PVTGs constitute the most vulnerable section among tribals and largely reside in isolated, remote and difficult areas in small scattered hamlets. PVTG tag is given to identify the vulnerable tribes and to have specialised scheme to safeguard their cultural identity. Tag is given by Ministry of Home affairs. 75 tribal groups have been categorized by Ministry of Home Affairs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG)s. PVTGs reside in 18 States and UT of A&N Islands.
The criteria for giving PVTGS are as follows:
In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category, who are less developed among the tribal groups. In 2006, the Government of India renamed the PTGs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). PVTGs have some basic characteristics -they are mostly homogenous, with a small population, relatively physically isolated, social institutes cast in a simple mould, absence of written language, relatively simple technology and a slower rate of change etc.