Rajput is a member of one of the major Hindu Kshatriya groups of India (Indian subcontinent). They enjoy a reputation as formidable soldiers and it is common to find many of them serving in the Indian Armed Forces. The British Government also accepted them and recruited them heavily into their armies. Current-day Uttar Pradesh is home to most of the Rajputs, although demographically Rajput population and the former Rajput states are found spread through much the subcontinent particularly in north and central India.

Historically, Rajputs rose to prominence during the 9th to 11th centuries, notably the four Agnivanshi clans, namely the Pratiharas (Pariharas), Solankis (Chaulukyas), Paramaras (Parmars), and Chauhans (Chahamanas), rose to prominence first. Rajputs ruled more than four hundred of the estimated six hundred princely states at the time of Indias independence. Out of them 121 were Salute states Rajputs ruled 81 of them at the time of independence of India.

Col. James Tod famously said in his legendary ?Annals & Antiquities of Rajasthan?- "What nation on earth could have maintained the semblance of civilization, the spirit or the customs of their forefathers, during so many centuries of overwhelming depression, but one of such singular character as the Rajpoot? . . . Rajasthan exhibits the sole example in the history of mankind, of a people withstanding every outrage barbarity could... Read more inflict, or human nature sustain, from a foe whose religion commands annihilation; and bent to the earth, yet rising buoyant from the pressure, and making calamity a whetstone to courage. . . . Not an iota of their religion or customs have they lost. . . ".