Tribal Affairs Ministry launches beta version of ‘Adi Sanskriti’ digital platform for tribal artforms

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs on Wednesday launched the beta version of “Adi Sanskriti”, a digital learning platform aimed at preserving and promoting tribal artforms, while enabling livelihoods and connecting communities with the world.

The platform was unveiled at Bharat Mandapam, Delhi during the National Conference on Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan by Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey, marking what the ministry described as a new digital era for tribal culture and heritage.

Billed as the world’s first digital university for tribal culture, “Adi Sanskriti” has been conceptualised as a one-stop platform for learning, documentation and market access. It consists of three major components — Adi Vishwavidyalaya, Adi Sampada and Adi Haat.

The Adi Vishwavidyalaya offers 45 immersive courses covering dance, painting, crafts, music and folklore. Adi Sampada, the socio-cultural repository, already holds more than 5,000 curated documents across themes such as paintings, dance, textiles, artefacts and livelihood. Adi Haat, linked with TRIFED, is set to grow into a dedicated online marketplace for tribal artisans to sell their products directly.

The initiative has been developed in partnership with state Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs). In the first phase, institutes from Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh contributed to documentation and content curation.

Uikey said the ministry has been working consistently to uplift Scheduled Tribes while safeguarding their cultural heritage. He also recalled the launch of Adi Vaani, an AI-based translator for tribal languages.

“From Shiksha to Sampada to Haat – Adi Sanskriti is a holistic platform for preservation, knowledge-sharing, and empowerment. With its launch, anyone can now connect with the treasure of tribal culture, heritage, and livelihoods,” Uikey said.

The ministry said the platform will be expanded in phases with additional courses, repositories and marketplace features. The long-term goal is to develop it into a full-fledged Tribal Digital University offering certifications and research opportunities.