Introduction & Syllabus Context

Caste and class are the two foundational pillars of social stratification in Indian sociology. This topic is the highest-scoring sociology topic in Paper I Unit III, appearing in both 2021 and 2023 with 12 total marks across the two years. The RPSC 2026 pattern — all 5-mark, 50-word answers — demands precision over length.

Why this topic dominates: India's caste system is uniquely complex. Unlike class — a universal category found across all industrialised societies — caste combines ritual purity, hereditary occupation, endogamy, and commensality rules into one overarching institution. Understanding how caste is changing (urbanisation, inter-caste marriage, political mobilisation, economic mobility) is equally important as understanding traditional caste structure.

RPSC's preferred angles (based on PYQs):

• M.N. Srinivas: dominant caste, Sanskritisation
• Caste as segmental division (Louis Dumont)
• Caste vs. class distinctions
• Constitutional provisions and reservation policy
• Changing nature of caste in modern India

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