Ancient history

What is the ethnic background of Indian people?

India is an ethnically diverse country, and the ethnic background of Indian people varies greatly from region to region. The majority of Indians are of Indo-Aryan descent, with the remaining population being Dravidian, Tibeto-Burman, and Austroasiatic.

Here is a breakdown of the major ethnic groups in India:

* Indo-Aryans: The Indo-Aryans are the largest ethnic group in India, making up about 72% of the population. They are descended from the ancient Indo-European speakers who migrated to India from Central Asia around 1500 BCE. The Indo-Aryans are found throughout India, but they are particularly concentrated in the north and west.

* Dravidians: The Dravidians are the second largest ethnic group in India, making up about 25% of the population. They are descended from the indigenous peoples of India who were present before the arrival of the Indo-Aryans. The Dravidians are found mostly in the south and east of India.

* Tibeto-Burmans: The Tibeto-Burmans are an ethnic group that is found in the northeastern part of India. They are descended from the people of Tibet and Burma, and they speak Tibeto-Burman languages. The Tibeto-Burmans make up about 2% of the population of India.

* Austroasiatics: The Austroasiatics are an ethnic group that is found in the eastern part of India. They are descended from the people of Southeast Asia, and they speak Austroasiatic languages. The Austroasiatics make up about 1% of the population of India.

In addition to these major ethnic groups, there are also a number of smaller ethnic groups in India, such as the Jews, the Parsis, and the Christians.