The Rajya Sabha has approved amendments to bills related to tribal affairs, empowering tribal communities.
The upper house of parliament in India, the Rajya Sabha, has recently enacted two important measures that seek to empower tribal populations and acknowledge their unique identity. In order to remedy historical injustices and ensure the welfare of tribal inhabitants, these bills—the Constitution (STs) Order Amendment Bill 2024 and the Constitution (SCs and STs) Order Amendment Bill 2024—mark a major step forward. One of the main features of these legislation is the inclusion of phonetic variations and synonyms for existing tribes in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) lists of both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, as well as the addition of several new communities to the Odisha STs list. This action honors the distinct identities of these tribal populations as well as the varied cultural legacy of these areas. Seven Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), a subset of STs with severe socioeconomic issues, are among the new additions to the STs list. Due to their historical marginalization and is