National Workshop on Strengthening Tribal Research Institutes Concludes with Bhubaneswar Declaration
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in collaboration with the Government of Odisha, concluded a two-day National Workshop on Strengthening Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) in Bhubaneswar on July 8, 2026. The workshop brought together nearly 200 participants from Tribal Research Institutes, State Tribal Welfare Departments, academia, research institutions, technology organisations, industry, development partners, and civil society to deliberate on the future of India's tribal research ecosystem.
Workshop Deliberations and Thematic Sessions
On Day 1, participants engaged in four thematic breakout sessions: transforming TRIs into Knowledge and Cultural Resource Centers with focus on tribal language preservation and digital repositories; strengthening research for tribal development through evidence-based policymaking and robust data systems; technology integration using Artificial Intelligence and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for enhanced research and service delivery; and institutional strengthening through governance reforms and strategic partnerships.
Bhubaneswar Declaration and National Roadmap
The workshop culminated in the adoption of the Bhubaneswar Declaration, which outlines a comprehensive national roadmap to transform TRIs into centers of excellence in research, innovation, cultural preservation, and evidence-based policymaking. The Declaration includes 10 specific resolutions: developing TRIs as Centers of Excellence with Nodal TRI systems for mentorship; mandating community-level need analysis; implementing a Result and Ranking Framework via the NTRP portal; developing a Research Dissemination and Utilisation Strategy; finalizing the Model TRI Framework 2030 with institutional benchmarks; formulating a National TRI Research Agenda for 2027-2032; documenting and preserving tribal indigenous knowledge including languages, traditions, music, and cuisine; capacity building for specialized researchers; strengthening entrepreneurship and livelihoods through institutional partnerships; and adopting a Shared-Service Model for advanced technology infrastructure including AI and analytics platforms.
Recognition and Awards
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs presented Certificates of Appreciation to seven best performing Tribal Research Institutes: Tribal Research and Training Institute, Chhattisgarh; Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute, Odisha; Tribal Research and Cultural Institute, Tripura; Tribal Research & Training Institute, Maharashtra; Kerala Institute for Research, Training & Development Studies of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (KIRTADS), Kerala; Tribal Cultural Research and Training Institute, Telangana; and Dr Ramdayal Munda Tribal Welfare Research Institute, Jharkhand. These awards recognized their outstanding contributions to tribal research, documentation, knowledge generation, and preservation of tribal cultural heritage.
Leadership Perspectives
Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, emphasized that TRIs must evolve into globally recognized centers of excellence with greater institutional and financial autonomy, working closely with State Departments, universities, and multilateral organizations. Shri Anant Prakash Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, noted that the recommendations provide a clear roadmap for enhancing institutional capacities, promoting research excellence, and fostering greater collaboration. The Declaration aims to build a collaborative, future-ready research ecosystem that preserves India's tribal heritage while contributing to evidence-based policymaking and the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.