UPSC CSE Mains 2018 · GS1

“Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence caste system cannot be eradicated in India.” Comment.

Theme

T50 Caste: continuity, change, mobility & Dalit assertion

What UPSC asks in this theme

A heavily repeated GS1 theme: is caste disappearing in urban India, fluid and static identity, new associational forms, Dalit assertion, and intercaste vs interreligious marriages.

What to cover

Caste in urban vs rural India
Sanskritisation, dominant caste, caste associations
Fluid vs static: mobility vs endogamy
Dalit movements and annihilation of caste
Caste in politics and marriage

Writing the answer

Use sociological concepts (Srinivas etc.) and current examples
Balance continuity and change

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 6 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.

More PYQs from this theme

GS1202615 marks
Is caste disappearing in urban India? Illustrate your answer with examples
GS1202410 marks
Intercaste marriages between castes which have socio-economic parity have increased, to some extent, but this is less true of interreligious marriages. Discuss.
GS1202315 marks
Why is caste identity in India both fluid and static?
GS12020
Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian Society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations.
GS12015
Debate the issue of whether and how contemporary movements for assertion of Dalit identity work towards annihilation of caste.

All 20 GS1 2018 questions · Indian Heritage & Culture, History, Geography & Society · Report a typo