Department of Tribal Affairs (Plain) has been created newly as per notification No. AR.41/2022/2, dated 8th June, 2022 notified by the Administrative Reforms, Training , Pension and Public Grievances Department, bifurcating the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and Department of Women and Child Development. Accordingly Department of Tribal Affairs (Plain) deals with the subjects of ST Communitie4s of Assam excluding the communities under Sixth Scheduled area.

           Earlier, subjects to Bodoland Territorial Council was bifurcated and created a new Department namely "Welfare of Bodoland Department vide notification No. AR.38/2020/53, 10th June, 2021

            The Department of Tribal Affairs (Plain) was originally created as Tribal Areas Department in the year 1950. Later on, the Department was renamed as Tribal Areas and Welfare of Backward Classes Department in 1968. After the creation of Hill Areas Department to look after the affairs of the Autonomous Councils of the Hills districts, the Department’s name was further changed to Welfare of Plains Tribe and Backward Classes in 1976. Again in 2022, after the creation of Department of  Social Justice & Empowerment and Department of Women and Child Development, the department was further renamed as Department of Tribal Affairs (Plain).