This one-page sheet covers the tribes of Chhattisgarh: who they are, where they live, the PVTGs, tribal institutions and the safeguards. For explanations, read [Major Tribes](/chhattisgarh/tribes/major-tribes-distribution/), [PVTGs](/chhattisgarh/tribes/pvtgs/), [Social Organisation and Ghotul](/chhattisgarh/tribes/social-organisation-ghotul/) and [Development and Safeguards](/chhattisgarh/tribes/development-constitutional-safeguards/).

{{< callout type="tip" title="How to use this sheet" >}}
Scan top to bottom the week before Prelims. Bold lines are the facts examiners return to most often.
{{< /callout >}}

## Timeline / Key Facts

### Numbers (Census 2011)

| Fact | Detail |
|------|--------|
| **ST population** | **About 78.2 lakh (78,22,902); 30.6% of the state** |
| Notified tribes | About **42** (commonly cited; list amended after 2022) |
| **Largest tribes** | **Gond** (over half of STs) > **Kanwar (Kawar)** > **Oraon** |
| Highest ST share (2011 districts) | Bijapur (~80%), Narayanpur (~77%), Dantewada (~77%) |
| Lowest ST shares | Central plains (Janjgir-Champa, Raipur, Durg) |
| ST list change | Cabinet approved 12 communities (Dhanuhar, Kisan, Saonra, Binjhia etc.) on 14 Sept 2022; bill passed by Lok Sabha (Dec 2022) and by Rajya Sabha with amendments (July 2023) |

### Where they live

| Belt | Tribes |
|------|--------|
| **South (Bastar division)** | **Muria** (Kondagaon, Narayanpur), **Abujhmaria** (Abujhmarh), **Bison-horn Maria** (Dantewada, Bijapur), **Halba** (Kanker, Bastar), **Bhatra**, **Dhurwa**, **Dorla** (Sukma, Bijapur) |
| **North (Surguja, Korba, Raigarh)** | **Oraon** (Jashpur), **Kanwar** (Korba), **Korwa / Pahadi Korwa**, Nagesia, **Pando**, **Birhor** (Raigarh), Majhwar |
| **Centre (Maikal, south-east)** | **Baiga** (Kabirdham), **Kamar** and **Bhunjia** (Gariaband), Binjhwar, Sawara; **Gond** everywhere |

### Languages

| Family | Languages |
|--------|-----------|
| Dravidian | **Gondi**, **Kurukh** (Oraon), Dhurwa/Parji |
| Austroasiatic (Munda) | **Korwa**, Kharia, Birhor |
| Indo-Aryan | **Halbi** (link language of Bastar), Bhatri |

### PVTGs

| Fact | Detail |
|------|--------|
| Criteria | Pre-agricultural technology, low literacy, stagnant/declining population, subsistence economy |
| History | Dhebar Commission 1960–61 → **PTG 1973** → **PVTG 2006** |
| India | **75** PVTGs in 18 states + A&N |
| **CG central (5)** | **Abujhmaria, Baiga, Birhor, Kamar, Pahadi Korwa** |
| **CG state-declared (2)** | **Bhunjia, Pando** |
| Cultivation terms | *Penda* (Abujhmaria), *bewar* (Baiga) |
| Habitat rights (FRA Sec. 3(1)(e)) | **Kamar** and **Baiga**, 2023 |
| **PM-JANMAN** | **15 Nov 2023, Khunti**; 75 PVTGs; **₹24,104 crore** (2023-26); 11 interventions, 9 ministries |

### Social organisation and Ghotul

| Fact | Detail |
|------|--------|
| Kinship | **Clan exogamy, tribal endogamy**; totemic clans (Oraon: Lakra tiger, Ekka tortoise, Minj fish) |
| Marriage forms | **Lamsena** (service), **Dudh Lautawa** (cross-cousin), **Gurawat** (exchange), **Paithul** (intrusion), **Udhariya** (elopement); bride price |
| Village offices | Patel, Gaita (priest), Siraha (medium), Gunia (healer), Majhi (pargana head), Kotwar |
| Oraon | Pahan, Mahto, Parha; Dharmes; Sarna |
| Gond | Bada Dev (saja tree); Lingo Pen |
| **Ghotul** | **Muria**; boys **chelik**, girls **motiari**; leaders **Siredar** and **Belosa**; founder **Lingo Pen** |
| Books | **Elwin**, *The Muria and Their Ghotul* (1947); **Grigson**, *The Maria Gonds of Bastar* (1938) |
| Other dormitories | **Dhumkuria** (Oraon), Morung (Naga), Giti-ora (Ho, Munda) |
| Muria Darbar | Closing assembly of the 75-day Bastar Dussehra |

