Social Stratification in Modern India: A Sociological Study

Abstract

Social stratification in modern India remains one of the most enduring subjects of sociological inquiry, reflecting both historical continuity and contemporary transformation. Despite decades of constitutional reforms, democratization, and economic liberalization, inequalities of caste, class, gender, and region continue to define life chances and social mobility. This article examines the persistence and reconfiguration of social stratification in India through a synthesis of secondary data and theoretical perspectives. Drawing upon classical theories by M. N. Srinivas, André Béteille, Marx, and Weber, along with recent evidence from the World Inequality Lab, Oxfam India, and the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), the study explores how caste hierarchies have intersected with emerging class inequalities since the 1990s. Findings indicate that while affirmative action and welfare policies have improved representation and human development outcomes for historically marginalized groups, the concentration of wealth and opportunities among the upper economic echelons has intensified. The paper concludes that India's stratification system today is best understood as a hybrid structure simultaneously caste anchored and class driven demanding integrated redistributive, educational, and institutional reforms.