Ongoing Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh Pakhwada Celebrations Nationwide
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, continues the celebration of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh (JJGV) Pakhwada from 1st to 15th November 2025, marking the 150th Birth Anniversary of Dharti Aaba Bhagwan Birsa Munda. Through a range of programmes conducted by Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs), Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs), and partner institutions, the initiative aims to promote cultural pride, inclusivity, and awareness among tribal communities.
In Odisha, the TRI hosted special events for tribal students focusing on the contributions of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, while the State Tribal Museum organised creative competitions. Jharkhand held an educational tour for over 500 students to the Tribal Museum at Ranchi, deepening awareness of regional tribal heritage. In Arunachal Pradesh, the Rajiv Gandhi University TRI conducted a quiz on tribal history, complemented by traditional performances by EMRS students from Tizit and a folk presentation by Galo women from West Siang District.
In Ladakh, the TRI, University of Ladakh, revived interest in traditional Pabu making, while Goa hosted the Janjatiya Sanskrutik Sammelan and Adivasi Khel Utsav, celebrating traditional arts and sports. Andhra Pradesh inaugurated its State-Level Tribal Sports and Games at GITAM University, Visakhapatnam, promoting fitness and unity. Nagaland celebrated with a community-based tourism initiative at Temi Tarku village, showcasing sustainable practices and indigenous culture. The North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST) hosted an international conference on mental health, merging modern and traditional healing wisdom.
In Telangana, administrative meetings and awareness sessions in Mulugu District promoted tribal youth empowerment and livelihood generation. On 13th November 2025, a nationwide “Jan Sunwai” will be organised across over 56,000 Adi Sewa Kendras for grievance redressal and service delivery under the Village Vision Plan. Citizens are encouraged to participate through the Adi Prasaran portal, reaffirming the collective commitment to tribal welfare and development.
National Tribal Literary Fest 2025 Celebrates Indigenous Wisdom
The National Tribal Research Institute (NTRI), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, inaugurated the first-ever National Tribal Literary Fest 2025 in New Delhi to commemorate Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh and the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. The two-day event celebrates India’s vast tribal literary and cultural traditions, offering a platform for dialogue and preservation of indigenous knowledge systems.
The festival commenced with floral tributes to Bhagwan Birsa Munda and traditional Madia dance performances. Smt. Savitri Thakur, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, commended the government’s initiatives for tribal welfare and described the festival as a milestone in building an Atmanirbhar Bharat through cultural resurgence. Smt. Meenakshi Jain, Member of Parliament, highlighted the role of literature in cultural freedom, while Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, MoTA, lauded the importance of tribal literature in national discourse.
Shri Nirupam Chakma, Member, NCST, emphasized preserving smaller tribal languages to protect India’s linguistic diversity. Shri Ashutosh Agnihotri, IAS, CMD of FCI, connected tribal literature with ecological consciousness, describing nature as the greatest teacher. Prof. B. V. Sharma of the Anthropological Survey of India called for urgent documentation of oral tribal literature, and Shri Anant Prakash Pandey, Joint Secretary, MoTA, stressed that tribal literature is a vital repository of ecological wisdom and social values. Prof. Nupur Tiwary, Special Director, NTRI, highlighted that tribal civilizations are guardians of balance and memory, preserving nature through language, art, and ritual.
The two-day festival includes panel discussions, poetry, and exhibitions featuring tribal poets, authors, storytellers, and researchers from across India. The event underlines India’s collective resolve to safeguard its indigenous creative legacy under the leadership of the Prime Minister.
4th National EMRS Sports Meet 2025 Inaugurated in Odisha
The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS)</strong), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, inaugurated the 4th National EMRS Sports Meet 2025 on 11th November 2025 at the Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium, Rourkela. The event, spanning Rourkela, Sundargarh, and Rajgangpur in Odisha until 15th November 2025, unites over 5,500 student athletes from 21 States and 1 Union Territory.
The meet was inaugurated by Shri Jual Oram, Minister of Tribal Affairs, who emphasized that holistic development of tribal communities depends on quality education and co-curricular opportunities. Shri Ajeet K. Shrivastava, Commissioner, NESTS, encouraged students to demonstrate discipline and excellence, while Shri B. Parameshwaran, Secretary, ST & SC Development Department, Government of Odisha, along with Shri Premjit Nayak and Shri Subhankar Mohapatra, attended the ceremony.
The inauguration featured a ceremonial march-past, an oath led by Hockey Olympian Shri Lazarus Barla, and the introduction of the event mascot ‘Milan’, the melanistic tiger symbolising Odisha’s pride. The closing ceremony on 15th November 2025 will coincide with the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda and will honour the achievements of outstanding young athletes from EMRS institutions nationwide.