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Tribes of Rajasthan

Three facts carry most of the marks in this topic: the Meena are Rajasthan's largest tribe, the Bhil are the second largest, and the Sahariya are the state's only Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), found in Baran district. The tribal belt runs down the south — Banswara, Dungarpur, Udaipur and Pratapgarh — with the Meena concentrated instead in the east.

Major tribes at a glance

Tribe	Main districts	Key point
Meena	Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Dausa, Karauli	Largest tribe of Rajasthan
Bhil	Banswara, Dungarpur, Udaipur, Pratapgarh	Second largest; famed archers; Gair & Gawari dances
Garasia	Sirohi, Pali, Udaipur	Third largest; Walar dance
Sahariya	Baran (Kishanganj & Shahbad)	The ONLY PVTG in Rajasthan
Damor	Dungarpur (Simalwara)	Concentrated in the far south

Meena and Bhil — the two largest tribes

The Meena are the largest tribe of Rajasthan, concentrated in the eastern districts of Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Dausa and Karauli. They trace descent from the Matsya (fish) and were historically rulers before the Kachhwaha rise. The Bhil are the second largest and dominate the southern belt — Banswara, Dungarpur, Udaipur and Pratapgarh. Renowned archers, they fought alongside Maharana Pratap; their name is often derived from the Dravidian billu, meaning bow. Bhil dances include Gair and Gawari.

Meena — largest tribe; eastern Rajasthan; associated with the Matsya lineage
Bhil — second largest; southern Rajasthan; celebrated archers
'Bhil' is often traced to the Dravidian word 'billu' (bow)
Bhil dances: Gair (Holi) and Gawari; Bhil settlements are called 'palli'
Bhils fought alongside Maharana Pratap at Haldighati

Sahariya — the only PVTG in Rajasthan

The Sahariya are the only Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Rajasthan — a fact asked almost every year. They live in the Kishanganj and Shahbad tehsils of Baran district, in the forested Hadoti belt. Traditionally forest-dependent, they collect minor forest produce such as tendu leaves, gum and honey. Their settlement is called a saharana, and their name is thought to derive from a word for forest.

Sahariya — the ONLY PVTG in Rajasthan
Found in Kishanganj and Shahbad tehsils of Baran district
Forest-dependent; collect tendu leaves, gum and honey
Their settlement is called a 'saharana'; the headman is the 'kotwal'
Concentrated in the Hadoti region's forest belt

Garasia, Damor, Kathodi and the nomadic groups

The Garasia are the third largest tribe, living in Sirohi, Pali and Udaipur. Their dance is the Walar, and they are known for customs such as mor bandhiya and pherā marriage, and for a tradition of live-in unions later formalised. The Damor are concentrated in Simalwara in Dungarpur. The Kathodi, found in Udaipur, take their name from katha (catechu), which they extract from the khair tree. Rajasthan also has prominent nomadic groups — the Gadiya Lohar (itinerant blacksmiths) and the Kalbeliya.

Garasia — third largest tribe; Sirohi, Pali, Udaipur; Walar dance
Damor — Dungarpur (Simalwara region)
Kathodi — Udaipur; extract 'katha' (catechu) from the khair tree
Gadiya Lohar — nomadic blacksmiths who travel in bullock carts
Kalbeliya — nomadic snake-charmer community; their dance is UNESCO-listed

How tribes are asked in the RAS exam

The ranking question is near-certain: Meena (largest), Bhil (second), Garasia (third). Examiners routinely swap Meena and Bhil — do not fall for it.
Sahariya being Rajasthan's only PVTG, located in Baran district, is the single most repeated fact in this topic.
Link tribe to dance: Bhil–Gair/Gawari, Garasia–Walar, Kalbeliya–Kalbeliya dance. This cross-links neatly with the folk-dance topic.
Know the geography: the tribal belt is southern (Banswara, Dungarpur, Udaipur, Pratapgarh), but the Meena are eastern. That contrast is a favourite trap.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the largest tribe of Rajasthan?

The Meena, concentrated in eastern Rajasthan — Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Dausa and Karauli districts. The Bhil are the second largest.

Which is the only PVTG in Rajasthan?

The Sahariya, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group found in the Kishanganj and Shahbad tehsils of Baran district.

In which districts are the Bhils concentrated?

In southern Rajasthan — mainly Banswara, Dungarpur, Udaipur and Pratapgarh. They are famed archers who fought alongside Maharana Pratap.

Which dance is associated with the Garasia tribe?

The Walar dance. The Garasia are Rajasthan's third largest tribe, living in Sirohi, Pali and Udaipur.

Who are the Gadiya Lohars?

A nomadic community of itinerant blacksmiths who travel in ornate bullock carts, traditionally linked to the exodus from Chittorgarh.