Keep ST classification free of ‘political manipulation’, raise quota, demands Left-affiliated tribal body

At the national convention of the Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch (AARM), held in New Delhi on September 6, 2026, a charter of demands was passed outlining the rights of Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities. The key demands included raising the reservation percentage for ST communities, introducing reservations in the private sector, including Adivasi languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, and ensuring that the criteria for ST classification are not subject to "political manipulation".

These demands were made by the AARM, an organization affiliated with the Left, in response to similar calls by Sangh Parivar-affiliated tribal groups. However, the AARM explicitly opposes the idea of introducing a religion criterion in ST classification, as they believe it would result in the delisting of ST communities that have converted to Islam or Christianity. Instead, they argue that only certain outdated conditions for classification should be reviewed to remove them.

The AARM leader and vice president of the organization, Brinda Karat, highlighted that some criteria set by the Lokur Committee, established in 1965 to identify ST communities, are now obsolete. For instance, the committee's criteria required communities to be isolated or shy to interact with outsiders to be considered ST. Karat emphasized that these outdated criteria need to be reviewed, warning that political manipulation is happening in various states, where the BJP is encouraging non-Adivasis to demand ST certificates and using the State governments and the RSS to divide Adivasis.