[1] Like all sillaginids,[3] it is benthic in nature, living in depths to 30 m where it is caught by fishermen alongside other species of Sillago.

[5] The species was first named by McKay in his comprehensive review of the Sillaginidae, with coauthors Dutt and Sujatha contributing the section on S. indica.

The species was previously misidentified as Sillago parvisquamis by the latter two authors in earlier publications, with McKay pointing out the only noticeable difference between the two is the swim bladder morphology, as well as an indistinct black band in the side of the fish.

[3] The colour of the Indian sillago is a light tan with a dark brown—blackish band starting behind the upper part of the opercle and curving down below lateral line for approximately two thirds the length and continuing slightly or directly on the lateral line as a broken band or elongate spots.

The head, cheeks, belly and lower sides are covered in a sprinkling of black spots.