### Safeguards and development

| Fact | Detail |
|------|--------|
| ST list | Art. 342; definition Art. 366(25) |
| **Tribal welfare minister** | **Art. 164(1) proviso: CG, Jharkhand, MP, Odisha** (94th Amendment, 2006) |
| Scheduled Areas | Art. 244(1), **Fifth Schedule**; TAC up to 20 (3/4 ST MLAs); no Sixth Schedule in CG |
| Grants | Art. 275(1) |
| **NCST** | **Art. 338A, 89th Amendment (2003)** |
| Commissions (Art. 339) | Dhebar (1960–61), Bhuria (2002–04) |
| Seats | Arts 330, 332; valid to 25 Jan 2030 (104th Amendment); **CG: 29/90 Assembly, 4/11 Lok Sabha** |
| ST Lok Sabha seats | Bastar, Kanker, Raigarh, Surguja |
| PESA | 24 Dec 1996; **CG Rules 8 Aug 2022** |
| Scheduled Area coverage | 13 districts fully, 6 partly (MoPR data, Dec 2025) |
| Janjatiya Gaurav Divas | **15 November** (Birsa Munda), since 2021 |
| **Dharti Aaba Abhiyan** | **2 Oct 2024, Hazaribagh**; ₹79,156 crore; ~63,000 villages; 17 ministries, 25 interventions |
| Tribal museum | Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Memorial and Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum, Nava Raipur, **1 Nov 2025** |

## Don't Confuse

| This | vs | That |
|------|----|------|
| **Kanwar**: 2nd-largest ST, Korba | | **Kamar**: PVTG, Gariaband |
| **Pando**: Pandava descent claim (state-declared PVTG) | | **Kanwar**: Kaurava descent claim |
| **Muria**: Ghotul | | **Oraon**: Dhumkuria |
| **Abujhmaria**: PVTG | | **Bison-horn Maria**: not a PVTG |
| **Halbi**: Indo-Aryan | | **Kurukh**: Dravidian |
| **Lamsena**: service | | **Udhariya**: elopement |
| **Siredar**: boys' leader | | **Belosa**: girls' leader |
| **Art. 338**: NCSC | | **Art. 338A**: NCST |
| **PM-JANMAN** (2023): PVTGs | | **Dharti Aaba** (2024): tribal-majority villages |
| **PESA 1996** | | **CG PESA Rules 2022** |

{{< callout type="warning" title="Favourite MCQ trap" >}}
Watch for four swaps: **Bhunjia or Pando** offered as a *central* PVTG (they are state-declared), **Oraon** offered as the second-largest tribe (it is **Kanwar**), the **Ghotul** credited to the Oraon or Baiga (it is **Muria**), and **Bihar** in the Article 164 list (replaced by Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand in 2006).
{{< /callout >}}

---
Source: https://cgpscnotes.in/chhattisgarh/tribes/quick-revision/

Chhattisgarh Tribes of Chhattisgarh

Tribes of Chhattisgarh — Quick Revision

One-page CGPSC quick revision for Tribes of Chhattisgarh — every date, name and fact in tables for last-minute Prelims and Mains revision.

4 min read Updated Oct 2026 #quick revision#cgpsc

This one-page sheet covers the tribes of Chhattisgarh: who they are, where they live, the PVTGs, tribal institutions and the safeguards. For explanations, read Major Tribes, PVTGs, Social Organisation and Ghotul and Development and Safeguards.

How to use this sheet

Scan top to bottom the week before Prelims. Bold lines are the facts examiners return to most often.

Timeline / Key Facts

Numbers (Census 2011)

Fact	Detail
ST population	About 78.2 lakh (78,22,902); 30.6% of the state
Notified tribes	About 42 (commonly cited; list amended after 2022)
Largest tribes	Gond (over half of STs) > Kanwar (Kawar) > Oraon
Highest ST share (2011 districts)	Bijapur (~80%), Narayanpur (~77%), Dantewada (~77%)
Lowest ST shares	Central plains (Janjgir-Champa, Raipur, Durg)
ST list change	Cabinet approved 12 communities (Dhanuhar, Kisan, Saonra, Binjhia etc.) on 14 Sept 2022; bill passed by Lok Sabha (Dec 2022) and by Rajya Sabha with amendments (July 2023)

Where they live

Belt	Tribes
South (Bastar division)	Muria (Kondagaon, Narayanpur), Abujhmaria (Abujhmarh), Bison-horn Maria (Dantewada, Bijapur), Halba (Kanker, Bastar), Bhatra, Dhurwa, Dorla (Sukma, Bijapur)
North (Surguja, Korba, Raigarh)	Oraon (Jashpur), Kanwar (Korba), Korwa / Pahadi Korwa, Nagesia, Pando, Birhor (Raigarh), Majhwar
Centre (Maikal, south-east)	Baiga (Kabirdham), Kamar and Bhunjia (Gariaband), Binjhwar, Sawara; Gond everywhere

