Largest ethnic group (सब से बड़ा जातीय समूह)

They are the largest group in northwest India, belonging to various clans and more than 1000 Gotras. They are not a homogeneous ethnic group living in a particular area and speaking a single language or following a single religion. Rather, they are a people who live scattered around the world among several ethnic groups, yet retain their own identity. This distinction is often based on occupation and heritage.
The Jats are primarily located in northwestern India and southern Pakistan, although there are some communities in Maldives, Russia, and Ukraine. However, their origin, history, and current dispersion are spread much wider. Jats may be Sikhs, Hindus, or Muslims. In Kashmir the Jats are Muslim and speak the Pothohari/Mirpuri language. In Pakistan, they are Muslims and speak Urdu and Punjabi, and in India, they are Sikhs and Hindus and speak Punjabi, Hindi, Rajasthani, and Haryanvi.

Jat population (जाट जनसंख्या)

There is no census in India based on caste basis. The last census in 1931 in India recorded population on the basis of caste. In 1925, according to Professor Quanungo the population of Jats was around nine millions in South Asia and where the followers of three great religions:
Islam ..... 33%
Sikhism... 20%
Hinduism.. 47%
Since there is no reliable current figure for the Jat population available for South Asia an estimate can be made. According to Dr BS Dhillon, by taking in to consideration the population growth of both India and Pakistan since 1925, Professor Quanungo's figure of nine million could be translated into at least 30 million. According to a source of Joshua Project [1], the population distribution is as under:
India .......... 14,103,000
Pakistan ........... 90,000
Jat Sikh ....... 11,866,000

The Jats - An Introduction जाट परिचय

Jats are a Martial Race of India and Pakistan. A Jat, also known as Jatt, is a member of a large ethnic group though they are not a single socio-religious group. Jats live in the states of Punjab, Western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan in India. The Jats are predominantly farmers and landowners, and Jats occupy many prominent positions in the fields of Government, Millitary, Academia, and Technology.
Jats are primarily located in northwestern India and southern Pakistan, although there are also significant communities in Maldives, Russia, and Ukraine, with a few in Afghanistan. However, their origin, history, and current dispersion are spread much wider. History proves that they reached Egypt with the Muslim conquerors, lived in Afghanistan before the Muslims, and invaded China with the Mongol army. They also proved to be a threat to Tamarlane in Persia and Uzbekistan.
Jats are a brave, hardworking and independent minded people. Primarily agricultuarists, the Jats led a fairly autonomous political life. Even during the Mughal period, the rule of the state was limited.
Known for their military prowess, many Jats were recruited into the British-India army during World War I. Before that, they served as fighters in the Persian army. A large number of Jats serve is in the Indian Armed Forces and form one of the largest ethnic groups in the army.
The Green Revolution brought considerable prosperity to the Jats in the late 60s and 70s. The Jat regions in India are among the most prosperous on a per-capita basis. Today, many Jats are well read and some occupy high positions in academic and technical arenas.
Conservative by nature, the Jats rarely marry people from other ethnic groups. Great pride is placed in their ancestry. In fact, all the Jats in a particular village consider themselves to be the descendants of the man whom they believe founded it.