Relevance: GS Paper II – Social Justice & Governance
Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)

The Government of India is observing Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh Pakhwada from 1–15 November 2025 to mark the conclusion of the year-long Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, celebrating 150 years of Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary. 

Key Features of the Pakhwada

Significance

• Reinforces Article 46 of the Constitution – promoting educational and economic interests of Scheduled Tribes.
  
• Encourages cultural preservation and inclusivity in national development.
  
• Aligns with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions).
  
• Inspires youth by showcasing tribal icons who fought for justice, dignity, and self-reliance.
  

About Birsa Munda and the Munda Tribe

• Birsa Munda (1875–1900) was a freedom fighter and social reformer from the Munda tribe of the Chotanagpur Plateau (present-day Jharkhand).
  
• He led the Ulgulan (The Great Tumult) movement against British land policies that exploited tribal land rights.
  
• Birsa Munda mobilised tribal communities to resist zamindari oppression, promoted self-rule (Munda Raj), and became a symbol of tribal identity and resistance.
  
• The Munda tribe, one of India’s major Scheduled Tribes, belong to the Austroasiatic ethnic group, primarily inhabiting Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal. They have rich traditions of community ownership of land, animistic faith, and ecological harmony.
  

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

With reference to Birsa Munda and the Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh Pakhwada, consider the following statements:

1. Birsa Munda led the Ulgulan movement against the British in the Chotanagpur region.

2. The Munda tribe primarily belongs to the Austroasiatic linguistic group.

3. The Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh Pakhwada is organized annually by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
   

Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d)

One-line Wrap:
Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh Pakhwada celebrates the legacy of Birsa Munda and India’s tribal communities — honouring their spirit of resistance, identity, and inclusive nation-building.