In Sikhism, Sects refers to those sections who believe in alternative lineage of Sikh Gurus or having philosophical differences with Mainstream.
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The early Sikh Sects were Udasis and Minas founded by Sri Chand and Prithi Chand respectively, in parallel to Sikh Gurus. Later on Ram Rai, son of Guru Har Rai formed his own sect at Dehradun and his followers are called Ramraiyas. These sects are portrayed as enemies of Sikh Religion.
Later Namdharis and Nirankaris came out of Sikh Religion who believe in continuation of lineage of Human Gurus even after Guru Gobind Singh differs from traditional belief of last Guru as Guru Granth Sahib.
Udasi
Udasi is a religious sect of ascetic sadhus based on the teachings of Sri Chand (1494–1643), the son of Guru Nanak, the founder and the first Guru of Sikhism. The Udasis do not reject the Sikh Gurus, but attach greater importance to the line of succession from Guru Nanak through Sri Chand to the Udasi mahants. They interpret the message of Guru Granth Sahib in Vedantic terms. They do not abide by the Khalsa's Rehat Maryada.
The Udasis were key interpreters of the Sikh philosophy and the custodians of important Sikh shrines until the Akali movement. They brought a large number of people in the Sikh fold during the 18th and the early 19th centuries. However, their religious practicies border on a syncretism of Sikhism and Hinduism. When the Singh Sabha, dominated by Khalsa Sikhs, redefined the Sikh identity in the early 20th century, the Udasi mahants were expelled from the Sikh shrines. Since then, the Udasis have increasingly regarded themselves as Hindus rather than Sikhs.
Ramraiyas
Ramraiyas follow Ram Rai, the excommunicated eldest son of Guru Har Rai (1630–61), who was sent by his father as an emissary to the Mughal court at Delhi. He won the approval of the emperor Aurangzeb but the displeasure of his own father, by changing lines of Guru Granth Saahib, who when choosing the next Sikh Guru passed over Ram Rai and selected his younger brother Har Krishan. A few Ram Raiya institutions are maintained in Dehra Dun ( Uttarakhand state) on land given to Ram Rai by Aurangzeb.
Nanakpanthi
A Nanakpanthi is a follower of the teachings of Guru Nanak, the first guru of Sikhism. The community transcends the boundaries of Sikhism and Hinduism, and was also a reference to the early Sikh community. Most Sindhi Hindu people are Nanakpanthi, and during the 1881 and 1891 censuses, the community could not decide whether to self-identify as Hindu or Sikh. In 1911, Shahpur District (Punjab) reported 12,539 Hindus (20% of the total Hindu population) identifying themselves as Nanakpanthi, in addition to 9,016 Sikhs (22% of the total Sikh population).
Namdharis
Namdharis consider themselves a sect of Sikhism, but insist that the line of Sikh Gurus did not end with Guru Gobind Singh – it was continued through the Namdhari leaders. Namdhari Sikhs believe fully in all Sikh gurus from Guru Nanak Dev onwards and respect both Sri Aad and Dasam Guru's Granth Sahibs equally. Namdharis believe that Gobind Singh lived for 146 years (1666–1812), eventually bestowing the succession on Balak Singh of Hazro in 1812.