SOCIAL STRATIFICATION AND CASTE DYNAMICS IN CONTEMPORARY INDIA: A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This study examines the persistence and transformation of social stratification and caste dynamics in contemporary India from a sociological perspective. The caste system, with its historical roots in the Varna and Jati hierarchies, has long structured social, economic, and political relations, creating enduring patterns of inequality. Despite constitutional guarantees of equality and affirmative action policies aimed at promoting social justice, caste continues to influence access to education, employment, economic resources, and political representation. The study integrates multiple sociological frameworks, including structural-functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, and intersectionality, to analyze how caste operates at both structural and individual levels. Contemporary forces such as urbanization, economic liberalization, education, and digital communication have facilitated opportunities for mobility and social transformation, yet the persistence of cultural norms, discrimination, and identity-based politics illustrates the ongoing challenges of achieving equity. The critical analysis underscores the dual nature of caste dynamics, highlighting the interplay between empowerment and marginalization, tradition and modernity. This research emphasizes that addressing caste-based inequality requires multi-dimensional strategies encompassing legal, economic, educational, and cultural interventions. By examining historical legacies alongside contemporary social processes, the study provides a nuanced understanding of how caste continues to shape India’s social landscape and the pathways toward a more inclusive society.