National workshop on strengtheningTRI adpoted Bhubaneswar Declaration

The two-day National Workshop on Strengthening Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs), organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in collaboration with the Government of Odisha, concluded on Wednesday, July,8,2026 in Bhubaneswar with the adoption of the Bhubaneswar Declaration, marking an important milestone in advancing the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Viksit Bharat@2047 through stronger institutions that promote tribal knowledge, research, innovation and evidence-based policymaking. The workshop brought together nearly 200 participants from Tribal Research Institutes, State Tribal Welfare Departments, academia, research institutions, technology organisations, industry, development partners and civil society to deliberate on the future of India's tribal research ecosystem. The Declaration reaffirms this collective commitment, aiming to build a collaborative, future-ready research ecosystem that preserves India's rich tribal heritage while contributing to evidence-based policymaking.Summing up the deliberations, Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, said, Tribal Research Institutes are the voices of tribal communities. They must evolve into globally recognised centres of excellence built on high-quality research and rooted in community realities. TRIs need greater institutional and financial autonomy. They must work closely with State Departments, universities, multilateral organisations and other knowledge institutions. Most importantly, they must bridge the gap between research, policy and the people they serve.