notifies lists; Parliament amends them | State-specific lists |
| Reserved Assembly seats | Article 332, in proportion to population | 29 ST + 10 SC of 90 seats (after the 2008 delimitation) |
| Reserved Lok Sabha seats | Article 330 | 4 ST (Bastar, Kanker, Surguja, Raigarh) + 1 SC (Janjgir-Champa) of 11 |
| Scheduled Areas | Article 244(1), Fifth Schedule | Large parts of the state are notified Scheduled Areas; a Tribes Advisory Council advises the government; the Governor has special powers |
| Self-governance | PESA Act, 1996 | Gram Sabhas in Scheduled Areas have special powers; the state notified its own PESA rules in 2022 |
| Panchayat reservation | Article 243D | Seats and chairpersons’ posts reserved in proportion to ST/SC population |
| Special funding | Article 275(1) grants; Tribal Sub-Plan | Tied to tribal population |
Reservation in state jobs: a live issue
In Chhattisgarh, the percentage of reservation for STs, SCs and OBCs in state jobs and education has been the subject of repeated legislation and litigation since 2012, with the population shares from the census at the centre of the argument. Check the current position before writing about it, and avoid quoting a figure as settled.
Analysis: Issues Facing the ST Population (Mains material)
- Land and displacement: mineral-rich tribal areas (Bastar’s iron ore, the northern coalfields such as Hasdeo-Arand) see conflicts over mining and displacement. PESA and the Forest Rights Act, 2006 give Gram Sabhas a say.
- Left-Wing Extremism: concentrated for decades in the southern tribal districts, it disrupted schools, health and roads (the Union government declared Bastar Naxal-free on 19 May 2026; de-mining and rebuilding services are now the focus).
- Human development gaps: literacy and health indicators of STs trail the state average; sickle cell disease and malnutrition are significant concerns in tribal areas.
- PVTG vulnerability: small, isolated groups need habitat-level development; PM-JANMAN (2023) targets PVTG habitations nationally.
- A positive indicator: the ST sex ratio in Chhattisgarh is above 1,000, higher than the state average, reflecting relatively balanced gender norms in tribal society.
Memory Tricks
"30-13": about a third and about an eighth
ST ≈ 30.6% (about one in three) and SC ≈ 12.8% (about one in eight). Together about 43%.
PVTGs: "A Big Bear Kept Pacing"
Abujhmaria, Baiga, Birhor, Kamar, Pahadi Korwa. Five Central PVTGs. The state-only additions are Bhunjia and Pando.
Tribes at the edges, castes in the centre
Picture the state as a sandwich again: STs in the bread (north and south hills), SCs in the filling (central plains).
Don’t Confuse
| This | vs | That |
|---|---|---|
| ST 30.62% of Chhattisgarh | ST 8.6% of India | |
| SC 12.82% of Chhattisgarh | SC 16.6% of India | |
| Article 342: ST list | Article 341: SC list | |
| Article 330: Lok Sabha reservation | Article 332: Assembly reservation | |
| Fifth Schedule: Scheduled Areas (Chhattisgarh) | Sixth Schedule: tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram | |
| Gond: largest tribe | Satnami: largest SC community | |
| Abujhmaria (PVTG) | Bison Horn Maria (not a PVTG) |
Common Mistakes
Trap 1: Chhattisgarh is not a Sixth Schedule state
Chhattisgarh’s tribal areas fall under the Fifth Schedule. The Sixth Schedule applies only to tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. Statement-based questions use this swap often.
Trap 2: highest ST share in India?
Chhattisgarh’s 30.62% is the highest among large mainland states, but not the highest in India. North-eastern states such as Mizoram, Nagaland and Meghalaya have much higher shares. Mark “Chhattisgarh has the highest ST share in India” as false.
Trap 3: largest ST population in absolute numbers
Madhya Pradesh, not Chhattisgarh, has India’s largest ST population in absolute numbers.
Trap 4: PVTG count
Chhattisgarh has five Centre-recognised PVTGs. Answers of “seven” add the two state-declared groups (Bhunjia and Pando), which are not on the central PVTG list.
Practice
These are original practice questions written in CGPSC style. They are not previous-year questions.
Level 1: Foundation
- According to Census 2011, Scheduled Tribes formed ________% and Scheduled Castes ________% of Chhattisgarh’s population.
- The largest tribe of Chhattisgarh is the ________.
- Of the 90 seats in the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha, ________ are reserved for STs and ________ for SCs.
Answers
- 30.62; 12.82
- Gond
- 29; 10
Level 2: Prelims MCQs
Q1. Consider the following statements about Chhattisgarh (Census 2011):
- The share of Scheduled Tribes in the state’s population is higher than the share of Scheduled Tribes in India’s population.
- The share of Scheduled Castes in the state’s population is higher than the share of Scheduled Castes in India’s population.
- Chhattisgarh has the largest Scheduled Tribe population of any state in absolute numbers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer and explanation
(a) 1 only. ST: 30.62% in Chhattisgarh against 8.6% in India. SC: 12.82% in Chhattisgarh against 16.6% in India, so statement 2 is wrong. Statement 3 is wrong: Madhya Pradesh has the largest ST population in absolute numbers.
