What are the different Castes in India?

Castes are strict social groupings with the generational transmission of lifestyle, vocation, and social rank. The caste system in India dates back to ancient India and has been modified by successive governing classes in medieval, early-modern, and modern India, particularly the Mughal Empire and the British Raj. The Indian caste system is made up of two distinct ideas, varna and jati, which may be thought of as various levels of analysis. The caste system as it exists now is considered to be the consequence of events that occurred during the Mughal era and the emergence of the British colonial authority in India. The fall of the Mughal Empire saw the development of strong individuals who aligned themselves with monarchs, priests, and ascetics, reinforcing the regal and martial form of the caste ideal, but also reshaping numerous seemingly casteless social groups into distinct caste societies. Understand the different castes in India.

Castes in India

The British Raj accelerated this trend by making severe caste organization a major administrative tool. Between 1860 to 1920, the British incorporated the caste system into their administration structure, providing administrative posts and high appointments solely to Christians and members of specific castes. This strategy was altered as a result of social upheaval in the 1920s. The colonial authority launched a strategy of positive discrimination by reserving a specific number of government employment for the lower castes from that point forward. Negative discrimination on the basis of caste was made illegal in 1948 and was further codified in the Indian constitution; yet, the system is still maintained in some regions of India.

Other areas and faiths in the Indian subcontinent, such as Nepalese Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism, have also practiced caste-based inequalities. Many reformist Hindu groups, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, and modern Indian Buddhism have all opposed it. Because of the Indian influence in Southeast Asia, the caste system is also followed in Thailand, Cambodia, and Bali. Following its independence in 1947, India adopted a slew of affirmative action measures aimed at lifting up historically disadvantaged communities. Certain measures included reserving a quota of spots in higher education and government jobs for these communities.

Here are the castes when they were originally initiated.

• Brahmins – Priests and teachers
• Kshatriyas – Warriors and rulers
• Vaishyas – Farmers, traders, and merchants
• Shudras – Labourers
• Dalits (outcastes) – Street sweepers, cleaners

Caste System in India

The caste system is a scourge in Indian society. It separates Indian society into sectarian and socioeconomic divisions. Despite the advancement of culture and civilization, it continues to play a prominent role in contemporary society.

• The formal words used in government papers to designate erstwhile untouchables and tribes are ‘Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.’ However, in 2008, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, observing that the term ‘Dalit’ was being used interchangeably with the official term ‘Scheduled Castes,’ asked state governments to stop using the term ‘Dalit’ in official documents, calling it ‘unconstitutional,’ and to replace it with the term ‘Scheduled Caste’.
• The caste system’s origins may be traced back to prehistoric times. While one school of thought distinguishes castes as higher and lower castes based on their origin, another school of thought links the origins of castes to varnas, which classify the caste system based on their roles. Since then, it has been discovered that those with an advantage and a say in the community have taken unfair advantage, resulting in discrimination and exploitation of the group’s weaker members.
• People from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, sometimes known as “untouchables,” account for one-sixth of India’s population, approximately 160 million people; they face prejudice and segregation.

Evil faces of the caste system in the society

• Untouchability – Many communities are divided by caste, and they are not permitted to cross the line separating them from the upper castes. They may also not drink from the same wells or visit the same tea shops as higher castes.
• Discrimination – In lower caste neighborhoods, they frequently lack access to power, sanitation, and water pumps. Higher castes are denied access to better education, housing, and medical services.
• Division of labor – They are limited to particular vocations such as sanitation labor, plantation work, leatherwork, street cleaning, and so on.
• Slavery – They are subjected to exploitation in the name of debt, tradition, and so on, and are forced to work as laborers or do menial jobs for generations.

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Is the system legal?

The constitution of independent India prohibited caste discrimination, and in an attempt to correct historical injustices and provide a level playing field to the traditionally disadvantaged, the authorities announced quotas in government jobs and educational institutions for scheduled castes and tribes, the lowest in the caste hierarchy, in 1950. Quotas were expanded in 1989 to include the OBCs, a category that falls between the traditional upper and lower castes. With the development of secular education and rising urbanization in recent decades, the impact of caste has waned, particularly in cities where multiple castes coexist and inter-caste marriages are common. Following social reform initiatives, many individuals in various southern states and the northern state of Bihar began using only one name. Despite the changes, caste identities remain strong, and last names nearly invariably indicate the caste a person belongs to.

List of all castes in India

A

• Advisor
• Agri (caste)
• Ahirwar
• Ahluwalia (caste)
• Anjana Chaudhari
• Arora
• Asati

B

• Balija
• Banai (sub-tribe)
• Banaphar
• Bandhmati
• Barai (caste)
• Baranwal
• Barika (caste)
• Barwar (caste)
• Beldar
• Bhambi
• Bhambi Khalpa
• Bhandari (caste)
• Bhambi Rohit
• Bhambi Sindhi Mochi
• Bhanushali
• Bhar
• Bharbhunja (Hindu)
• Bhat
• Bhatraju
• Bhil Gametia
• Bhil Mama
• Bhishti
• Bhulia
• Bhumihar
• Bind (caste)
• Bot (caste)
• Boya (caste)
• Brahmin
• Burud (caste)

C

• Chakyar
• Chamail
• Chambhar
• Charan
• Chasa (caste)
• Chaukalshi
• Cherayi Panikkar (title)
• Chero
• Chettiar
• Chhaparband
• Chik (community)
• Chunara
• Churihar

