Belonging to the other backward classes (OBC), the Baul community of Bengal are wandering minstrels. They are characterised by their unique clothing and handcrafted musical instruments.
Abstract: The caste has been a unique social institution in India. It has also emerged in a new form after the mandalisation of caste in the early 1990s resulting in the extension of reservation to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in government jobs and also in admissions to colleges and universities. The relative size of population of various caste groups particularly of the OBCs is also a matter of debate. Census does not provide population data on OBCs, however, it is possible to assess it from nationally representative sample surveys. Further, the correspondence between caste categories and class has been a matter of debate. This paper presents an assessment of class within caste categories based on data from nationally representative sample surveys.
The author is professor and head, Department of Migration and Urban Studies, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai. rbbhagat@iips.net. The article should be cited as Bhagat R.B., 2020. Understanding Caste and Class: Categories and Measurement, Geography and You, 20(4-5): 10-17 .
India is set to embark on a new chapter in its Polar exploration journey with the construction of Maitri II. The Indian government plans to establish a new research station near the existing Maitri ba...
The Deep Ocean Mission (DOM), approved by the Government of India in 2021 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), represents a strategic step in realizing Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14:...
China recently announced restrictions on the export of seven rare earth elements (REEs), soon after US President Donald Trump decided to impose tariffs. As the world's dominant supplier—responsible fo...
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) marked a watershed moment on September 15, 2025, signing a 15-year contract with the Indian government, revolutionising deep-sea exploration. India has been gr...