Denotified tribes finally set to be counted in India's 2027 Census

India Dec 18, 2025

Big update: For the first time in over a century, India's 2027 Census will count denotified tribes—groups that were unfairly labeled as "criminal tribes" way back during British rule.
Even though those old laws were scrapped in 1949, many of these communities still aren't officially recognized, which has kept them from getting government support and reservations.

Why this matters now

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is pushing for their inclusion so these tribes are finally seen and counted.
Past commissions have identified more than 1,200 denotified, semi-nomadic, or nomadic communities.
Counting them could help unlock access to education, jobs, and welfare schemes that have been out of reach for generations.