Salient Features of Indian Society - UPSC Indian Society GS1 notes 2026

Salient Features of Indian Society

Category	Facts / Data
Demographic & Linguistic Diversity	- 19,500+ languages/dialects spoken (Census 2011); 121 classified as languages; 22 in 8th Schedule. - 22 languages in 8th Schedule cover ~97% of population.
Religious Composition (2011)	Hindus 79.8%, Muslims 14.2%, Christians 2.3%, Sikhs 1.7%, Buddhists 0.7%, Jains 0.4%.
Caste & Tribe	SCs 16.6%, STs 8.6% (Census 2011). - 57,582 caste-based crime cases in 2022 (NCRB). - Top 10% own 77% wealth; correlation with caste (Oxfam). - 80% political parties field candidates based on caste (CSDS 2019). - Tribes have more favourable sex ratio than SCs.
Family & Marriage	- Joint families: ~20%, Nuclear families: ~50% (2022). - Inter-caste marriages: 11.4% (NFHS-5, 2021). - Love marriages: 3% (1970) → 12% (2020). - Self-arranged marriages: 72% urban youth prefer, with family approval. - Shaadi.com: ~60% prioritize caste. - Inter-religious marriages: ~2.1%. - Single-parent households: 4.5% (mostly single mothers).
Diversity & Pluralism	Diversity = existence of variety; Pluralism = active engagement & respect for diversity while maintaining unity.
Unity in Diversity	Indian nationalism’s core philosophy: cultural syncretism + shared history + constitutional values.
Secularism (Indian Context)	“Principled distance”: equal respect to all religions; state can intervene for reform & justice.
Caste Concepts	Varna = 4-fold textual model; Jati = thousands of endogamous communities. - Sanskritization = lower/mid castes adopt higher caste practices. - De-sanskritization = dominant castes adopt secular/non-traditional practices. - Dominant caste = numerically strong + local political/economic power.
Communalism	Allegiance to religious community over nation; fosters hostility.
Regionalism	Shared identity based on region; can be positive (statehood/autonomy) or negative (parochialism).
Globalization	Intensification of social, economic, cultural, political global linkages.
Cultural Impact of Globalization	- Homogenization = single dominant global culture (e.g., Americanization). - Glocalization = global products adapted locally (e.g., McAloo Tikki). - Cultural hybridity = creation of new mixed cultural forms.
Marriage Perspectives	Sacrament = sacred, indissoluble union; Contract = companionship-based, dissolvable partnership.
Obscurantism	Deliberate resistance to reason/enlightenment using tradition/dogma.
Social Capital	Networks enabling societal functioning; erosion seen with decline of joint families/community ties.
Patriarchy	Men hold primary power & control resources, mobility, decision-making; key in women & social structure topics.

• Multiculturalism

•  Refers to cultural diversity where there is peaceful coexistence among different cultures of the society. People have a tendency to retain , to celebrate and transmit their culture from one to the another generation. 
• Melting Pot
• Idea: Different cultures mix together to form a homogeneous identity, losing distinct features.
• Example: Bollywood culture – music, language (Hinglish), and fashion fuse elements from diverse regions into a single mainstream identity
• Salad Bowl
• Idea: Different cultures coexist while retaining their distinct identity, enriching the whole.
• Example: India’s festivals – Diwali, Eid, Christmas, Baisakhi, Pongal – celebrated nationwide but each keeps its uniqueness, reflecting “unity in diversity.
• ”Melting pot = blending, Salad bowl = coexistence with distinctness

Andre Betille : 

• Law determines the direction of which society should move , however, it is the culture which determines the direction of society. 
• Social Empowerment : refers to the autonomy in decision making and confidence to bring about changes in the structure of the society which has kept them marginalised over the years. 
• In the absence of social empowerment there will be no amount of political and economical empowerment that gives desired results.

Also Read : 

GS 1 : NOTES 

FAMILY IN INDIA 

SALIENT FEATURES OF INDIAN SOCIETY

MODERN HISTORY PYQs

Q : Mahatma Jyotirao Phule’s writings and efforts of social reforms touched issues of almost all subaltern classes. Discuss. 2025 | 15

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