Caste as a Political Category in India: From Social Hierarchy to Electoral Power Abstract Caste in India, historically rooted in a rigid social hierarchy legitimized by religious and customary practices, has undergone significant transformation in the democratic era. This paper critically examines how caste evolved from being a traditional marker of social stratification to a … Continue reading Examine the transformation of caste from a traditional social hierarchy into a potent political category in India, analyzing the role of electoral politics, affirmative action, and identity-based mobilization in this process.