Casteism

noun (uncountable)

/ˈkɑːstɪzəm/

The practice of discrimination, prejudice, or preferential treatment based on caste identity, particularly within the Hindu social hierarchy. Casteism perpetuates social stratification by privileging upper-caste groups and marginalising Scheduled Castes (constituting 16.6% of India's population, Census 2011) and Other Backward Classes. It is distinct from caste as a sociological category — casteism specifically denotes the ideology of caste superiority and its institutional reinforcement.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The Supreme Court's ruling in Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992) drew a constitutional boundary between remedying the effects of historical casteism and perpetuating caste-based preference as an end in itself.

Synonyms

caste discriminationcaste prejudicecaste bigotryuntouchability (specific form)caste chauvinism

Antonyms

caste equalityegalitarianismanti-casteismcastelessnessmeritocracy

🌱 Word Family

caste (noun), casteist (adjective/noun), casteist (noun, one who practises casteism), casteization (noun)

🔡 Root

Portuguese casta = race, lineage, breed + -ism = doctrine, practice; entered English via Portuguese colonial usage in India

📜 Etymology

The base word 'caste' derives from Portuguese casta (lineage, breed), itself from Latin castus (pure, chaste). Portuguese colonists applied casta to describe the Hindu varna-jati system in the 16th century. 'Casteism' as a critical sociological term was developed primarily in 20th-century Indian social science, notably by B.R. Ambedkar, who distinguished between caste as a social institution and casteism as its ideological justification.

🧠 Memory Hook

Casteism = caste + -ism (a belief system). Just as 'racism' is the ideology of racial superiority, 'casteism' is the ideology of caste superiority. Both words follow the same deadly pattern: a social category turned into a justification for hierarchy.

👥 Society 📖 Seen in: Salient Features of Indian Society — D...

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