The caste system in India divides society into a strict hierarchy based on hereditary occupations. It is characterized by endogamy, social restrictions, and a concept of ritual purity. While the system has weakened due to factors like urbanization and education reforms, caste-based discrimination continues today due to biases, poverty, and lack of enforcement of anti-discrimination laws. The Constitution prohibits discrimination based on caste and provides affirmative action. However, fully addressing the impacts of the deep-rooted caste system remains an ongoing challenge.

1. Indian Society Notes
Caste system in India
What is caste?
Caste can be defined as a hereditary, endogamous group having a common name, common
traditional occupation, and common culture, relatively rigid in matters of mobility, the
distinctiveness of status, and forming a single homogeneous community.
The caste system is a social hierarchy in India originally based on a person's occupation and
birth. It divides society into different groups called castes, which are further subdivided into
subcastes.
The four varna - Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra are the classical four divisions of
Hindu society. In practice, however, there have always been many subdivisions (Jatis) of these
varnas, which today connote castes (Jatis) in India.
What are the main features of the caste system?
Segmentary division of Society: Indian society is primarily divided into different castes. Caste
membership is determined by birth and not by accomplishments.
Hierarchy: Castes have a specific scheme of social and ritual hierarchy. A sense of high and low,
superiority and inferiority, is associated with this gradation or ranking.
Restrictions on feeding and social interaction: There are restrictions on the kind of food that
can be eaten together, received, or exchanged among castes.
The ideology of purity and pollution: The ideology of purity and pollution regulates the
interaction between different castes significantly.
Restrictions on Endogamy: Endogamy or marriage within one’s own caste or sub-caste is an
essential feature of the caste system.

2. Rules governing caste system: There is a prescribed set of norms, values, and sanctions that
govern social behavior within a caste.
Restricted choice of occupation: Traditionally, each caste was associated with an occupation.
For example: The Brahmins who occupied the uppermost rank were prescribed the duties of
acquiring and teaching sacred knowledge and performing sacrifices, while lower castes, such as
Dalits, were historically restricted to jobs such as manual labour.
What are the factors that contribute to the changes in the caste system?
Several factors have contributed to changes in the caste system in India over time, which are as
follows
Sanskritisation:
It is a process by which any low caste could adapt to the behavior pattern, culture of the high
caste and claim membership in that high caste.
As lower castes adopt the customs and practices of higher castes, they may be accepted and
respected by members of higher castes, which can help to reduce discrimination and social
stigma.
Westernization: Western-style education has led to a greater emphasis on merit and individual
achievement than traditional caste-based roles and hierarchies.
As people adopt western-style clothing, food, and other cultural practices, they may also adopt
new ideas and values.
Modernisation: It includes establishing scientific, technological, and educational institutions,
the rise of nationalism, and new political culture and leadership in the country, which lead to
job creation, thereby breaking the occupational rigidity of the caste system.
Industrialisation and Urbanisation:

3. Industrial growth and expansion of urban space have provided new sources of livelihood to
people and made occupational mobility possible.
Taboos against food sharing started weakening when industrial workers from different castes
lived and worked together.
Political and Economic Reforms:
Various political and economic reforms were initiated after Independence in the country, which
led to several changes after Independence.
The Indian government has implemented policies such as reservations in education and
government jobs for individuals from lower castes to address historical discrimination and
provide equal opportunities.
Why is caste-based discrimination continuing even in the present times?
Despite various efforts, discrimination and prejudice continue to be prevalent. The following
are the reasons:
Lack of enforcement and implementation of laws and policies to address this issue. Additionally,
caste-based discrimination is often subtle, making it difficult to detect and address.
Lack of awareness about the caste system and its impacts on individuals, which can make it
difficult for individuals to recognize and challenge discrimination.
Poverty and lack of education can exacerbate the problem, as individuals from lower castes
may have limited opportunities and be more vulnerable to discrimination.
Many people continue to hold caste-based biases and prejudices, which leads to caste-based
discrimination.
What are the new identities of the caste system in modern times?

4. The caste system in India has undergone significant changes in modern times, and new
identities have emerged that reflect these changes. A few new identities of the caste system
are as follows:
Caste in governance and politics: Certain castes have been provided reservation in government
jobs and political representation.
Caste system in business: Certain castes dominate certain industries and control access to
resources and opportunities.
Caste association: Formal organizations often encompass several endogamous castes or jatis of
a similar name, occupation, and rank.
Demand for reservations: Various communities across India, including the Jats in Haryana, the
Marathas in Maharashtra, and the Kapus in Andhra Pradesh, have demands for reservations in
the form of quotas in education and employment.
What are the constitutional and legal provisions to eradicate caste-based discrimination?
Constitutional provisions
Article 14 Equality before law
Article 15 Prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, and place of
birth.
Article 16 No citizen shall on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth,
residence or any of them, be ineligible for any employment or office under the State.
Article 17 Abolish the practice of untouchability and made it a criminal offense.
Compulsory Education:
A-21 Right to life and liberty.
Article 21A

