Question

The development activity of the states and the growth of private industry affected caste indirectly. State any two ways in which this is evident. 

Hint:

Always link social changes with other developments like economic change, urbanization, modernization etc.

Answer 1

State development and private industry expansion have accelerated economic shifts, rendering the traditional caste system largely irrelevant. This has also generated new employment opportunities unbound by caste regulations, fostering social transformation and economic upward mobility. Furthermore, urbanization and communal city living have hindered the persistence of caste-based social segregation. Modern, educated Indians, influenced by liberal concepts of individualism and merit, have rejected the more extreme manifestations of caste practices. Industrialization, in certain contexts, promotes greater equality; for instance, caste has become inconsequential on public transportation and in cyber cafes. Concurrently, as social disparities diminish, economic or income inequality is rising globally, underscoring a complex interplay between caste and class.