Factors leading to weakening of caste system

♤ Change in hierarchical structure: Caste hierarchy based on purity and pollution has weakened because of secularization. Additionally, wealth is replacing birth as the basis of social prestige.

♤ Breakdown of Jajmani system: Jajmani system involved exchange of goods and services, with each jati contributing its share based on occupational specialty. However, it is dissipating due to traditional breakdown of occupation and industrialization.

♤ Sanskritization: It is a process by which low Hindu caste groups/tribes change their customs, rituals etc. emulating a higher caste group to attain vertical mobility.

♤ Disruption of traditionally ordained occupational system: Due to globalization and rise of services sector.

♤ Anonymous urban life: With increasing migration, city life is becoming anonymous where caste identities of co-habitants is seldom known.

♤ Modernization of education and legal system.