This paper comprises a preliminary analysis of some readily available data on the religious communities of India. Selected data from the census, National Sample Surveys and a 2003 report on the religious demography of India are presented to first provide a demographic picture of India; and second identify some basic demographic characteristics of the main religious communities (Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains) at national and State levels. Finally, some recent analyses that consider the incidence of poverty amongst different religious communities are summarised.