Caste and Socoieconomic Disparities in India: An Overview

Rajesh Ramachandran ()
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Rajesh Ramachandran: Monash University Malaysia

Chapter 22 in Handbook on Economics of Discrimination and Affirmative Action, 2023, pp 517-541 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract The chapter provides an overview on the extent of caste disparities in contemporary India. The evidence shows that the social basis of reproduction of caste – endogamy and untouchability practices – remain prevalent and widespread. Caste-based affirmative action is seen to be instrumental in improving human capital outcomes and providing access to better jobs for the disadvantaged group though in spite of these the gaps in higher education and white collar occupation are seen to have widened in the post-independence era. The regional patterns suggest that the caste disadvantage are especially acute in the northern and central plains of India. The evidence shows that caste remains a key mediator of socioeconomic status in today’s India.

Keywords: Caste disparities; Affirmative action human capital; Health; Income; Occupation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-981-19-4166-5_23

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DOI: 10.1007/978-981-19-4166-5_23

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