MPESB Group · Bite-size lessons
Tribes of MP
About 6 min · Madhya Pradesh General Knowledge · English
Time worked out from the lesson's 347 words at 150 words a minute, plus a minute for each question.
Madhya Pradesh has the largest tribal population in India, with approximately 21.1% of its total population (over 1.53 crore people) belonging to Scheduled Tribes. The state is home to 46 recognized tribal communities, of which three—Baiga, Bharia, and Sahariya—are classified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Understanding tribal demographics, culture, and government welfare schemes is essential for MPESB exams.
Key ideas
- Largest Tribal Population: MP ranks first in India in absolute tribal numbers. Bhil is the largest tribe in MP, followed by Gond.
- Geographical Concentration: Tribal population is densest in districts like Jhabua, Alirajpur, Dindori, Mandla, Barwani, and Dhar. Eastern MP (Vindhyan-Satpura belt) and western MP (Gujarat border) are tribal heartlands.
- Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs): Three tribes in MP—Baiga, Bharia, and Sahariya—have PVTG status due to pre-agricultural technology, low literacy, and declining population.
- Livelihood Patterns: Traditional occupations include shifting cultivation (bewar/dahiya), forest produce collection, hunting, and animal husbandry. Modern economic integration remains a challenge.
- Language: Most tribes speak dialects of Hindi or regional languages—Gondi (Gond), Bhili (Bhil), and variations of local Hindi (Baiga, Sahariya).
Watch out for
- Confusing largest tribe nationally vs. in MP → Bhil is India's largest tribe overall, and in MP too Bhil is the largest, with Gond second.
- Mixing up PVTG list → Students often add Gond or Korku to the PVTG list. Remember: only Baiga, Bharia, and Sahariya have PVTG status in MP.
- Bhagoria attributed to wrong tribe → Bhagoria Haat is exclusively a Bhil festival, not Gond or Baiga. It's a unique marriage market held before Holi.
Quick reference
- Largest tribe in MP: Bhil; 2nd largest: Gond
- 3 PVTGs of MP: Baiga, Bharia, Sahariya (remember: "BBS")
- Bhagoria Haat: Bhil marriage fair before Holi in Jhabua-Alirajpur
- Bewar/Dahiya: Baiga shifting cultivation; ploughing considered taboo
- Highest tribal % district: Alirajpur (about 89%; Jhabua about 87%)
Check yourself: 3 questions
1. Which tribe is the largest tribal community in Madhya Pradesh?
2. The Sahariya tribe, recognized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Madhya Pradesh, is mainly concentrated in which district?
3. What is the traditional dance form of the Baiga tribe of Madhya Pradesh?
This lesson is cut from the topic's note, not rewritten. Fact-checked on 17 Oct 2026: an AI-assisted check of this note against cited sources; the errors it found were corrected that day. Some errors may remain. The questions are from Shishya's validated question bank.
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