Que : Describe the characteristics of tribal groups in India, and the changes that have occurred over time.

   India has the largest number of tribes in the world. India has 705 tribal communities, accounting for 8% of the population. (Census 2011) Tribal groups vary in terms of social, economic and political development, and they are distinguished among Indians due to their characteristics.

• Characteristics of tribal groups

• Common location: Tribal groups live within a specific topography. Tribal tribes develop their culture only there after developing in a particular area. Maharashtra and Odisha have the highest per capita number of tribal tribes in India.
  
• Blood ties and sense of unity: Tribals claim that they have a common ancestor. The main reason for the sense of communal unity in a tribe is the blood ties between its members who originate from a common lineage. The survival of the tribe is based on the sense of unity of the tribes in times of peace and war..
  
• Endogamous group: Tribal people generally do not marry outside their tribe, and their marriage practices are commendable. But with time, changes can be seen in it. Their attitudes have changed and inter-caste marriages are getting preference.
  
• Common dialect: The members of the tribe exchange their thoughts in a common dialect. Which further strengthens their sense of unity.
  
• Awareness of protection: The tribe is divided into many groups and each group is led by its own leader. The safety of the tribes is the responsibility of a skilled person with political power. These groups always need protection from intruders.
  
• Egalitarian values: No institutional inequalities like caste system or caste-based inequality are seen in them. Tribal social organization is based on egalitarian principle. Men and women have got equal status and freedom.
  
• Political Organization: Each tribe has its own political organization, which looks after the interests of the tribal people. The entire political power is in the hands of the tribal chief.

•  Changes seen in tribal groups:
  

• At the social level: Tribal groups have got the status of some class from a caste. Changes in the material of consumption, level of education, religious approach etc. have helped in raising their social level.
• Non-agriculturalization: Tribal people have joined non-agricultural occupations after leaving their traditional occupations.
  
• New ethnic results: Tribal religion is seen to be divided.
• E.g. Khasi tribe of Meghalaya follows Catholicism.
• Economic diversification: Tribal groups have changed their social image by accepting new jobs and businesses instead of being attached to their traditional occupations.

                      Thus, change is the law of the world, and as the world changes, tribal groups also undergo some changes, preserving their characteristics along with it.