5. The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to
fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine.
Article 23 Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour.
Article 46 Promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled
Tribes, and other weaker sections.
Article 51A It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to promote harmony and the spirit of
common brotherhood amongst all the people of India.
A-243 D Reservation of seats in Panchayats.
A- 243 T Reservation of seats in Municipalities
A- 325 No person to be in eligible for inclusion in ,or to claim to be included in a special,
electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex.
A-326 Elections to the house of the people and to the Legislative Assemblies of states to be on
the basis of adult suffrage.
Article 330 Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the House of the
People
Article 332 Reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the
Legislative Assemblies of the States.
Article 338 National Commission for the Scheduled Castes.
Article 338 A National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes.
Article 338 B National Commission for Backward Classes.
Article 341 The President specifies the castes, races or tribes or parts of or groups within castes,
races, or tribes be deemed Scheduled Castes in relation to that State.
Legal provisions

6. The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955: To prescribe punishment for preaching and practice of
untouchability for the enforcement of any disability arising therefrom and for matters
connected therewith. The Act was amended on 2nd. Sep.1976 and renamed Protection of the
Civil Rights Act. This Act. Had even stringent measures to curb untouchability. It made the
wilful negligence of complaints related to untouchability by investigating officers as tantamount
to abetment.
The Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: To prevent the
offenses of atrocities against the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act. 2013:
To provide for the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers, rehabilitation of manual
scavengers and their families, and for matters connected therewith.
Other provisions:
Land Reforms:
Land Ceiling:
The laws set a limit on how much land an individual or corporation could hold, also known as a
land 'ceiling', and allowed the government to reapportion surplus land to the landless.
Human Development:
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY):
It aims to mobilise youth to take up skill training with the aim of increasing productivity and
aligning the training and certification to the needs of the country.
SANKALP Scheme:
Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood (SANKALP) is an outcome-oriented
programme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) with a special
focus on decentralised planning and quality improvement.

7. Stand Up India Scheme:
It was launched in April 2016 to promote entrepreneurship at the grass-root level focusing on
economic empowerment and job creation.
To leverage the institutional credit structure to reach out to the underserved sector of people
such as SCs, STs and Women Entrepreneurs.
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana:
It provides funding to the non-corporate small business sector through various last-mile
financial institutions like Banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and Micro Finance
Institutions (MFIs).
Loans have been given to disadvantaged sections of society such as women entrepreneurs,
SC/ST/OBC borrowers, Minority community borrowers, etc. The focus has also been on new
entrepreneurs.
Impact of caste system on social and economic status of society:
Hinders Social Progress: Caste system poses a hindrance to social progress because it does not
allow changes to be easily introduced into the society.
Under the caste system, the individual is not free as he needs to conform to the age-old
customs of his caste. This rigidity of the system has hindered social progress in our society.
Stifles Economic Progress: As occupations are determined by status, the worker is denied his
freedom to choose an occupation of his liking.
This leads to immobility and inefficiency of labour and thereby stifles economic progress.
Leads to Political Disunity: In the caste system, an individual is required to be more loyal to his
caste than to any other group. Hence, it fosters casteism rather than nationalism among the
people.

8. Perpetuates Social Inequalities: Caste system has served as an instrument in the hands of the
upper castes to maintain their own privileged position in society.
It has led to the despotism of the upper castes and created permanent feelings of inferiority
and insecurity in the minds of lower caste people.
Imposes Hardships on Women: In many cases, the caste system has proved to be exploitative
for women. Under caste system, a caste wishing to raise its status in the caste hierarchy should
follow certain customs like child marriage, prohibition of widow remarriages and seclusion of
women, all of which lead to hardships for them and degradation of their status in society.
Creates Untouchability: This practice as it has developed historically in this country is a product
of the Hindu caste system, according to which particular section amongst the Hindus had been
looked down upon as untouchables by other sections of that society. Untouchability is now
prohibited under article 17 of the Indian Constitution.
Against Democratic Ideals: The caste system ran contrary to the democratic spirit. Democratic
ideals presuppose human equality, but the caste system believed in inequality. There was a
fourfold hierarchical arrangement of castes where lower castes were exploited in every field by
the higher castes.
Marriages: Most Indian marriages are arranged by parents. Several factors were considered by
them for finding the ideal spouse. Out of which, one’s caste is a significant factor.
People do not want their son or their daughter to marry a person from another caste. Just like
the word “untouchables” suggests, a Brahmin would never marry a person from an SC or ST
caste.
Education: Public universities have caste-based reservations for students coming from
underprivileged backgrounds. Therefore, a person from social backward community can secure
a seat in a top tier college based on reservation.
Jobs: People from impoverished communities gets significant amount of public sector jobs as
the jobs are allocated based on caste reservation.

9. What steps can be taken to placate the ill effects of the caste system?
These are steps that can be taken to placate the ill effects of the caste system:
Spread of Education: Caste feelings should be discouraged in educational institutions, and the
students should be taught to resist these feelings whether they experience them in daily social
interactions.
Proper implementation of the law: Ensure strict implementation of the Atrocities Act as
regards victims of violent abuse and other atrocities.
Each police station should have a scheduled caste/scheduled tribe atrocities cell to handle
investigations of abuses and alleged violations of the Atrocities Act.
Economic empowerment: Economic empowerment can help those who have been
marginalized due to their caste by providing them with opportunities to improve their
economic status.
Public awareness campaigns: Public awareness campaigns can help raise awareness about
caste-based discrimination. These campaigns should promote social harmony, a message that
everyone is equal, regardless of their caste or social status.
Conclusion
In recent years, there have been efforts to dismantle the caste system and promote greater
social and economic equality, through measures such as affirmative action policies and
education initiatives. However, the caste system remains a deeply entrenched aspect of Indian
society, and addressing its negative impacts remains a major challenge.