Caste discrimination in India persists as a deeply ingrained structural reality despite strict constitutional bans and robust reservation frameworks. While modern education and urbanisation have altered social dynamics, systemic biases continue to manifest across public, corporate, and academic spheres. These abstract contrasts legislative ideals with empirical facts and addresses common misconceptions surrounding modern caste relations.

The Fact:

While Articles 15 and 17 of the Constitution and the PoA Act, 1989 provide strong de jure protections, de facto implementation is severely crippled. Over 2.8 lakh trials remain gridlocked in courts, stalling justice for victims.

The Reality

Discrimination has evolved into institutional biases, lower corporate call-back rates for marginalized surnames, and campus microaggressions. Over 50,000 registered anti-SC crimes occur annually, while deep-rooted caste endogamy keeps social divides intact.

The Myth

Metropolitan cities and modern education have not eradicated caste bias; they have merely masked it through housing discrimination and subtle workplace exclusion. Furthermore, affirmative action has not fully leveled the playing field, as generational socio-economic capital still heavily skews the narrative of "neutral meritocracy."

 

Key words

• Article 17:"


• Article 15:


• PoA Act 1989:


• Affirmative Action:


• De Jure vs. De Facto:


• NCRB Data:


• Judicial Backlog:


• Institutional Bias:


• Socio-Economic Disparity:


• Caste Endogamy:


• Urban Caste Blindness:


• Myth of Meritocracy:


• Reservation Backlash:


• Microaggressions: