# List of Telugu castes

This is a list of the various communities originating from Telugu-speaking regions.

## Forward Castes

Forward Castes do not qualify for government reservations. They are also called as Other Castes (OC) by the state governments. Those present in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are:
(arranged alphabetically)
* Brahmin
* Kamma
* Kapu/Telaga/Balija
* Komati
* Raju
* Reddy
* Velama
Some communities within these groups are instead classified under other categories, as noted below.

## Backward Classes

Some communities are classified as Other Backward Classes (OBC under Central government and BC under state governments) due to social, financial, educational, and/or political discrimination.
(arranged alphabetically)
* Achukatlavandlu
* Agaru
* Agnikulakshatriya
* Arekatika, Katika, Quresh (Muslim Butchers)
* Aryakshatriya, Chittari, Giniyar, Chitrakara, Nakhas
* Atagara
* Atirasa (of Polavaram, Gopalapuram, Koyyalagudem, Buttayagudem, Chagallu Mandals of West Godavari district and Devipattanam, Korukonda and Gokavaram Mandals of East Godavari District)
* Ayyaraka
* Balasanthu, Bahurupi
* Bandara
* Bestha
* Bhatraju
* Budabukkala
* Budubunjala/ Bhunjwa/ Bhadbhunja (confined to Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy Districts only)
* Chippolu (Mera)
* Chopemari
* Dasari (formerly engaged in Bhikshatana)
* Devanga
* Dommara
* Dudekula, Laddaf, Pinjari or Noorbas
* Ediga Gowda (Gamalla, Kalalee) Goundla Settibalija (of Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna District)
* Gajula Balija (who are traditionally associated with selling of Bangles)
* Gandla, Telikula, Devathilakula
* Gangaputra
* Gangavar
* Gangiredlavaru
* Gavara
* Godaba
* Golla (Yadava)
* Goondla
* Goud
* Gudala
* Gudia/Gudiya (confined to Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam Districts only)
* Hatkar
* Jakkala
* Jalari
* Jandra
* Jangam
* Jingar
* Jogi
* Joshinandiwala
* Kachi
* Kaikadi
* Kandra
* Kanjara-Bhatta
* Karikalabhakthulu Kaikolan or Kaikola (Sengundam or Sengunther)
* Karnabhakthulu
* Kasi kapadi
* Katipapala
* Kepmare or Reddika
* Kinthala Kalinga, Buragana Kalinga, Buragam Kalinga, Pandiri Kalinga, Kalinga
* Koppula Velama
* Korcha, Koracha
* Koshti
* Krishnabhalija (Dasari, Bukka, Bukka Ayavar)
* Kummara or Kulala or Salivahana
* Kunapuli
* Kurakula
* Kurmi (confined to Telangana Region and also Krishna District only)
* Kuruba
* Lakkamari Kapu (confined to Telangana Region only)
* Lodh, Lodha, Lodhi
* Mali (where they are not Scheduled Tribe)
* Mandula
* Mathura
* Medari or Mahendra
* Mehtar (Muslim)
* Mondepatta Mondipatta
* Mondivaru Mondibanda Banda
* Mudiraj, Mutrasi Tenugollu
* Munnuru Kapu (Telangana)
* Nagaralu
* Nagavaddilu
* Nagavasam (Nagavamsa)
* Nayi-Brahmin (Mangali, Mangala, Bhajanthri)
* Nayyala
* Neelakanthi
* Neeli (Nelli)
* Nessi or Kurni
* Nokkar
* Odde, Oddilu, Vaddera Vaddelu
* Padmasali (Sali, Saliyan, Pattusali, Senapathulu, Thogata Sali)
* Pala-Ekari
* Palli
* Pallikapu
* Pallireddi
* Pambala
* Pamula
* Pardhi (Mirshikari, Nirshikari )
* Pariki Muggula
* Passi
* Patkar (Khatri)
* Patra
* Pattapu
* Peddammavandlu, Devaravandlu, Yellammavandlu, Mutyalammavandlu
* Perika (Perike Balija, Puragiri Kshatriya)
* Pollinati Velama (of Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam Districts)
* Pondara
* Poosala
* Rajaka, Chakali, Vannar
* Rangarez or Bhavasara Kshatriya
* Sadhuchetty
* Sarollu
* Satani (Chattada Srivaishnava, Chatadi)
* Scheduled Caste converts to Christianity and their progeny
* Siddula
* Sikligar
* Srisayana (Segidi)
* Surya Balija (Kalavanthula), Ganika
* Swakulasali
* Tammali
* Thogata, Thogati or Thogata Veerakshatriya
* Turupu Kapu and Gajula Kapu of Srikakulam, Vizianagram & Visakhapatnam Districts who are subject to social customs of divorce & remarriages among their women
* Uppara or Sagara
* Vadabalija
* Valmiki Boya (Boya Bedar, Kirataka Nishadi, Yellappi, Yellapu/Yellapondlu, Pedda Boya ) Talayari, Chunduvallu
* Vamsha Raj
* Vanjara (Vanjari)
* Vannekapu
* Vannereddi
* Vannia Vanniar Vannikula-Kshatriya
* Vanyakulakshtriya
* Veeramushti (Neetikotala), Veerabhadreeya
* Viswabrahmin or Viswakarma (Ausula or Kamsali, Kammari, Kanchari, Vadla or Vadra or Vadrangi and Silpi)
* Yata

