Topic -Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India
2) One of the most significant yet paradoxical changes in the caste system in the contemporary period is that it has tended to become ‘invisible’ for the upper caste, urban middle and upper classes. Comment.(250 words)
Directive word
Comment- here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to form an opinion about reducing importance of caste system in upper caste people and urban middle and upper class. We have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and present points, facts, arguments in favour of our opinion.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the weakening of caste institutions and structures with time.
Body-
Discuss how caste has become invisible for the upper caste, urban middle and upper classes. E.g For the majority of the upper caste, their status had been crucial in ensuring that these groups had the necessary economic and educational resources to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by rapid development.At the same time, they were also able to take advantage of the expansion of state sector jobs in the early decades after Independence. In this initial period, their lead over the rest of society (in terms of education) ensured that they did not face any serious competition. As their privileged status got consolidated in the second and third generations, these groups began to believe that their advancement had little to do with caste. For this group, it now seems that caste plays no part in their public lives, being limited to the personal sphere of religious practice or marriage and kinship etc.
