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Denotified, nomadic tribes form national federation, seek separate column in 2027 Census

March 16, 2026 4 min read Social Issues Polity & Governance GS1 GS2
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What Happened

  • Representatives of Denotified Tribes (DNTs), Nomadic Tribes (NTs), and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (SNTs) from across India announced the formation of the "DNT–NT Federation of India" following a national consultation held in Delhi on March 14–15, 2026.
  • The federation formally demanded a separate column with a unique caste code for NT-DNT communities in the 2027 Census, arguing that without census enumeration, these communities cannot access their proportionate share of welfare benefits.
  • Community leaders warned of a nationwide democratic movement and potential boycott of census enumeration if the government does not add a separate column.
  • Additional demands include 10% reservation in government employment and political representation, land rights, permanent housing, and dedicated budgetary allocations for NT-DNT development.
  • Over 10% of India's population is estimated to belong to these communities, yet they remain among the most marginalised groups with no distinct enumeration in any census since Independence.

Static Topic Bridges

Denotified Tribes — Historical Background and the Criminal Tribes Act 1871

Denotified Tribes are communities that were collectively branded as hereditary criminals by the British colonial administration under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871. This Act declared entire communities as "addicted to the systematic commission of non-bailable offences," subjecting them to surveillance, registration, and restrictions on movement.

  • Criminal Tribes Act 1871: Enacted by British India; covered over 150 communities; was later extended and amended multiple times.
  • Repeal: The Act was repealed by the Government of India in 1952, replacing it with the Habitual Offenders Acts in various states — which critics argue continued to stigmatise the same communities.
  • "Denotification": The term arose because these communities were removed from (de-notified from) the criminal tribes list in 1952, giving birth to the term Denotified Tribes (also called Vimukta Jatis).
  • The stigma of criminality persisted long after denotification, resulting in police harassment, social exclusion, and denial of land rights.

Connection to this news: The DNT communities' demand for a census column is directly rooted in this history — the colonial legacy of criminalisation led to their exclusion from mainstream social and legal categories, which continues to affect their access to reservations and welfare schemes.

Idate Commission (2017) and Constitutional Status of DNTs

The National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes — commonly called the Idate Commission — was established in 2017 under the chairmanship of Bhiku Ramji Idate to study and recommend welfare measures for these communities.

  • The Idate Commission identified 1,526 distinct communities across DNT, NT, and SNT categories.
  • It recommended creating a separate category for DNTs distinct from SC, ST, and OBC classifications, noting that many DNT communities are currently classified under multiple existing categories (or none) creating enumeration confusion.
  • The Commission recommended a dedicated welfare board and a separate budget line for NT-DNT development.
  • Currently, DNTs are spread across SC, ST, and OBC lists depending on the state, making national-level data aggregation impossible.

Connection to this news: The federation's demand for a separate census column aligns directly with the Idate Commission's recommendation that these communities need a distinct enumerable identity to enable targeted policy.

SEED Scheme and Current Government Welfare Architecture

The SEED (Supporting Economically Empowered Development) scheme was launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in February 2022 specifically for denotified, nomadic, and semi-nomadic tribes.

  • SEED Scheme launched: February 2022, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
  • Budget: ₹200 crore allocated for five financial years (FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26).
  • Four components: Education support (coaching for competitive exams), health insurance, livelihood support, and housing.
  • The Development and Welfare Board for DNCs (DWBDNC) was established in 2019 under the Societies Registration Act to implement welfare programmes — not a statutory body.
  • No dedicated constitutional commission exists for DNTs unlike the National Commission for SCs (Article 338) or the National Commission for STs (Article 338A).

Connection to this news: The modest SEED scheme allocation (₹200 crore over 5 years for an estimated 10+ crore people) underscores why community representatives are pushing for census recognition — without data, needs-based policy design remains impossible.

Key Facts & Data

  • DNT-NT Federation of India formed: March 14–15, 2026 national consultation in Delhi.
  • Estimated population: Over 10% of India's total population belongs to these communities.
  • Idate Commission (2017) identified 1,526 NT, DNT, and SNT communities.
  • Criminal Tribes Act: Enacted 1871, repealed 1952 after Independence.
  • SEED Scheme: Launched February 2022, ₹200 crore over 5 years.
  • DWBDNC: Established 2019 (not a statutory body, operates under Societies Registration Act).
  • DNTs currently split across SC, ST, and OBC lists by state — no unified national enumeration exists.
  • The 2027 Census would be India's first since 2011 (the 2021 Census was delayed due to COVID-19).