Every day, we come across beggars and often offer them alms. But have you ever wondered how many beggars there are in India? According to statistics released by the Indian government, the country has over 400,000 beggars, with West Bengal having the highest number.

West Bengal alone accounts for 81,244 beggars who rely on alms for survival. Interestingly, the state has more female beggars than males, with 48,158 women compared to 33,086 men.

Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Thawar Chand Gehlot, revealed in the Rajya Sabha that according to the 2011 Census, India had a total of 413,670 beggars. Of these, 221,673 were men, while 191,997 were women. West Bengal led the country with 81,244 beggars, whereas Lakshadweep had the lowest count, with only two beggars.

The data places West Bengal at the top, followed by Uttar Pradesh, which has 65,835 beggars. Andhra Pradesh has 30,218 beggars, Bihar has 29,723, Rajasthan has 25,853, Delhi has 2,187, and Chandigarh has just 121 beggars.

Among the northeastern states, Sikkim has 68 beggars, Arunachal Pradesh has 114, Nagaland has 124, Manipur has 263, Mizoram has 53, Tripura has 1,490, Meghalaya has 396, and Assam has 22,116 beggars.

As per government data, Lakshadweep has the fewest beggars, followed by Dadra and Nagar Haveli with 19, Daman and Diu with 22, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with 56 beggars. These figures provide a detailed insight into the distribution of beggars across India, highlighting the regions most affected by poverty and economic distress.