Jarawas Tribe in Census

Context:

The Government of India has announced that the 16th Census of India will be held in two phases beginning in 2026, and experts say it will be possible to include even remote tribal groups like the Jarawas in the exercise, despite their isolated and protected status.

About Jawawas

The Jarawas are one of the six indigenous tribes of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) by the Government of India.
They are among the oldest surviving hunter-gatherer communities in the world, believed to be direct descendants of the first humans who migrated out of Africa nearly 50,000–60,000 years ago.
The Jarawas live in the South and Middle Andaman Islands, especially within the Jarawa Tribal Reserve (JTR).
Their forest homeland is legally protected and largely inaccessible to outsiders without government permission under the Andaman and Nicobar Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation (ANPATR), 1956.
Population: Around 400–500 individuals. They live in small nomadic bands of 40–50 people, moving between seasonal camps.
They are recognised as a Scheduled Tribe (ST) under the Constitution and protected under:
- ANPATR, 1956: Prohibits entry of outsiders into tribal reserves without permission.
- Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006: Provides community and habitat rights.
- Biological Diversity Act, 2002: Recognises traditional knowledge and biodiversity of tribes.

Fact Box: About PVTGs

PVTGs are the most vulnerable and backward tribes in India.
There are 75 PVTGs in 18 States and 1 Union Territory (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
Key Features:
- Pre-agricultural level of technology
- Low literacy
- Economic backwardness
- Declining/stagnant population
Examples:
- Jarawa, Onge, Great Andamanese (Andaman & Nicobar)
- Bonda, DongriaKondh (Odisha)
- Baiga (MP), Chenchu (AP/Telangana), Birhor (Jharkhand)

Other Tribes of Andaman & Nicobar

Tribe	Group	Key Details
Jarawas	Negrito	Hunter-gatherers; South & Middle Andamans
Great Andamanese	Negrito	Originally 10 tribes; now 50 individuals
Onge	Negrito	Live in Little Andaman
Sentinelese	Negrito	Hostile to outsiders; live in North Sentinel Island
Nicobarese	Mongoloid	Settled agriculturists; majority tribe in Nicobar
Shompens	Mongoloid	Nomadic; live in Great Nicobar forests