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People group profile · PG041331

The Idiga of India

The Idiga of India, numbering about 85,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an occupational caste of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh who traditionally tapped toddy (collected sap from palm trees). The Idiga speak Kannada or Telugu and are distributed in Bangalore, Rayalaseema, and Telangana.

They are an indigenous people in the Telugu people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Telugu.

Pray for the IdigaPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Idiga people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: Idiga

Fast facts

Country
India
Population
85,000
Affinity group
South Asian Peoples
People cluster
Telugu
Primary language
Telugu (tel)
Primary religion
Hinduism
Strategic Progress Index
Engaged yet Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC
Less than 2% Evangelical, Dispersed CP Activity
Lostness priority
Expanding Unreached People Group
Region
Southern Asia, Asia
Location
Widely distributed in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Andhra Pradhesh, and Tamikl Nadu

Where they live

Gospel status

The Idiga are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical but there has been dispersed church planting among them within the past two years.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years Dispersed Church Planting

Next steps for the Idiga

  • Continue prayer and fasting for this group
  • Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
  • Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Primary religion

Hinduism

99% adherents

Primary language

Telugu · Dravidian family

100% speak Telugu

Gospel resources in Telugu

  • Bible available, published 2022
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories available

Films

Bibles

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Idiga

  1. Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
  2. Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
  3. Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
  4. John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.

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