Key points
Is caste weakening or strengthening?
The future of caste is not a simple fade-out: some hierarchies soften while identity and politics harden.
- M.N. Srinivas noted both erosion of some ritual disabilities and persistence of caste in marriage, politics and identity.
- Weakening factors: urban anonymity, education, industrial employment, legal equality, inter-dining in public institutions, and critique from reform/Ambedkarite currents.
- Strengthening factors: democratic mobilisation, reservation competition, endogamy, matrimonial markets, and caste associations in cities.
- K.L. Sharma and others stress change in form: from ritual hierarchy toward political and economic competition among castes.
Key points
Yogendra Singh and modernisation of tradition
- Yogendra Singh (Modernisation of Indian Tradition) argued Indian tradition selectively absorbs modern elements instead of being replaced wholesale.
- Caste can modernise its idiom—associations, courts, media, parties—while retaining boundary maintenance.
- Exam use: pair ‘weakening of untouchability practices’ with ‘strengthening of caste in elections and marriage’ in one balanced paragraph.
WRAP Exams coaching notes for UPSC Anthropology optional. Pair with the official syllabus when you need every heading in order.