In India, certain tribal groups are identified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) due to their extreme vulnerability and backwardness compared to other Scheduled Tribes (STs). This classification aims to provide focused development interventions for these most marginalized communities.

Identifying Criteria for PVTGs:

The concept of Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) was first introduced by the Dhebar Commission in 1960-61. In 2006, the Government of India renamed PTGs to PVTGs to remove the pejorative connotation of 'primitive' and emphasize their vulnerability. The identifying criteria, based on the recommendations of the Dhebar Commission and subsequent refinements, are:

1. Pre-agricultural level of technology: This implies that the group primarily practices hunting-gathering, shifting cultivation (slash-and-burn agriculture), or relies on primitive forms of agriculture, indicating a subsistence-level economy with limited technological advancement.
2. Stagnant or declining population: This is a critical demographic indicator of their vulnerability. Unlike most populations that show growth, PVTGs often exhibit stable, declining, or very slow growth rates, sometimes due to high mortality, low fertility, or out-migration.
3. Extremely low literacy rate: Their literacy levels are significantly lower than the national or state average, and often even lower than the general Scheduled Tribe population, indicating limited access to education and formal learning.
4. Subsistence level economy: Their economy is largely non-monetized, characterized by a high dependence on natural resources (forests, land) for survival, minimal surplus production, and limited integration into the mainstream market economy.

These four criteria collectively distinguish PVTGs from other Scheduled Tribes, highlighting their unique challenges and the urgent need for targeted support.

Current Status, Nomenclature, and Distribution:

1. Nomenclature: Initially termed 'Primitive Tribal Groups' (PTGs), this nomenclature was changed to 'Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups' (PVTGs) in 2006. This change reflected a more sensitive and rights-based approach, emphasizing their vulnerability rather than a perceived 'primitiveness', and aligning with a development-oriented perspective.

2. Current Status:

   • As of now, there are 75 PVTGs identified across 18 States and 1 Union Territory (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) in India.
   • These groups represent the most marginalized and vulnerable sections of the tribal population, facing severe challenges such as extreme poverty, malnutrition, high disease burden, lack of access to basic healthcare and education, land alienation, exploitation, and cultural erosion.
   • Many PVTGs are on the verge of extinction, with their unique languages and cultural practices under severe threat.
   • The Ministry of Tribal Affairs implements a dedicated scheme, 'Scheme for Development of PVTGs,' which focuses on their overall socio-economic development through activities like housing, land development, agricultural development, health, education, and cultural preservation.

3. Distribution: PVTGs are geographically dispersed, often residing in remote, isolated, and ecologically fragile areas, reflecting their historical isolation and dependence on specific ecological niches. The distribution is as follows:

   • Odisha has the highest number of PVTGs (13).
   • Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana) has 12 PVTGs.
   • Bihar/Jharkhand has 9 PVTGs.
   • Madhya Pradesh/Chhattisgarh has 7 PVTGs.
   • Tamil Nadu has 6 PVTGs.
   • Kerala and Gujarat each have 5 PVTGs.
   • Andaman & Nicobar Islands has 5 PVTGs (e.g., Jarawas, Sentinelese, Onges, Great Andamanese, Shompen).
   • Maharashtra has 3 PVTGs.
   • West Bengal has 3 PVTGs.
   • Karnataka and Uttarakhand each have 2 PVTGs.
   • Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, and Manipur each have 1 PVTG.

   Examples of prominent PVTGs include the Bonda, Dongria Kondh (Odisha); Birhor, Asur (Jharkhand); Cholanaikkan (Kerala); Toda (Tamil Nadu); and the particularly isolated Sentinelese and Jarawas of the Andaman Islands. Their scattered distribution underscores the diverse challenges and unique needs that require highly localized and culturally sensitive development approaches.