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pastoral communities in India
Feb 10, 2026 12:11 PM

  

pastoral communities in India1

  Greener pastures A Raika pastoral shepherd walking with his goats near Jawai Bandh in Rajasthan, India. (more) pastoral communities in India Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/pastoral-communities-in-India Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

  External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Arpit Nayak Arpit Nayak is an associate editor at Encyclopedia Britannica. Arpit Nayak Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Mar 3, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is the primary livelihood of pastoral communities in India? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Pastoral communities in India depend primarily on herding and rearing livestock, such as sheep, goats, cows, buffalo, camels, and yaks." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Where is pastoralism practiced in India? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Pastoralism is practiced across India, especially in the Himalayas in the north, the Thar Desert in the west, and the Deccan Plateau in the south." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What are the different types of pastoralists in India? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Pastoralists in India are broadly classified as nomadic, seminomadic, or transhumant, depending on their migration patterns." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What challenges do pastoral communities in India face? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Pastoral communities face challenges such as shrinking grazing lands, legal restrictions, climate change, and land degradation." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What major pastoral communities exist in India? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Major pastoral communities include the Gujjars, Gaddis, Kinnauras, Rabari, Bharwads, Changpas, and Brokpas." } } ] } Top Questions What is the primary livelihood of pastoral communities in India? Pastoral communities in India depend primarily on herding and rearing livestock, such as sheep, goats, cows, buffalo, camels, and yaks.

  Where is pastoralism practiced in India? Pastoralism is practiced across India, especially in the Himalayas in the north, the Thar Desert in the west, and the Deccan Plateau in the south.

  What are the different types of pastoralists in India? Pastoralists in India are broadly classified as nomadic, seminomadic, or transhumant, depending on their migration patterns.

  What challenges do pastoral communities in India face? Pastoral communities face challenges such as shrinking grazing lands, legal restrictions, climate change, and land degradation.

  What major pastoral communities exist in India? Major pastoral communities include the Gujjars, Gaddis, Kinnauras, Rabari, Bharwads, Changpas, and Brokpas.

  Greener pasturesA Raika pastoral shepherd walking with his goats near Jawai Bandh in Rajasthan, India.© Sandeep Bisht/Alamy pastoral communities in India, groups of people in that country whose livelihoods depend primarily on herding and rearing livestock, such as sheep, goats, cows, buffalo, camels, and yaks. In India pastoralists typically belong to specific castes or ethnicities that have historically engaged in animal husbandry, each group being distinct in its traditions, its practices, and the animals it breeds. Pastoralists earn a living mainly from the sale of animal products, including meat, milk, and wool. Pastoralism is practiced across India, especially in the ...(100 of 1224 words)

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