Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes – Classification Issue

On December 2025, the Union Government informed Rajya Sabha that it is not considering any proposal to classify denotified (DNT), nomadic (NT), and semi-nomadic tribes (SNT) afresh into SC/ST/OBC categories.

This comes despite multiple commissions and studies recommending reclassification.

Communities historically labelled as “criminal tribes” under the colonial Criminal Tribes Act, 1871.

After independence, the Act was repealed in 1952, and these groups were “denotified”.

Many continued to face stigma, lack of documentation, exclusion from education, employment, and welfare schemes.

A key challenge is misclassification or non-classification, leaving many without access to SC/ST/OBC quotas.

Official name: National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (Chair: Bhiku Ramji Idate).

Key recommendations:

• Need for proper and uniform classification into SC/ST/OBC categories.

• Creation of a permanent board for the welfare of DNTs.

• Targeted schemes due to extreme marginalisation.

Established under the Ministry of Social Justice.

Mandate: Welfare planning, data consolidation, and implementation of targeted schemes.

Entrusted with classification work, delegated to NITI Aayog, which commissioned AnSI.

Studied 268 communities believed to have never been classified properly.

Recommendations:

• Fresh classification for 85 communities.

• Reclassification for 9 communities.

• Several communities found partially classified across States (classified as OBC in one State, ST in another, etc.).

Purpose: Enable them to access reservation benefits and certificates.

Social Justice Ministry informed Rajya Sabha:

• “There is no proposal under consideration.”

Government continues with the SEED scheme but not with classification.

Lack of community certificates in many States.

Many communities remain ineligible for SC/ST/OBC benefits due to misplaced or absent classification.

Civil society organisations demand:

• Recognition as a separate scheduled category, parallel to SC/ST/OBC.

• Reason: Extreme socio-economic marginalisation and historical stigma.

DNT/NT/SNT communities are highly diverse across regions.

Historically mobile; documentation gaps persist.

Overlaps with existing SC/ST/OBC lists, making reclassification politically sensitive.

Constitutional reservation lists require Parliamentary amendment, making the process slow and complex.

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE)

Implemented through the Development and Welfare Board for DNT/NT/SNT (DWBDNC)

To provide comprehensive welfare and livelihood support to Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DNT/NT/SNT).

To bring historically marginalised communities into the mainstream economy.

To address gaps arising from lack of classification and poor access to existing government schemes.

Financial assistance for school, college, and professional education.

Free coaching for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, banking, railways, etc.

Scholarships for students pursuing higher studies.

Assistance for construction of pucca houses for houseless families belonging to DNT/NT/SNT communities.

Works in convergence with PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana).

Skill development and vocational training.

Seed capital for small businesses, enterprises, traditional occupations.

Linkage with credit facilities and entrepreneurship programmes.

Coverage through Ayushman Bharat – PM-JAY.

Ensures hospitalisation benefits for vulnerable families.

Single-window online portal for:

• Registration of beneficiaries

• Document verification

• Tracking of benefits

Ensures transparency and easier access.

₹200 crore outlay for 5 years.

Target beneficiaries: about 10 lakh households from DNT/NT/SNT communities.

Lack of proper classification of DNT/NT/SNT communities in most states—making community certificates difficult.

Low awareness among beneficiaries.

Administrative delays and poor documentation.

Digital divide affecting online registration.

Addresses historical stigma of being labelled as "criminal tribes".

Provides multi-dimensional support—education, livelihood, housing, and health.

Essential for socio-economic inclusion of one of the most marginalised groups in India.