Tribes of Madhya Pradesh :

There are 46 recognized Scheduled Tribes in Madhya Pradesh three of which have been identified as 'Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PTGs)(formerly known as 'Special Primitive Tribal Groups'). The population of Scheduled Tribals (ST) is 21.1% of the state population (15.31 million out of 72.62 million), according to the 2011 census. Bounded by the Narmada River to the north and the Godavari River to the southeast, tribal peoples occupy the slopes of the region's mountains.

The term "Scheduled Tribes" refers to specific indigenous peoples whose status is acknowledged to by the Constitution of India. The term Adivasi also applies to indigenous peoples of this area.

The south and the south-eastern parts of the state of Madhya Pradesh have the largest concentration of the tribal population. It further stretches out to the western part of the state including Jhabua district, Dhar district, Barwani district and Khargone district. The major tribes of Madhya Pradesh are as follows:

Bharia Tribes : Bharia tribe is one of the most ancient tribe which has resided mainly in the forest areas. These tribal groups are reckoned as scheduled tribes. The people of this tribal community are known for their usage of medicinal plants to treat different kinds of diseases.

Binjhwar Tribes : Binjhwar tribe is another tribal group of the state of Madhya Pradesh. The people of this group are adept in making jewellery from cane, grass or beads.

Gond Tribes : Gond tribe stands first in terms of population not only in the state but also among the other major tribes of India. They are mainly found in Vindhya hills and Satpura mountain range. Gond tribal people mostly live in the jungle and hills. The Gond inhabitants are working in agricultural fields and hunting. They collect wild fruits and herbs from the jungle for their livelihood.

Bhil Tribes : Bhil tribe is third largest tribes in India and second one in Madhya Pradesh. The habitat of Bhil tribes is found mostly in Dhar district, Jhabua district and West Nimar district.

Boneya Tribes : Another tribe of Madhya Pradesh is the Boneya tribe and they are also identified in different names like Bondeya, Korki, Korku, Bopchi, Ramekhera, Kuri, Kurku-Ruma and form a major part of Madhya Pradesh.

Damaria Tribes : Damaria tribes, has got an enriched heritage of cultural embellishment as highlighted in wedding rites, dwellings, clothes, etc. This tribal group shares a close affinity with the Rajputs and exhibit brilliance in art and craft.

Kawar Tribes : One of the known tribes in this state is the Kawar tribe and they are thought to have descended from the family line of the Kaurava rulers.

Kolam Tribes : A multitude of Kolam tribe, also identified as Kolamboli, Kulme and Kolmi, has settled down in every corner of the state of Madhya Pradesh. As per their past history, these Kolam tribes even worked as priests in the 12th Century. They are engaged in food collection, farming, etc. in order to meet their regular need.

Majhi Tribes : Majhi tribe makes boat in order to sustain their livelihood. They have got identifiable Mongoloid features and are the practitioners of Tantrik religion.

Saharia Tribes : This tribe inhabits in Shivpuri district and Morena district. Saharia tribes mainly worships of Goddess Durga. Mouth-watering dishes, multihued festivals as well as variety of religious exercises are what enable the ritual and culture of these Saharia tribes. The society of this tribe is divided in several sub groups.

Korku Tribe : The Korku are an Adivasi ethnic group predominantly found in the Khandwa, Burhanpur, Betul and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas near the Melghat Tiger Reserve of Maharashtra. They speak the Korku language, which is a member of the Munda languages and is written using Devanagari. They are classified as a Scheduled Tribe by the Indian government.

                Tribes of Madhya Pradesh have preserved their culture and tradition despite outside cultural influence. Their culture is distinguished by the composite remains of the Scythian and Dravidian culture. The prevalent religion of the tribes of Madhya Pradesh is Animism. The tribes of Madhya Pradesh live in the primitive stage and far away from the main stream of the development. Mostly, they live in the forests and are fully dependent on the forest products, herbs, wood, etc. for their livelihood. The tribal population of Madhya Pradesh has carried on the practice of farming and cultivation. In order to supplement their income, some of these tribal groups become labourers in factories, industries etc.