Caste system in India
Caste politics
#### Caste politics

Societal stratification, and the inequality that comes with it, still exists in India, and has been thoroughly criticised. Government policies aim at reducing this inequality by [reservation](/wiki/Reservation_in_India "Reservation in India"), quota for backward classes, but paradoxically also have created an incentive to keep this stratification alive according to sociologist [Arvind Shah](/wiki/Arvind_Shah "Arvind Shah"). The Indian government officially recognises historically discriminated communities of India such as the untouchables under the designation of Scheduled Castes, and certain economically backward castes as [Other Backward Class](/wiki/Other_Backward_Class "Other Backward Class").

Others, however, maintain that reservation on the basis of caste is necessary in order to prevent the monopolization of public sector jobs by members of the upper castes. These individuals also point out that reservation in India is not aimed primarily at eradicating poverty, but at ensuring adequate representation of all caste groups.


Which communities are officially recognised as historically discriminated in India?