Purpose: This study synthesises scholarly literature and secondary data to examine the cultural, socioeconomic, educational, and health dimensions of tribal women’s lives in India. It seeks to move beyond deficit-oriented narratives by highlighting tribal women’s agency as custodians of indigenous knowledge, cultural traditions, and community resilience.

Methodology: A qualitative document analysis was conducted using peer-reviewed studies, government reports, and anthropological literature. Secondary data on literacy, educational participation, employment, and labour force engagement were analysed to support the study.

Key Findings: Tribal women experience intersectional disadvantages arising from gender, ethnicity, geography, and socioeconomic marginalisation. Although literacy and educational participation have improved substantially, significant dropout rates persist at higher levels of education. Employment remains concentrated in informal and agricultural sectors despite relatively high labour force participation. At the same time, tribal women play vital roles in cultural preservation, spiritual leadership, ecological stewardship, and intergenerational knowledge transmission. Policy measures such as the Forest Rights Act and self-help groups have generated positive outcomes, though implementation challenges prevail.

Implications: Effective policy interventions should move beyond generic empowerment approaches and adopt culturally sensitive, participatory, and intersectional strategies that address educational exclusion, economic vulnerability, and land-related inequalities.

Originality/Value: By integrating cultural, socioeconomic, educational, and health perspectives, this review offers a holistic and agency-centred understanding of tribal women’s status and empowerment in contemporary India.