06-Nov-2026

On Oct. 1, the Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) wrote to the State Bank of India (SBI), India's largest state-owned bank, highlighting a problem with its digital banking system in Itanagar, the capital of the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh.

The forum said customers who select “Christian” under the religion category in the bank’s applications are not given the option to identify themselves as members of a Scheduled Tribe (ST). Instead, the system automatically assigns them to the “General” category.

The Forum observed that such an error could not be dismissed as an oversight and expressed serious concern that it appeared to be a deliberate attempt to misrepresent

It further argued that such a provision amounted to unilateral interference with the constitutional status of ST customers, recognized under the Constitution of India and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, which contains a separate listing for Arunachal Pradesh (Part XVIII) identifying the state’s recognized tribes, many among them Christians.

ST status recognizes indigenous and tribal groups as among the most socio-economically disadvantaged, granting them constitutional protections, affirmative-action benefits, and specialized administrative safeguards to ensure their development and representation.

Under existing government guidelines, a person claiming ST status may profess any religion. Tribal identity is constitutionally linked to membership in a recognized tribe and is not restricted to a particular faith.

In a polite but firm communication, the Forum reminded SBI that it was not the competent authority to unilaterally classify members of recognized tribal communities as belonging to the “General” category, and urged the bank to rectify the technical flaw without delay.

It gave the bank 15 days to make the necessary corrections, failing which the Forum would consider boycotting all SBI branches in Arunachal Pradesh and explore legal avenues to challenge what it described as the bank's unilateral decision.

The Forum received a positive response from the bank well before the deadline expired, assuring it that the bank's technical team had successfully rectified the error.

At first glance, this may seem like a routine, insignificant action. However, viewed against the prevailing climate in the country, where tribal Christians have increasingly found themselves facing pressure from Hindu nationalists, the ACF deserves appreciation.

Over the past few years, there have been several developments concerning the status and rights of tribal Christians.

As recently as May 24, tens of thousands gathered under the banner of Janjati Sanskritik Samagam (JSS, or Tribal Cultural Conclave) in the national capital, New Delhi, attended by senior political figures, including Federal Home Minister Amit Shah.

The gathering was ostensibly organized to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of the revolutionary tribal leader Birsa Munda. But one of the main demands raised was an amendment to Article 342 of the Constitution to facilitate the delisting of tribal people who have embraced Christianity or Islam from the ST category.

Critics alleged that the Sangh Parivar — or family of Hindu nationalist groups led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS or National Volunteers Corps) — had used the occasion to amplify its narrative that Christianity was eroding tribal culture, customs, traditions, languages and identity.

The campaign attracted strong opposition from tribal rights activists, who described the demand as unconstitutional and accused its proponents of using the birth anniversary of a revered tribal leader to advance a divisive agenda.

Earlier, in December 2023, the Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch (AARM), a pan-India mass organization affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist), expressed grave concern over the efforts to intensify the campaign for the exclusion of tribal Christian from the Scheduled Tribes list in the predominantly tribal states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam and Tripura.

In Tripura, the Janjati Suraksha Manch (JSM or Tribal Protection Forum), a group supported by the RSS, had proposed a rally on Christmas Day in 2023 to push this demand but had to shelve it following strong objections and condemnation from a coalition of organizations working for tribal welfare in the state.

Arunachal Pradesh has not escaped this growing controversy. Communities such as the Galos — a major indigenous tribal community in the state — have witnessed increasing friction between members who have embraced Christianity and those who continue to follow their traditional faith.

For years, there was no objection to Christians celebrating certain tribal festivals in traditional ways; but sections of the traditional-faith community have now begun arguing that those who embrace another religion, particularly Christianity, forfeit their rightful claim to tribal identity. Consequently, they contend that Galo Christians should no longer be allowed to participate in customary practices.

Such a demand is not only unreasonable but also raises serious constitutional questions. The right to practice a religion of one’s choice and the recognition of Scheduled Tribe status are distinct matters. Yet, despite the clarity of the broader constitutional principle, such assertions are creating unnecessary divisions and friction within the community.

Christian members of the community have alleged that these developments are being instigated by the RSS and its affiliates.

Against this backdrop of growing controversy over tribal identity and religious affiliation, the reported technical error in the State Bank of India's digital platform takes on greater significance.

It is particularly concerning that a bank which is an integral part of India's public sector should have a system that prevents Christian customers belonging to recognized Scheduled Tribes from accurately declaring their social category.

SBI introduced its banking application in 2017. So the obvious question is: how could a bank of SBI's stature let such an error go unnoticed for nearly nine years? More importantly, why did it take so long to identify the issue and bring it to the bank's attention?

Except for Assam, the northeast region is predominantly inhabited by tribal communities, many of whom are Christians. Hence, developments surrounding the identity, rights, and constitutional status of tribal Christians directly affect harmony and sense of security.

Any attempt, whether deliberate or otherwise, to create distinctions within recognized tribal communities based on religious affiliation is bound to generate apprehension and resentment.

The ACF deserves full credit for showing that vigilance, timely intervention, and a firm understanding of one's constitutional rights can make a difference. It did not resort to agitation or public confrontation as its first response. Instead, it communicated directly with the bank, clearly articulated the issue, and sought corrective action.

The Forum’s intervention reminds us that institutions, however large and powerful, must remain accountable, and that citizens and civil society organizations play an important role in ensuring constitutional rights are neither overlooked nor compromised.

*The writer is a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, author, and editor of www.necarf.org. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial position of UCA News.