In India, the indigenous people are referred to by the constitutional term Scheduled Tribes (STs) or commonly called Adivasis. The word “Adivasi” means original inhabitants, referring to the tribal and forest-dwelling communities of the country.
According to the Census of India, the Scheduled Tribes constitute about 8.6\% of the total population. These communities are mainly concentrated in states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and the North-Eastern region.
Conclusion:
Therefore, the word “Adivasi” is used for indigenous people in India, and their share in the total population is approximately 8.6\%.