In a study conducted by Vinoba Bhave University Hazaribagh, five Adam Age Tribes have been reported  in various districts of divided Bihar. Adam Age Tribals are different from Scheduled Tribes due to their origin dating back to the Neanderthal Age.
A Tribal Family in Bihar
Initially, such tribals were deemed to be non-existent in Bihar after the separation of Jharkhand , however now it has been confirmed that they do exist. Three of the Five Tribes belong to the Pahariya Sect of Tribes. Their names are Pahariya, Maal Pahariya and Sor Pahariya, the other two are Birhor and Korba. They are nomadic tribes located in Banka,Supaul,Purnea, Katihar, Kishanganj,Madhepura, Gaya and Nawada districts.
The Population of these tribes is 7631 with 4040 males and 3591 females, according to the report. Â The Literacy rates among them is merely 12.5% which is much less than the Literacy Rate of Bihar 56.4%. According to the study, 94% of their population is landless and their main occupation is Daily Wage Earning in nearby Agricultural Fields.
Bihar has a tribal population of about 20 lakh, informs Pramod Kumar Singh, State Convener, Hunger Free Bihar Campaign. Â Due to their insignificant population and absence of Statistics, no concrete policy has been framed for their upliftment.