Languages

Family	Languages
Dravidian	Gondi, Kurukh (Oraon), Dhurwa/Parji
Austroasiatic (Munda)	Korwa, Kharia, Birhor
Indo-Aryan	Halbi (link language of Bastar), Bhatri

PVTGs

Fact	Detail
Criteria	Pre-agricultural technology, low literacy, stagnant/declining population, subsistence economy
History	Dhebar Commission 1960–61 → PTG 1973 → PVTG 2006
India	75 PVTGs in 18 states + A&N
CG central (5)	Abujhmaria, Baiga, Birhor, Kamar, Pahadi Korwa
CG state-declared (2)	Bhunjia, Pando
Cultivation terms	Penda (Abujhmaria), bewar (Baiga)
Habitat rights (FRA Sec. 3(1)(e))	Kamar and Baiga, 2023
PM-JANMAN	15 Nov 2023, Khunti; 75 PVTGs; ₹24,104 crore (2023-26); 11 interventions, 9 ministries

Fact	Detail
Kinship	Clan exogamy, tribal endogamy; totemic clans (Oraon: Lakra tiger, Ekka tortoise, Minj fish)
Marriage forms	Lamsena (service), Dudh Lautawa (cross-cousin), Gurawat (exchange), Paithul (intrusion), Udhariya (elopement); bride price
Village offices	Patel, Gaita (priest), Siraha (medium), Gunia (healer), Majhi (pargana head), Kotwar
Oraon	Pahan, Mahto, Parha; Dharmes; Sarna
Gond	Bada Dev (saja tree); Lingo Pen
Ghotul	Muria; boys chelik, girls motiari; leaders Siredar and Belosa; founder Lingo Pen
Books	Elwin, The Muria and Their Ghotul (1947); Grigson, The Maria Gonds of Bastar (1938)
Other dormitories	Dhumkuria (Oraon), Morung (Naga), Giti-ora (Ho, Munda)
Muria Darbar	Closing assembly of the 75-day Bastar Dussehra

Safeguards and development

Fact	Detail
ST list	Art. 342; definition Art. 366(25)
Tribal welfare minister	Art. 164(1) proviso: CG, Jharkhand, MP, Odisha (94th Amendment, 2006)
Scheduled Areas	Art. 244(1), Fifth Schedule; TAC up to 20 (3/4 ST MLAs); no Sixth Schedule in CG
Grants	Art. 275(1)
NCST	Art. 338A, 89th Amendment (2003)
Commissions (Art. 339)	Dhebar (1960–61), Bhuria (2002–04)
Seats	Arts 330, 332; valid to 25 Jan 2030 (104th Amendment); CG: 29/90 Assembly, 4/11 Lok Sabha
ST Lok Sabha seats	Bastar, Kanker, Raigarh, Surguja
PESA	24 Dec 1996; CG Rules 8 Aug 2022
Scheduled Area coverage	13 districts fully, 6 partly (MoPR data, Dec 2025)
Janjatiya Gaurav Divas	15 November (Birsa Munda), since 2021
Dharti Aaba Abhiyan	2 Oct 2024, Hazaribagh; ₹79,156 crore; ~63,000 villages; 17 ministries, 25 interventions
Tribal museum	Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Memorial and Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum, Nava Raipur, 1 Nov 2025

Don’t Confuse

This	vs	That
Kanwar: 2nd-largest ST, Korba		Kamar: PVTG, Gariaband
Pando: Pandava descent claim (state-declared PVTG)		Kanwar: Kaurava descent claim
Muria: Ghotul		Oraon: Dhumkuria
Abujhmaria: PVTG		Bison-horn Maria: not a PVTG
Halbi: Indo-Aryan		Kurukh: Dravidian
Lamsena: service		Udhariya: elopement
Siredar: boys’ leader		Belosa: girls’ leader
Art. 338: NCSC		Art. 338A: NCST
PM-JANMAN (2023): PVTGs		Dharti Aaba (2024): tribal-majority villages
PESA 1996		CG PESA Rules 2022

Favourite MCQ trap

Watch for four swaps: Bhunjia or Pando offered as a central PVTG (they are state-declared), Oraon offered as the second-largest tribe (it is Kanwar), the Ghotul credited to the Oraon or Baiga (it is Muria), and Bihar in the Article 164 list (replaced by Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand in 2006).

Advertisement