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

People group profile · PG041932

The Ambig of India

The Ambig of India, numbering about 63,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a caste community of Karnataka's Uttar Kannad district who speak Kannada, traditionally work as inland fishermen and boatmen, worship the river goddess Gangavali, and practice community endogamy.

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

Pray for the AmbigPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
India
Population
63,000
Affinity group
South Asian Peoples
People cluster
Kanarese
Primary language
Kannada (kan)
Primary religion
Hinduism
Strategic Progress Index ?
Engaged yet Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC ?
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority ?
Pioneer Unreached People Group
Region
Southern Asia, Asia
Location
Mainly Goa and Karnataka states; Andhra Pradesh: Anantapur; Maharashtra: Latur district; Tamil Nadu and Kerala states; small border areas of last 4 states

Where they live

Gospel status

The Ambig 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, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Ambig

  • 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

Kannada · Dravidian family

100% speak Kannada

Gospel resources in Kannada

  • Bible available, published 2024
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not 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 Ambig

  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.