D

• Dahima
• Daivadnya Brahmin
• Dangi (people)
• Desikar
• Devadiga
• Devanga
• Dhagi
• Dheevara (caste)
• Dhekaru
• Dhusia
• Dogra Jheer
• Dubla

E

• Elur Chetty
• Eradi
• Ezhava
• Ezhuthachan (caste)

G

• Gadaria
• Gadhia (community)
• Gahoi
• Ganak
• Gandhabanik
• Gauda and Kunbi
• Gavli
• Gawaria
• Ghamaila
• Gharami
• Ghasiara
• Ghirth
• Gihara
• Godha
• Gollewar
• Gopa (caste)
• Gopal (caste)
• Goriya
• Goud
• Gowala (caste)
• Gowari
• Gudia (caste)
• Gurjar

H

• Halba (tribe)
• Hatkar
• Heri (caste)
• Holar caste
• Hoogar
• Hurkiya

I

• Idangai
• Ilayathu
• Isai Vellalar
• Istimrari
• Iyer

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J

• Jadaun rajput
• Jalia Kaibarta
• Jāti
• Jhamar (caste)
• Jogi (caste)
• Jogi Faqir
• Joisar
• Jyotish (caste)

K

• Kadava Patidar
• Kadia (Muslim)
• Kadia Kumbhar
• Kaikalas
• Kalabaz
• Kalari Panicker
• Kalbi
• Kalingi
• Kalita (caste)
• Kalwar (caste)
• Kamar (caste)
• Kamma (caste)
• Kammalar (caste)
• Kanakkan
• Kanet
• Kaniyar
• Kannadiya Naidu
• Kansara
• Kapariya
• Kapu (caste)
• Karmakar
• Kartha
• Kashmiri Muslim tribes from Hindu lineage
• KasuadhanKatesar
• Kathi people
• Kesarwani
• Kewat
• Khagi
• Khairaha
• Khant kolis
• Kharol
• Kharwa caste
• Khati
• Khatik
• Khatri
• Kirar
• Kisan (caste)
• Komati (caste)
• Konar (caste)
• Kondaikatti Vellalar
• Koshta
• Kshatriya
• Kuchband
• Kudumbar
• Kumawat
• Kumhar
• Kunbi
• Kuravar
• Kuta (caste)
• Kuthaliya Bora

L

• Labbay
• Lakhera
• Lavana
• Leva Patel
• Lodha
• Lonari

M

• Mahishya
• Mahton
• Mahuri
• Maiya
• Mal (caste)
• Mali caste
• Mang (caste)
• Manipuri Brahmin
• Mannadiyar
• Maratha (caste)
• Menariya
• Meshuchrarim
• Mirshikar
• Mistri caste
• Mohyal Brahmin
• Mudiraju
• Mukkulathor
• Mukkuvar (India)
• Mundhra
• Muslim Dhobi

N

• Nadar (caste)
• Nador (caste)
• Nagarathar
• Nai (caste)
• Nair
• Nambiar (Ambalavasi caste)
• Nankudi Vellalar
• Narikurava
• Natrayat Rajputs
• Navnat
• Nayak (caste)
• Nedumpally
• NethakaniNiari
• Nishad
• Noongar (caste)

O

• Oswal

P

• Pachhimi
• Padhar
• Padmasali (caste)
• Pancha-Dravida
• Pancha-Gauda
• Panchkalshi
• Panikhia Jati
• Pannaiyar
• Parahiya
• Paravar
• Pathare Prabhu
• Pathare Prabhu (Kanchole)
• Patra (caste)
• Pattanavar
• Pattariyar
• Patwa
• Pindari
• Purabi

Q

• Qalandar (caste)
• Qassab

R

• Raj Mistry
• Rajakulathor (caste)
• Raju
• Ramoshi
• Rathodia
• Raut (caste)
• Rautia

• Rayee
• Rayeen (Hindu)
• Roniaur
• Ror
• Rosha (subcaste)

S

• Sachora Brahmin
• Sadar Lingayats
• Sadh
• Sai Suthar
• Saini
• Salaat (caste)
• Saliya
• Salvi (caste)
• Samantan
• Sambandam
• Sansi people
• Sapera (caste)
• Sapera (Muslim)
• Sathwara
• List of Scheduled Castes
• Sembadavar
• Sengunthar
• Shah (caste)
• Shankarjati
• Shenva
• Sidh (community)
• Sikligar
• Sinduria (caste)
• Sondhia
• Soni (caste)
• Sorathia
• Sri Lankan Mukkuvar
• Sundhi
• Sunga (caste)
• Sunwani
• Suryavanshi Aare Katika
• Sutradhar (caste)
• Swakula Sali
• Swarnkar

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T

• Tanti
• Tattama
• Thakor Kolis
• Thampan
• Thandan
• Thathagar
• Thathera
• Thirumulpad
• Thogata
• Thuluva Vellala
• Tilli
• Tuluva Hebbars
• Turaiha
• Turha
• Twenty four Manai Telugu Chettiars
• Tyagi

U

• Uppara
• Upper Backward Castes

V

• Vaddera
• Vaishya Vani
• Valan
• Valangai
• Vannar
• Vanza
• Vanzha
• Variar
• Vatalia
• Velama
• Vellalar
• Vijayvargiya

Y

• Yadav
• Yerukala people

Conclusion

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