The Ministry was set up in 1999 after the bifurcation of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment with the objective of providing more focused approach on the integrated socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes (STs).

The programmes and schemes of the Ministry are intended to support and supplement other Central Ministries, State Governments and partly of voluntary organizations, and to fill critical gaps in institutions and programmes taking into account the situation of STs through financial assistance. These schemes comprising economic, educational and social development through institution building are administered by the Ministry and implemented mainly through the State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations. The Ministry also supplements the efforts of other Ministries by way of various developmental interventions in critical sectors through specially tailored schemes.

Budget 24-2025

For the fiscal year 2024-25, the Ministry has an estimated annual budget of Rs 13,000 crore.