Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and the Shompen
India designates 75 communities as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) — the most marginalised among Scheduled Tribes, characterised by pre-agricultural technology, stagnant or declining population, extremely low literacy, and subsistence-level economies. The Shompen of Great Nicobar are a PVTG — numbering approximately 300 individuals, they are among the last largely uncontacted peoples in India. The Forest Rights Act 2006 grants tribal communities rights over forest lands they have traditionally occupied, including community forest resource rights. The Shompen have not been consulted on the project despite FRA mandates.
- PVTGs: 75 communities across 18 states/UTs (designated by MoTA)
- Shompen population: ~300 individuals; Great Nicobar Island is their only known habitat
- Forest Rights Act, 2006: recognises individual and community rights of forest-dwelling tribals; Section 5 empowers them to protect and manage forests
- PESA (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996: grants tribal Gram Sabhas authority over land management and natural resources in Schedule V areas
- The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are Union Territory — tribal protections under A&N Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation, 1956 also apply
● Tracked since March 20, 2026 · last seen May 01, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
See it in today’s brief.
Daily current affairs with every static concept explained in place.
Read the daily brief