The Korku are a Munda ethnic group predominantly found in the Khandwa, Burhanpur, Betul and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas near the Melghat Tiger Reserve of Maharashtra.

The Korku people are believed to have been initially a hunter-gatherer community who dwelt in the forests of the Satpura Range on both sides of the Tapti River.

[4] Whilst they share the love of the forests with the Gonds, they are also excellent agriculturists and Korkus in Bhainsdehi tahsil of the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh have pioneered the cultivation of potato and coffee.

It plays a decisive role during traditional occasions such as festivals, marriages and intra- and inter-village conflict resolution.

Known for poverty, hunger, malnutrition, mass-scale exploitation by moneylenders and traders, the community confronts numerous socio-economic challenges in its day-to-day life partly due to the poor natural resource bases.

Gotras found in the same area geographically such as Jambhu and Dhikar trees are considered brother-sister and marriage between the two was once not allowed.

Some scholars found a 'Thakur' gotra in some places, which may stem from certain bands of Korku with Rajput chieftains collecting tribute from lowlands of Vidarbha, called 'tankha Mawasi'.