Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah addresses the ‘Janjati Sanskritik Samagam’ organised in New Delhi on the occasion of the 150thbirth anniversary year of Bhagwan Birsa Munda as the Chief Gue...

1. At a Glance

• Janjati Sanskritik Samagam held in New Delhi (24 May 2026) as a national tribal cultural conclave marking the 150th birth anniversary year of Bhagwan Birsa Munda (b. 15 Nov 1875) [S1][S2].
• Anchored in the government's tribal-empowerment narrative: PESA, PM-JANMAN, DAJGUA, and the Janjatiya Gaurav Divas framework [S2][S3][S4].
• UPSC value: intersection of GS-I (modern history – tribal revolts), GS-II (5th Schedule, PESA, welfare schemes) and GS-III (Left-Wing Extremism, inclusive development).

2. Why in the News

• 24 May 2026: HM Amit Shah addressed the Janjati Sanskritik Samagam at New Delhi as Chief Guest, calling it a "Mahakumbh of tribal communities" in the 150th birth-anniversary year of Birsa Munda [S1].
• Government claimed tribal welfare budget raised from ₹28,000 cr to ₹1.5 lakh cr (fivefold), and reiterated tribals are kept outside UCC purview [S1].

3. Background & Evolution

• Birsa Munda (1875–1900): Munda tribal leader; led the Ulgulan ("Great Tumult") 1899–1900 against British land laws (zamindari, dikus) and forced conversions; demanded restoration of Khuntkatti community land tenure [S2].
• 15 November declared Janjatiya Gaurav Divas in 2021 (Cabinet, Nov 2021) on his birth anniversary [S2].
• 2024-25 → Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh marking the 150th anniversary year; commencement event launched by PM Modi on 15 Nov 2024 at Jamui, Bihar [S2].
• Phase-I commemoration (1-15 Nov 2025) combined with 150 years of Vande Mataram [S2].

4. Core Static Facts

• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA); Janjati Gaurav Divas observed since 2021 [S2].
• PESA Act, 1996 – Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act; extends Part IX of Constitution to Fifth Schedule areas of 10 States: Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana [S3].
• 8 of 10 PESA states have notified State PESA Rules; Jharkhand and Odisha pending [S3].
• MoTA Budget: ₹7,511.64 cr (2023-24) → ₹10,237.33 cr (2024-25) → ₹14,925.81 cr (2025-26) [S4].
• PM-JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan): launched 15 Nov 2023; outlay ₹24,104 cr for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) [S4].
• DAJGUA (Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan): ₹79,156 cr (Centre ₹56,333 cr + State ₹22,823 cr), 63,843 villages, 17 ministries, 25 interventions; 2025-26 allocation quadrupled ₹500 cr → ₹2,000 cr [S4].
• Constitutional anchors: Article 244 + Fifth Schedule (Scheduled Areas), Sixth Schedule (NE tribal areas), Articles 342, 275(1), 338A (NCST).

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Social - Targets PVTGs (75 groups across 18 States/UT) via PM-JANMAN; explicit UCC carve-out preserves customary tribal personal law [S1][S4]. - Recognises Jal-Jangal-Zameen as core of tribal identity [S1].

Legal / Constitutional - PESA operationalises Gram Sabha primacy in Scheduled Areas (consultation on land acquisition, minor minerals, MFP, alcohol regulation) [S3]. - UCC exclusion respects Article 25/26 and customary law of Scheduled Tribes [S1].

Administrative - Implementation gap: state-level rules pending in Jharkhand & Odisha (Birsa Munda's home region ironically still without notified PESA rules) [S3]. - PESA Cell under Ministry of Panchayati Raj for translation and outreach in tribal languages [S1].

Strategic (Internal Security) - Government claim of declining Left-Wing Extremism; HM cited >40,000 tribal lives lost historically to Naxal violence [S1].

