Lutjanus indicus was first formally described in 2013 by Gerald R. Allen, William T. White and Mark V. Erdmann with the type locality given as Trincomalee in Sri Lanka.

The overall colour is pale grey, shading to silvery white on the lower part of the body, there are seven dark brown to yellow horizontal stripes on the back of the head and flanks, there is an obvious black spot, larger than the eye, on the back underneath the first 6-7 dorsal fin rays, extending to just below the lateral line.

It is known with certainty to occur in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman, along the northern shores of the Indian Ocean to eastern India, the Gulf of Mannar and to western Thailand.

It is thought that like L. russellii the juveniles inhabit brackish habitats such as mangroves and estuaries, even reaching into the lower parts of freshwater streams.

[1] Lutjanus indicus is frequently recorded in fish markets and is caught by commercial fisheries as both an intended quarry and as bycatch.