The Ministry of Tribal Affairs will organise a two-day National Workshop on Strengthening Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) on 7–8 July 2026 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The workshop aims to review the functioning of Tribal Research Institutes across the country and develop a comprehensive roadmap for transforming them into vibrant knowledge institutions, cultural resource centres and policy support hubs for tribal development.

The workshop reflects the Ministry's commitment to strengthening institutional capacities, preserving and promoting India's rich tribal heritage, and fostering innovation-driven, evidence-based and inclusive development for tribal communities under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

The workshop will be inaugurated by Shri Jual Oram, Hon’ble Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, in the presence of Shri Durgadas Uikey, Hon’ble Minister of State for Tribal Affairs; Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, Hon’ble Member, NITI Aayog; Shri Nityananda Gond, Hon’ble Minister for ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare, School & Mass Education, and Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of Odisha; and Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, along with senior officials from the Central and State Governments. The inaugural session will also see the signing of an MoU between the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi.

A major highlight of the event will be the launch of TribeX, a first-of-its-kind digital learning platform dedicated to tribal arts, culture, languages, traditional knowledge and skill development. Conceived as a comprehensive digital learning ecosystem, TribeX aims to preserve, document and disseminate India's rich tribal heritage through structured learning, digital repositories and technology-enabled knowledge sharing, while creating new opportunities for research, cultural exchange and sustainable livelihoods.

The workshop will bring together around 200 participants, including representatives from Tribal Research Institutes, State Tribal Welfare Departments, academic and research institutions, technology organisations, NGOs, development partners and industry experts from across the country.

Tribal Research Institutes serve as the principal research and knowledge institutions on tribal affairs at the State level, supporting research, documentation, preservation of tribal heritage and evidence-based policymaking. Recognising the need to further strengthen their institutional capacities, the workshop will deliberate on strategies to enhance their role as centres of excellence for research, innovation and policy support.

Day one will focus on assessing the current functioning and effectiveness of Tribal Research Institutes through presentations by State TRIs, followed by four thematic breakout working groups on:

1. TRIs as Knowledge and Cultural Resource Centres
2. Research, Documentation and Evidence Generation for Tribal Development
3. Technology Integration, GIS, Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Ecosystem
4. Institutional Strengthening, Human Resources, Governance and Partnerships

 

Day two will see participants consolidate recommendations into a National TRI Strengthening Roadmap, followed by expert panel discussions on strengthening research ecosystems and proposed institutional reforms. Dedicated sessions on technology, innovation and digital transformation will feature presentations by experts from CDAC, Wadhwani AI, IIT Delhi, IIT Bhubaneswar, Deloitte and Sarvam AI, highlighting the role of emerging technologies in strengthening tribal research and governance.

The workshop will conclude with the presentation of key recommendations and the adoption of the Bhubaneswar Declaration, outlining a shared vision for strengthening Tribal Research Institutes through institutional reforms, research excellence, technology integration, collaboration and capacity building - enabling them to emerge as future-ready institutions supporting evidence-based tribal development across the country.

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