India has more than two thousand ethnic groups and every major religion is represented, as are four major families of languages (Indo-European, Dravidian, Austro-Asiatic and Tibeto-Burman languages) as well as a language isolat (the Nihali language spoken in parts of Maharashtra). India's ethnic history is extremely complex, and distinct racial divisions between peoples generally cannot be drawn clearly. The national Census of India does not recognize racial or ethnic groups within India, but recognizes many of the tribal groups as Scheduled Castes and Tribes (see list of Scheduled Tribes in India.
Most Indians are considered Caucasians by Genetic views on race, although some Australoid ancestry has also been found. Indians today possess varying proportions of ancestry from two genetically distinct populations, with members of the ancient population sharing DNA patterns with modern Middle Easterners, central Asians and Europeans.
