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People group profile · PG047992

The Agarwal (Telugu) of India

The Agarwal (Telugu) of India, numbering about 634,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a North Indian Vaishya (merchant) community, traditionally associated with trade and finance, tracing their origins to Agroha and Maharaja Agrasen, and known for strong business networks and economic influence.

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

Pray for the Agarwal (Telugu)Print profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Agarwal (Telugu) people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3 Flash: Agarwal (Telugu)

Fast facts

Country
India
Population
634,000
Affinity group
South Asian Peoples
People cluster
Bania
Primary language
Telugu (tel)
Primary religion
Hinduism
Strategic Progress Index ?
Unengaged and Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC ?
Less than 2% Evangelical, Concentrated CP Activity
Lostness priority ?
Frontier Unreached People Group
Region
Southern Asia, Asia
Location
concentrated in Andhra Pradesh; scattered in Karnataka and Maharashtra

Where they live

Gospel status

The Agarwal (Telugu) are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical but there has been initial or concentrated church planting among them within the past two years.

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

Next steps for the Agarwal (Telugu)

  • Pray that God would send workers to this people group
  • Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
  • Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice

Primary religion

Hinduism

100% 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 Agarwal (Telugu)

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

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