The Maoist movement in India grew rapidly due to poor governance in tribal regions under the Fifth Schedule. Despite legal protections like land rights and Tribal Advisory Councils, tribal communities faced discrimination and land loss. Writer Walter Fernades noted, “more tribals have lost their land since the commencement of economic liberalisation than any time in the post-independent history.” The governance system kept outsiders in key roles, leaving tribal voices unheard. Institutions meant to protect tribes, such as the Ministry of Tribal Welfare and Governors, failed to act effectively. The Panchayat Extension to Schedule Areas Act (PESA, 1996) tried to give tribals self-rule, but key provisions, especially about land acquisition, were often ignored. This poor governance created fertile ground for Maoist leaders to gain support, promising justice and control over “Jal, Jungle and Zameen” (water, forest, and land). Maoists ran parallel governments offering services and quick justice where the state failed. Recent years saw some progress in welfare schemes and infrastructure via digital tools, but justice, health, education, and policing remain weak. The Forest Rights Act (FRA), crucial for tribal forest rights, faces dilution and misuse alongside the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act. States pressured to open mineral areas have ignored PESA’s safeguards, especially in Maoist-hit Chhattisgarh. Experts urge reversing tribal under-representation and strengthening local self-governance beyond token quotas. They suggest learning from Autonomous District Councils in Sixth Schedule areas to build trust and deliver justice. Niranjan Sahoo of the Observer Research Foundation concludes that India needs a new governance charter for post-Maoist tribal areas to heal and develop sustainably.