Beginning in ancient India, the caste system was originally centered around varna, with Brahmins (priests) and, to a lesser extent, Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors) serving as the elite classes, followed by Vaishyas (traders, merchants, and farmers) and finally Shudras (labourers).

Jun 19, 2019 · India's caste system is among the world's oldest forms of surviving social stratification. The BBC explains its complexities.

The caste system in India is considered to be the classic example of caste and the world's oldest surviving form of social stratification at around 3,000 years old. India's caste system classifies Hindus into four varnas (classes) based on their occupation: A Brahmin is a member of the highest caste or varna and is an incarnation of knowledge.

Sep 30, 2020 · Most definitions of the modern-day caste system describe it as dividing Hindus into four main umbrella categories, with upper-caste Brahmins at the top. In descending order, the other...

Jun 29, 2021 · Most Indians say they belong to a lower caste category — specifically, Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) or Other Backward Class (OBC), according to the Center’s new survey, which was fielded in 17 languages among nearly 30,000 Indian adults between Nov. 17, 2019, and March 23, 2020.

Jun 29, 2021 · The survey finds that three-in-ten Indians (30%) identify themselves as members of General Category castes, a broad grouping at the top of India’s caste system that includes numerous hierarchies and sub-hierarchies.

Sep 13, 2024 · The origins of the caste system in India and Nepal are not fully known, but castes seem to have originated more than 2,000 years ago. Under this system, associated with Hinduism, people were categorized by their occupations.

The caste system, as it actually works in India is called jati. The term jati appears in almost all Indian languages and is related to the idea of lineage or kinship group. There are perhaps more than 3000 jatis in India and there is no one all-Indian system of ranking them in order of status.

Mar 24, 2023 · Caste is a social and cultural institution that has been prevalent in India for more than 2,000 years. It is a system of social stratification that divides people into different groups based on their birth, occupation, and social status.

Aug 18, 2017 · Caste in India is a special form of status-based social stratification. This viewpoint was early formulated by Max Weber. The cultural-particularistic view is held by Louis Dumont who holds that caste is found only in India. Is the caste system unique to Hinduism?