What are the 7 caste system?

The traditional Hindu caste system, known as varna, is based on four main categories: Brahmins (priests/scholars), Kshatriyas (warriors/rulers), Vaishyas (merchants/farmers), and Shudras (laborers/artisans), with Dalits (Untouchables) forming a group outside these four, traditionally relegated to menial, impure tasks like cleaning and leatherwork. While often simplified to these five groups, the system has thousands of sub-castes (jatis) and is a complex social hierarchy, though caste discrimination is illegal in modern India.

What are the different caste systems?

Varna, as mentioned in ancient Hindu texts, describes society as divided into four categories: Brahmins (scholars and yajna priests), Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors), Vaishyas (farmers, merchants and artisans) and Shudras (workmen/service providers).

What is the highest caste in the world?

Within the jati (caste) system, Brahmins similarly occupy the highest position, though that is complicated by strict stratification even among Brahmins and historical attempts by other castes and sub-castes to challenge Brahminical dominance.

What is SC, ST, and OBC in India?

Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Class (OBC) has been identified as backward groups of Indian Society. They include all the castes, races or tribes, which have been socially, economically and educationally backward.

How many castes are there?

The main castes were further divided into about 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes, each based on their specific occupation. Outside of this Hindu caste system were the achhoots - the Dalits or the untouchables.

India’s caste system: what you need to know

What are the 4 main castes?

The four main types of caste, known as Varnas in Hinduism, are Brahmins (priests, teachers, intellectuals), Kshatriyas (warriors, rulers, administrators), Vaishyas (merchants, traders, farmers), and Shudras (laborers, service providers). This ancient system divides society into broad functional classes, often symbolically linked to parts of the creator god Brahma, with Brahmins from the head and Shudras from the feet, though it's a complex, hereditary social hierarchy that also includes groups outside these four, like the Dalits (formerly "Untouchables").
 

Can you tell caste by last name?

It is easy to track family history and the caste they belonged to using a surname. In Odisha and West Bengal, surnames denote the caste they belong. There are also several local surnames like Das, Patnaik, Mohanty, Jena etc. In Kerala, surnames denote the caste they belong.

What is the lowest caste category in India?

The lowest caste in India historically refers to those traditionally considered "untouchables" or outside the four-fold Varna system, now collectively known as Dalits, meaning "broken" or "scattered," though official terms are Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), groups designated for affirmative action due to severe historical discrimination, representing roughly 25% of India's population. 

Are all Christians OBC in India?

In the meeting, it was found that some castes belonging to OBC backward classes have been given reservation in the name of religion, out of which 10 per cent is for all Muslims and 6 per cent is for Christians, by which the rights of the original OBC communities are being taken away to grant reservation benefits to ...

Which caste is top in OBC?

In some states of North India, the Yadavs, Kurmis, and the Koeris, which were called "upper-OBC", were well off, due to ownership of a sizeable amount of land. The abolition of Zamindari system in post-independence India raised many of the members of these communities to the status of landlords.

Which caste is the poorest?

Lastly, the Shudras are at the bottom of the caste system. These people do unfavorable jobs. However, a group exists outside the caste system that is below the rank of Shudras. These people are known as Dalits or the untouchables.

Who is world no. 1 religion?

Christianity is the world's largest religion by number of followers, with over 2.4 billion adherents, while Islam is the second largest and the fastest-growing, projected to nearly equal Christianity in numbers by mid-century. Hinduism and Buddhism are the third and fourth largest faiths, respectively, followed by those with no religious affiliation, who are also a growing segment, according to data from sources like the Pew Research Center. 

Which caste is most educated in India?

The Kayastha caste, unlike the majority of other castes in Indian society, typically relies on employment rather than land, hence both men and women in this caste marry after obtaining professional qualifications.

What are the 4 original castes?

The four original castes (Varnas) in the traditional Indian system are Brahmins (priests, scholars), Kshatriyas (warriors, rulers), Vaishyas (merchants, farmers, artisans), and Shudras (laborers, service providers). These groups were historically assigned specific societal roles, with Brahmins at the top for spiritual knowledge and Shudras at the bottom for manual work, though the system evolved into a rigid hierarchy with thousands of sub-castes, also excluding "Untouchables" outside the Varna system. 

Can you move up in India caste system?

A jati can improve its position in the class system by advancing economically and emulating social groups with money and power. At the same time, a jati can also move up in the caste hierarchy. Mobility in the caste system has been termed “Sanskritization” by the scholar M.N. Srinivas.

Who are Aryans by caste?

However, one can delineate a small number of distinct castes originating from the Aryans: The Brahmins: the most educated priestly caste who manage the temples. The Kshatriyas: the caste of warriors, rulers, and administrators. The Vaishyas: the caste of artisans, merchants, tradesmen, and farmers.

What are Indian Christians called?

Indian Christians are known by various names, most famously as St. Thomas Christians or Nasrani (meaning Nazarenes), referring to the ancient community in Kerala linked to St. Thomas the Apostle, but also by specific ethnic or regional names like Bombay East Indians, Anglo-Indians, Punjabi Christians, or simply Isai in some areas, reflecting their diverse origins and denominations, from Catholic and Orthodox to Protestant traditions. 

What are the 4 types of Christianity?

The four main types of Christianity, often simplified from three major branches (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox), can be understood as Catholicism, Orthodoxy (Eastern & Oriental), Protestantism, and a growing movement of Non-denominational/Jesus Followers, emphasizing Bible-only, non-creedal, and charismatic practices outside traditional structures. While the "Big Three" are Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox, recognizing a fourth, distinct movement like Restorationist or Nondenominational Christianity better reflects modern diversity. 

Does untouchability still exist in India?

Yes, untouchability, though constitutionally banned in India, still persists, especially in rural areas, manifesting as severe social discrimination and ostracization against Dalits (formerly "untouchables"), who face exclusion from public spaces, separate facilities, violence, and are often confined to traditionally "polluting" jobs like manual scavenging, despite legal protections and affirmative actions. 

Which countries still have caste systems?

In India, as well as other countries in South Asia like Nepal and Sri Lanka, the caste system has been a large part of society and still remains, though to a lesser extent, to be a part of society.

Are Dalits Hindu?

Most Dalits in India are Hindu. There have been incidents which showed that Dalits were restricted from entering temples by high-caste Hindus, and participation in religious processions. In the 19th century, the Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj and the Ramakrishna Mission actively participated in the rights of Dalits.

What is the most prestigious last name in India?

Richest Surnames in India. The Hurun India Rich List 2025 presents a clear picture — when it comes to India's wealthiest family businesses, certain surnames appear at the top again and again. Agarwal and Gupta dominate the list, followed by Patel, Jain, Mehta, Goenka, and Shah.

How do Indians name their children?

Devout grandparents often take the traditional route and automatically name children after gods and goddesses, creating households full of Narayans, Parvatis or Laxmis. "Most expectant mothers in south India desire Lord Krishna in their wombs.

Which surname is top in Brahmin?

List Of Most Common Brahmin Surnames By Region

1. Bhagavatula. It is a Brahmin surname commonly found in the South Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. ...
2. Battula. The surname means “soldiers” or “warriors.” It likely has a Sanskrit origin.
3. Chaturvedula. ...
4. Deekshitulu. ...
5. Josyula. ...
6. Navuluri. ...
7. Sharma. ...
8. Sastry.