Prayer points for India: a 7-day guide.

Day 1: A subcontinent nation

According to United Nations (UN) estimates, India overtook China in 2023 as the world's most populous country, with about 1.43 billion people that year, spread across 28 states and 8 union territories.

“May God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us… that Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.” (Psalm 67:1-2, BSB)

Pray: that the size of the challenge would not paralyze, but deepen the commitment to pray. That God's blessing on those who believe would make His way known among the peoples of India.

Day 2: A babel of languages

The Constitution lists 22 languages in its Eighth Schedule. The 2011 Census recorded 19,569 mother-tongue declarations, which were grouped into 121 languages spoken by 10,000 people or more. The project translates its course one language at a time, from Bengali to Odia and then Hindi (see the language guides).

“After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue…” (Revelation 7:9, BSB)

Pray: for the translators and reviewers, that they have clarity, faithfulness and patience in bringing biblical teaching to each language.

Day 3: A small church, concentrated in two regions

The 2011 Census counted 27.8 million Christians, 2.3% of the population. Almost three in four live in the Northeast and the South: in Nagaland they are 88% of the population, in Kerala 18%, in Odisha 2.8% and in West Bengal 0.7%. The page How many Christians there are in India has the data by state.

“And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can they preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14b-15a, BSB)

Pray: for the states where there are few Christians, that the gospel be understood clearly amid so many other spiritual narratives, and for the churches of the South and the Northeast, that they have courage to go beyond their borders.

Day 4: A faith under pressure

Open Doors ranked India 12th on the 2026 World Watch List, with 84 points out of 100. Thirteen of the 28 states have laws that control religious conversion; the most recent, Maharashtra's, was passed in March 2026 and is now in force. For the period October 2024 to September 2025, the organization counted 1,622 Christians arrested, imprisoned or detained without trial, the highest number in the world. The details are in the persecution figures and in the anti-conversion laws.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth is transformed and the mountains are toppled into the depths of the seas…” (Psalm 46:1-2, BSB)

Pray: for protection and courage for those who are accused, arrested or threatened because of their faith; that justice prevail in the courts; and that these laws may one day serve to protect freedom, not restrict it.

Day 5: Those who have not yet heard

The Joshua Project, which keeps a database of peoples, counts 2,033 unreached peoples in India out of a total of 2,263 (89.8%), far ahead of Pakistan (765) and China (442) (country page consulted on October 15, 2026). For the organization, a people is “unreached” when it is less than 2% evangelical and less than 5% professing Christian.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38, BSB)

Pray: that God raise up workers, preferably Indian, for these peoples, in every region, and that the gospel reach a whole generation.

Day 6: Pastors without training

The Pray for India project reports that, in some regions of the country, more than 90% of church leaders guide their communities without ever having had access to a seminary. That figure comes from the project itself, not from an independent survey. The page Translation Project and Transparency explains what is being done.

“And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.” (2 Timothy 2:2, BSB)

Pray: for biblical wisdom for pastors who lead without formal training, and that those who are trained will train others.

Day 7: The Word in their own language

The theology course in Bengali has 22 subjects, video lessons to watch on a phone and zero cost to the student. The first lessons are already on YouTube; Odia and Hindi will follow. Those who study in a group have the support of a local coordinator.

“The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.” (Psalm 119:130, BSB)

Pray: for the first groups of pastors, for perseverance in their studies and safety at the monthly meetings; and for those who produce and sustain the course.

To keep going

Seven days are only the beginning. The full guide has 30 days, with one prayer point per day. Anyone who subscribes to the newsletter at the Prayer Center receives the PDF guide for free, followed by new prayer points every month. The site's news brings new facts, each with a prayer focus.