Siddi Community

Why in News?

Fifteen-year-old Khushbu Rajakbhai Darjada won a silver medal in the girls’ 63-kg judo category at the Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal, on 2 November 2026. She became the first athlete from the Siddi community to win a Youth Olympics medal and only the second Indian to achieve this feat.

About the Siddi Community

• Origin: The Siddis are an Indian community of African descent, particularly associated with East African ancestry.
• Distribution: They primarily live in Gujarat and also in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Diu and Daman.
• Cultural identity: They are culturally integrated with the local population and speak Gujarati, often with a Kathiawadi accent. Their food habits and clothing are similar to those of other Gujaratis.
• Population: According to a survey cited by the Central Government in the Rajya Sabha in July 2025, Gujarat had 12,959 Siddis.
• Tribal status: The Siddi community in Gujarat is classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
• Geographical association: Many Siddis in Gir Somnath district live close to Gir National Park, the natural habitat of the Asiatic lion.

Siddi Community and Sports

• Members of the Siddi community have demonstrated achievements in sports, particularly judo.
• Khushbu Darjada won silver in the girls’ 63-kg judo category at the 2026 Youth Olympics.
• Her elder sister, Shahin Darjada, has represented India at several international competitions, including the Asian Championships, Asian Cup, European Cup, Junior World Championships and Tashkent Grand Slam.

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

• PVTGs are a category of tribal communities identified as facing particularly high levels of socio-economic and developmental vulnerability.
• The category was introduced in 1975, initially covering 52 communities; the number was subsequently expanded to 75 PVTGs across 18 States and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Identification has traditionally considered characteristics such as pre-agricultural livelihoods, low literacy, small or declining populations and economic backwardness.

Source: IE