Adivani App

02.09.2025

Adivani App

Context

In September 2025, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched the Adivani App to translate tribal languages into Hindi and English, promoting inclusion, accessibility, and bridging communication gaps.

About the Adivani App

The app was created with the objective of:

• Facilitating communication between tribal populations and government or social services
   
• Preserving and promoting tribal languages and culture
   
• Enabling better access to education, healthcare, and government schemes
   

It leverages language data from the 2011 Census to prioritize the most widely spoken tribal languages for initial coverage.

Phase 1 Languages

The first phase of the app includes six prominent tribal languages:

1. Bheli – Spoken in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra
    
2. Santhali – Predominant in Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal
    
3. Gondi – Spoken across Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra
    
4. Mundari – Found in Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal
    
5. Kui – Previously featured in UPSC-related discussions
    
6. Garo – Spoken in parts of northeastern India
    

Additional languages are expected to be incorporated in future phases.

Significance of the App

• Enhanced Communication: Reduces language barriers for social, educational, and administrative interactions
   
• Preservation of Languages: Helps protect tribal languages and maintain cultural identity
   
• Access to Government Schemes: Enables communities to understand and utilize schemes delivered in Hindi or English
   
• Educational Support: Promotes mother tongue-based learning and digital literacy
   
• Healthcare Facilitation: Improves communication between healthcare providers and tribal populations
   
• Cultural Empowerment: Strengthens a sense of pride and inclusion for tribal communities
   

Linkage with National Policies

• National Education Policy (NEP 2020): Encourages mother tongue education
   
• Digital India Mission: Expands digital access and literacy
   
• UNESCO Decade of Indigenous Languages: Supports global efforts to preserve linguistic diversity
   

Challenges in Implementation

• Oral Traditions: Many tribal languages are primarily spoken, complicating digitization
   
• Risk of Misinterpretation: Potential for inaccurate or partial translations
   
• Limited Expertise: Scarcity of linguists and local contributors hampers development
   
• Digital Divide: Poor connectivity and limited device access in tribal regions reduce the app’s reach
   

Conclusion

The Adivani App represents a major step toward inclusive development, linguistic preservation, and digital empowerment for India’s tribal communities. By breaking communication barriers and fostering cultural pride, it strengthens access to education, healthcare, and government services while contributing to the protection of India’s rich tribal heritage.