Saini ( pronunciation (help?info) is a caste of India. Sainis, also known as Shoorsaini in Puranic literature, are now found by their original name only in Punjab and in the neighboring states of Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. They claim descent from Rajputs ^{[6] [8]} of the Yaduvanshi ^{[3] [5]} Surasena^[4] lineage, originating from Yadava King Shoorsen, who was the grandfather of both Krishna and the legendary Pandava warriors. Sainis relocated to Punjab from Mathura and surrounding areas over different periods of time.^{[9] [6]}

Like most other Rajput origin tribes of Punjab ^{[10][11] [12][7]} , Sainis also took up farming during medieval period, and have been chiefly engaged in both agriculture and military service since then until the recent times. During British period Sainis were enlisted as a statutory agricultural tribe ^[7] as well as a martial class. ^{[13] [14] [15]}

Sainis have a distinguished record as soldiers in the armies of pre-British princely states, British India and independent India. Sainis fought in both the World Wars and won some of the highest gallantry awards for `conspicuous bravery`.^{[16] [17] [18]}

During British era saveral influential Saini landlords were also appointed as Zaildars, or revenue-collectors, in many districts of Punjab and modern Haryana. ^{[19] [20][21] [22]}

Sainis also took active part in the freedom movement of India and many insurgents from Saini community were either martyred or imprisoned during the days of British Raj. ^{[23][24] [25] [26] [27]}

However, since the independence of India, Sainis have diversified into different trades and professions other than military and agriculture. Sainis are now also seen in increasing numbers as businessmen, lawyers, professors, civil servants, engineers, doctors and research scientists, etc. ^[28] A significant section of Punjabi Sainis now lives in Western countries such as USA, Canada and UK , etc and forms an important component of the global Punjabi diaspora.

Sainis profess in both Hinduism and Sikhism. Several Saini families profess in both the faiths simultaneuosly and inter-marry freely in keeping with the age-old composite Bhakti and Sikh spiritual traditions of Punjab.