The tribes of India, often referred to as Adivasis, exhibit a diverse range of economic practices shaped by their environment, culture, social organization, and historical interactions with surrounding societies. Their modes of economic sustenance are closely tied to the natural resources available in their regions, seasonal cycles, and traditional knowledge systems that have been developed and refined over generations. These modes of subsistence are generally categorized into agriculture, hunting and gathering, pastoralism, craft production, and wage labor, often combined in various forms to ensure survival and social stability. Agriculture forms a significant part of economic sustenance for many tribal communities, especially in regions with fertile land and sufficient rainfall. Traditional forms of agriculture, often termed subsistence farming, involve the cultivation of crops primarily for local consumption rather than for market sale. Crops such as rice, millets, maize, pulses, and vegetables are commonly grown. Tribes such as the Gonds in central India and the Santhals in eastern India rely heavily on such cultivation. These communities often employ shifting cultivation or slash-and-burn agriculture, locally known as ‘podu’ or ‘jhum’ cultivation. In this system, patches of forest are cleared and cultivated for a few years, after which the land is left fallow to regain fertility. This method is ecologically adapted to hilly and forested terrains, where permanent cultivation is difficult. Traditional knowledge regarding soil fertility, crop rotation, and mixed cropping is crucial for the sustainability of such practices. In addition to staple crops, tribal communities often maintain kitchen gardens, growing vegetables, herbs, and medicinal plants, contributing to both nutritional diversity and self-sufficiency. Hunting, gathering, and foraging represent another vital mode of economic sustenance among tribes, particularly for those residing in forested or hilly regions. Tribes such