Prototype rebuild by the IMB Innovation Team. The official site is peoplegroups.org.

People group profile · PG041740

The Batwal of India

The Batwal of India, numbering about 109,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a distinct North‑Indian social community, found mainly in Jammu (Dogra region) and parts of eastern Punjab, with historical ties to the Kashmir Valley. Today they are largely an agrarian community.

They are an indigenous people in the Kashmiri people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Dogri (individual language).

Pray for the BatwalPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
India
Population
109,000
Affinity group
South Asian Peoples
People cluster
Kashmiri
Primary language
Dogri (individual language) (dgo)
Primary religion
Hinduism
Strategic Progress Index ?
No Longer Unreached
Evangelical
2% or Greater but Less than 5%
GSEC ?
2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
Lostness priority ?
Minimally Reached People Group
Region
Southern Asia, Asia
Location
Jammu and Kashmir: Kathua, Poonch, Reasi, and Udhampur districts; Himachal Pradesh: Chamba and Kangra districts; Punjab: Gurdaspur district

Where they live

Gospel status

The Batwal are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 2% evangelical.

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

Next steps for the Batwal

  • Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
  • Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
  • Send out laborers from this people to the nations

Primary religion

Hinduism

100% adherents

Primary language

Dogri (individual language) · Indo-European family

60% speak Dogri (individual language)

Gospel resources in Dogri (individual language)

  • Bible available, published 2021
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories available

Films

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

Pray for the Batwal

  1. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  2. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  3. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  4. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.

Download a prayer guide

Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.