Q2. Match List-I (PVTG) with List-II (Main area in Chhattisgarh):
| List-I | List-II |
|---|---|
| A. Abujhmaria | 1. Gariaband and Dhamtari |
| B. Baiga | 2. Narayanpur (Abujhmarh hills) |
| C. Kamar | 3. Jashpur and Surguja hills |
| D. Pahadi Korwa | 4. Kabirdham (Maikal range) |
(a) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3 (b) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3 (c) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2 (d) A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
Answer and explanation
(a) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3. Abujhmaria live in the Abujhmarh hills (Narayanpur); Baiga in the Maikal hills of Kabirdham and neighbouring areas; Kamar in Gariaband and Dhamtari; Pahadi Korwa in the hills of Jashpur, Surguja and Balrampur.
Q3. Which one of the following is not a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group recognised by the Centre in Chhattisgarh?
(a) Birhor (b) Kamar (c) Bhunjia (d) Baiga
Answer and explanation
(c) Bhunjia. The five Central PVTGs in Chhattisgarh are Abujhmaria, Baiga, Birhor, Kamar and Pahadi Korwa. The Bhunjia (like the Pando) are treated as special backward tribes by the state government, not on the central PVTG list.
Q4. Guru Ghasidas, founder of the Satnami panth, was born at:
(a) Bhoramdeo (b) Giraudpuri (c) Damakheda (d) Rajim
Answer and explanation
(b) Giraudpuri, now in Baloda Bazar district, in 1756. The Satnami community is the largest Scheduled Caste group in Chhattisgarh. Damakheda is associated with the Kabirpanth; Rajim and Bhoramdeo are temple sites.
Q5. Tribal areas of Chhattisgarh are administered under which provision?
(a) Sixth Schedule (b) Fifth Schedule (c) Article 371 (d) Seventh Schedule
Answer and explanation
(b) Fifth Schedule (with Article 244(1)). It provides for Scheduled Areas, a Tribes Advisory Council and special powers of the Governor. The Sixth Schedule covers tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram; Article 371 has special provisions for certain other states.
Level 3: Mains Answer Writing
Q1. Describe the distribution of Scheduled Tribe population in Chhattisgarh. (60 words)
Model answer outline
Census 2011 counted 78.23 lakh STs (30.62%) in Chhattisgarh. They are concentrated in the southern Bastar plateau (Bijapur 80.0%, Narayanpur 77.4%) and the northern hills (Surguja, Jashpur), and are sparse in the central plains. The Gond is the largest tribe. Seven of the 18 districts of 2011 were more than half tribal.
Q2. “The tribal character of Chhattisgarh’s population shapes its governance.” Examine. (150–200 words)
Model answer outline
Intro: With 30.62% ST population (Census 2011), Chhattisgarh’s governance is shaped by constitutional safeguards for tribal people.
Body:
- Representation: 29 of 90 Assembly seats and 4 of 11 Lok Sabha seats are ST-reserved (Articles 330, 332).
- Fifth Schedule: Scheduled Areas, the Tribes Advisory Council and the Governor’s special powers.
- Local self-government: PESA, 1996 and the state’s PESA rules (2022) give Gram Sabhas powers over minor forest produce, land and local resources.
- Welfare design: tribal sub-plans, minor forest produce procurement, residential schools, PVTG programmes (PM-JANMAN), health missions for sickle cell disease.
- Administrative reorganisation: smaller districts in Bastar and Surguja to bring administration closer.
- Challenges: displacement by mining, Left-Wing Extremism, and gaps in literacy and health.
Conclusion: Tribal demography makes inclusion the test of governance in Chhattisgarh; the safeguards work only when Gram Sabhas and services are effective on the ground.
Quick Revision Table
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| ST population (2011) | 78,22,902 (30.62%); about 7.5% of India’s STs |
| SC population (2011) | 32,74,269 (12.82%) |
| India comparison | ST 8.6%, SC 16.6% |
| ST concentration | Bastar plateau and northern hills; Bijapur 80.0%, Narayanpur 77.4% |
| Districts > 50% ST (2011) | 7 of 18 |
| Largest tribe | Gond |
| Central PVTGs (5) | Abujhmaria, Baiga, Birhor, Kamar, Pahadi Korwa |
| State-declared special backward | Bhunjia, Pando |
| SC concentration | Central plains |
| Largest SC community | Satnami; Guru Ghasidas (b. 1756, Giraudpuri) |
| Reserved seats | Vidhan Sabha 29 ST + 10 SC; Lok Sabha 4 ST + 1 SC |
| Tribal-area framework | Fifth Schedule, PESA 1996 (state rules 2022) |
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- STs are 30.62% and SCs 12.82% of Chhattisgarh’s population (Census 2011).
- STs live mainly in the Bastar plateau and the northern hills; SCs mainly in the central plains.
- Gond is the largest tribe; Satnami the largest SC community.
- Chhattisgarh has five Centre-recognised PVTGs.
- The numbers drive 29 ST + 10 SC Assembly seats, Fifth Schedule governance and PESA.
What’s Next
- Literacy and Sex Ratio: how tribal areas compare on education and gender
- Tribes of Chhattisgarh: culture, customs and the individual tribes
- Social Aspects of Chhattisgarh: society and social movements, including the Satnami movement
- Panchayati Raj and Local Government in Chhattisgarh: PESA and Gram Sabhas in practice
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