## Scheduled Castes

Scheduled Castes (SCs) are officially designated groups of people and among the most disadvantaged socio-economic groups. Scheduled Castes are given reservation status guaranteeing political representation, preference in promotion, quota in universities, free and stipended education, scholarships, banking services, various government schemes.$^{:35,137}$The Scheduled Castes in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are:
(arranged alphabetically)
* Adi Andhra
* Adi dravida
* Anamuk
* Aray Mala
* Arudhatiya
* Arwa Mala
* Bariki
* Bavuri
* Beda (Budaga) Jangam
* Bindla
* Byagara, Byagari
* Chachati
* Chalavadi
* Chamar, Mochi, Muchi, Chamar - Ravidas, Chamar - Rohidas
* Chambhar
* Chandala
* Dakkal, Dokkalwar
* Dandasi
* Dhor
* Dom, Dombara, Paidi, Pano
* Ellamaawar, Yellammalawandlu
* Ghasi, Haddi, Relli, Chachandi
* Godagali, Godagula (in the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam)
* Godari
* Holeya
* Holeya Dasari
* Jaggali
* Jambuvulu
* Kolupulvandlu, Pambada, Pambada, Pambala
* Madasi Kuruva, Madari Kuruva
* Madiga
* Madiga Dasu, Mashteen
* Mahar
* Mala, Mala Ayawaru
* Mala Dasari
* Mala Dasu
* Mala Hannai
* Malajangam
* Mala Masti
* Mala Sale, Netkani
* Mala Sanyasi
* Mang
* Mang Garodi
* Manne
* Mashti
* Matangi
* Mehtar
* Mitha Ayyalvar
* Mundala
* Paky, Moti, Thoti
* Pamidi
* Panchama, Pariah
* Relli
* Samagara
* Samban (most of population in Nellore district and a few in Prakasam district)
* Sapru
* SIndhollu, Chindollu
* Yatala
* Valluvan

## Further Classification of Backward Classes

The castes considered to be backward are further categorized into 5 groups (A, B, C, D and E). And the reservations for these groups are allocated based on variety of factors but mostly based on size of the population.
* GROUP-A (Aboriginal Tribes, Vimuktha Jathis, Nomadic and SemiNomadic Tribes etc.)
* GROUP-B (Vocational Groups)
* GROUP-C (Harijan Converts)
* GROUP-D (Other Classes)
* GROUP-E (Socially and Educationally Backward Classes of Muslims) introduced recently when compared to the above four groups.