Bhubaneswar
The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious roadmap to transform Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) into nationally significant centres of knowledge, innovation and evidence-based policymaking, while launching TribeX, a first-of-its-kind digital learning platform dedicated to tribal arts, culture, languages, traditional knowledge and skill development.
The announcements were made at the inaugural session of the two-day National Workshop on Strengthening Tribal Research Institutes in Bhubaneswar, which has brought together policymakers, researchers, academicians, technology experts and officials from across the country to deliberate on the future role of TRIs in tribal development.
The workshop is expected to culminate in the Bhubaneswar Declaration, envisaged as a national roadmap for revitalising Tribal Research Institutes and enhancing their contribution to research, governance and policy formulation.
Inaugurating the workshop, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram said Tribal Research Institutes must evolve into centres of excellence that combine indigenous knowledge with modern research and technological innovation.
He emphasised the need to preserve tribal languages, culture and traditional knowledge while harnessing digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence for research, documentation and policymaking.
Oram said: “India’s tribal communities possess an extraordinary wealth of languages, dialects, oral traditions and indigenous knowledge that must be preserved for future generations. Tribal Research Institutes have a crucial responsibility in engaging closely with communities, documenting their languages, customs and traditional knowledge, and facilitating the exchange of best practices across States. The knowledge generated through such research and documentation will not only help preserve our rich tribal heritage but will also provide a strong foundation for informed policymaking and the holistic development of tribal communities.”
A key outcome of the workshop was the launch of TribeX, described as India’s first dedicated digital learning platform focused on tribal heritage. The platform seeks to make tribal arts, languages, traditional knowledge and skills more accessible while creating opportunities for learning, documentation and capacity building through digital technologies.
Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey said Tribal Research Institutes should function not merely as institutions documenting culture but as knowledge partners and policy think tanks connecting tribal communities with governance. He said the real value of research lies in its ability to shape policies that bring meaningful improvements to the lives of tribal families.
NITI Aayog member R. Balasubramaniam called for a broader research agenda that captures the social, political, economic and cultural transitions taking place within tribal communities. He stressed that research should move beyond data collection to understanding lived experiences, respect indigenous belief systems and recognise traditional knowledge as a national resource deserving systematic documentation and preservation.
He also advocated developing methodologies to account for indigenous knowledge in India’s Gross Domestic Knowledge Product and said preserving tribal knowledge would become even more critical in the age of Artificial Intelligence.
Odisha’s Minister for ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare, Nityananda Gond said documentation of indigenous knowledge systems remains one of the foremost responsibilities of Tribal Research Institutes. He stressed that as development challenges evolve, TRIs must embrace digital innovation, interdisciplinary research and greater community participation so that tribal voices and traditional wisdom continue to shape future policy frameworks.
Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ranjana Chopra said strengthening institutions such as Tribal Research Institutes is as important as improving socio-economic indicators among tribal communities. She said the workshop would enable TRIs across states to share experiences, identify challenges and exchange best practices, with its recommendations guiding the Ministry in developing a comprehensive roadmap for transforming the institutes into vibrant centres of knowledge, research and policy support.
The workshop reflects the Centre’s renewed emphasis on positioning Tribal Research Institutes as institutions that not only preserve India’s diverse tribal heritage but also generate evidence, support governance and contribute to inclusive and informed policymaking for tribal development.
ABOUT TRIBEX
Conceived as a comprehensive digital learning ecosystem, TribeX offers structured learning opportunities through free certificate courses and UGC-recognized Post Graduate diploma programmes in tribal languages, art forms, crafts and traditional knowledge. The platform enables learners, researchers, educators and enthusiasts across the world to learn directly from tribal knowledge experts and master artisans while gaining authentic insights into India’s diverse tribal traditions. Beyond education, TribeX serves as a digital repository for documenting, preserving and promoting tribal languages, oral traditions, performing arts, cultural practices and indigenous knowledge systems for future generations. The platform currently hosts 20 free certificate courses across a diverse range of tribal art forms, including paintings, handicrafts, handloom, artefacts and traditional musical instruments, with a roadmap to expand to over 100 certificate courses.