Historical - Ulgulan a precursor to later Adivasi assertions (Santhal Hool 1855, Tana Bhagat); Birsa is the only tribal leader whose portrait hangs in Parliament's Central Hall [S2].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 15 Nov 2024: PM Modi launched 150th birth-anniversary year of Birsa Munda at Jamui; commemorative coin & stamp released [S2].
• Union Budget 2025-26: MoTA outlay raised to ₹14,925.81 cr; DAJGUA share quadrupled [S4].
• Nov 2025: Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh Pakhwada (1-15 Nov 2025) concluded Phase-I commemoration along with Vande Mataram @150 [S2].
• 24 May 2026: Janjati Sanskritik Samagam, New Delhi – HM Amit Shah keynote [S1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Birsa Munda born 15 November 1875, Ulihatu, Jharkhand [S2].
• His movement: Ulgulan (1899-1900); demanded Khuntkatti land system [S2].
• Janjatiya Gaurav Divas declared by Union Cabinet in 2021; observed annually on 15 November [S2].
• PESA Act enacted in 1996 to extend Part IX to Fifth Schedule areas [S3].
• PESA covers 10 States; 8 have notified rules; Jharkhand & Odisha pending [S3].
• PM-JANMAN launched 15 Nov 2023; outlay ₹24,104 cr; targets PVTGs [S4].
• DAJGUA covers 63,843 villages, outlay ₹79,156 cr, 17 ministries, 25 interventions [S4].
• MoTA budget 2025-26: ₹14,925.81 crore [S4].
• Tribal communities excluded from Uniform Civil Code purview as per government [S1].
• Constitutional basis for Scheduled Areas: Article 244(1) + Fifth Schedule (non-NE); 244(2) + Sixth Schedule (Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram).
• NCST set up under Article 338A (89th Amendment, 2003).
• 11 Tribal Freedom Fighters' Museums sanctioned by MoTA across India [S2].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-I: Modern Indian History – tribal uprisings; Ulgulan as anti-colonial assertion.
• GS-II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections; constitutional provisions for STs; Fifth Schedule & PESA implementation; UCC debate.
• GS-III: Inclusive development; Left-Wing Extremism.

Possible stems: 1. "Despite PESA, 1996, tribal self-governance in Fifth Schedule areas remains aspirational." Critically examine. 2. "Birsa Munda's Ulgulan was as much a religious reform movement as a political one." Discuss. 3. Evaluate the architecture of PM-JANMAN and DAJGUA in addressing PVTG marginalisation.

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Fifth & Sixth Schedules – constitutional asymmetric governance for tribal areas.
• Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA) – complements PESA on community resource rights.
• NCST & Article 338A – institutional safeguards.
• PVTGs – 75 communities; criteria & list.
• Santhal Hool 1855, Kol revolt, Tana Bhagat movement – comparative tribal resistance.
• Left-Wing Extremism / SAMADHAN strategy – overlaps tribal geography.
• Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) – MoTA flagship education scheme.
• Tribes India / TRIFED – MFP & MSP for minor forest produce.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• PESA is administered by Ministry of Panchayati Raj, not MoTA [S3].
• Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (15 Nov) ≠ World Indigenous Peoples Day (9 Aug, UN).
• PESA applies only to Fifth Schedule areas (10 states) — NOT Sixth Schedule NE states.
• PM-JANMAN targets PVTGs specifically; DAJGUA targets all tribal villages — don't conflate.
• Birsa Munda died at age 25 in Ranchi Jail (1900), not executed by hanging.

11. Sources

• [S1] User-supplied PIB excerpt: HM Amit Shah at Janjati Sanskritik Samagam, 24 May 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2264860 — (tier 1)
• [S2] PIB – Janjatiya Gaurav Divas / 150th BM anniversary releases (PRIDs 2189915, 2073608, 2190336, 2073652, 2190094, 2073620) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2189915 — (tier 1)
• [S3] PIB – PESA Act implementation & Mahotsav (PRIDs 2207293, 2058666, 1845365) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2207293 — (tier 1)
• [S4] PIB – Empowering Tribes, Union Budget 2025 (PRID 2098853); DAJGUA/PM-JANMAN (PRID 2202377) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2098853 — (tier 1)