CASTE, ECONOMY, AND DEVELOPMENT: A CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE ON INCLUSIVE GROWTH IN INDIA

This paper investigates the enduring intersection of caste and economic development in India, emphasizing how caste-based inequalities persist despite decades of economic growth. Drawing upon interdisciplinary literature, government surveys, and scholarly analyses, it highlights how caste remains an entrenched determinant of access to land, education, employment, credit, and entrepreneurial opportunities. The research critiques neoliberal development paradigms for being caste-blind and underscores the inadequacy of welfare schemes and affirmative action in tackling deep-rooted social stratification. It calls for a transformative shift in policy, advocating for an inclusive growth model that integrates social justice and adopts intersectional frameworks addressing caste, class, and gender. The study emphasizes the importance of structural transformation over symbolic inclusion and redistribution and suggests alternative frameworks such as cooperatives, caste-neutral economic zones, and community-led development models to foster equitable development. A caste-sensitive policy lens, the paper concludes, is essential for ensuring sustainable and inclusive economic growth in India.