The caste system in Goa consists of various Jātis or sub-castes found among Hindus belonging to the four varnas (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra), as well as those outside of them.
According to the Gazetteer of India, Union Territory: Goa, Daman and Diu, Part I, published in 1979 the 'chief castes' found in Goa are: Saraswat Brahmins are spread over widely separated regions spanning from Kashmir and Punjab in the north to the Konkan region of southwest India covering the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Kerala.
Daivadnya Brahmins are popularly known as Shetts, they mainly work as jewellers.They are Mahajan of Kasarpali Kalika devi Temple in Bicholim .
Commonly known as Kalavants and now known as Gomantak Maratha Samaj is a group of various sub-castes who served the temples and the aristocrats in the olden days.
[7] These include Charis, Chitaris who call themselves Vishwakarma Manu Maya Brahmin, Sutars and Kasars.
Rest of castes generally referred to as Shudras or Sudirs in Konkani do not really follow the four-fold varna system, but have recently started claiming higher status.
In Goa under colonialism, the community kept away from the rest of society as they wanted to escape the grazing tax and the ban on Kumeri (shifting cultivation) introduced by the Portuguese Empire.
[9] Their knowledge and experience of deep forests played a major part in finding specific locations to build forts for the Maratha kingdom to flourish.