RAJIV GANDHI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

OF LAW
Patiala, Punjab

TOPIC: Inter-Caste Marriage in India with Reference to Bihar

Submitted to: Submitted by:

MR. Ashish Gaur Riddhi Agarwal
Assistant professor of sociology 22240
RGNUL, Punjab

1|Page
 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE
This certificate is to declare that this project based upon ‘Inter-Caste Marriage
in India with Reference to Bihar’ is an original work of Riddhi Agarwal who is
a bona fide student of the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab.

Signature

Riddhi Agarwal

2|Page
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
It is always an honor to mention and let people know the backbones of a
particular project. Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude towards my
university for promoting research based academic projects that allowed me to
explore and understand the concepts better. Further, I would like to thank the
Vice-Chancellor of the university DR. GS Bajpai for being the guiding light to
the faculty and the students as well, he has prompted us with new methods of
research and new methodology for working on varied projects.

Great teachers focus not just on teaching but also mentoring their students, and
likewise I found my mentor in MR. Ashish Gaur. he has always been supportive
and was always approachable while I was working on this project. She guided
me, explained me, and closely observed the developments of this project along
the way.

I would also like to thank my family and friends, without them this project would
always have been a thought in my mind. They pushed me to enter the shoes of my true
potential and has been constantly supportive of my endeavours. I hope I have you with
me today and tomorrow.

3|Page
 TABLE OF CONTENT

1) Bonafide Certificate
2) Acknowledgement
3) Introduction
4) Social Implication of Inter-Caste Marriage
5) Condition of Inter-Caste Marriage in India
6) Supreme Court on Inter-Caste marriage
7) Conclusion
8) Bibliography

4|Page
 INTRODUCTION
The concepts of the caste system and religious discrimination are one of the major hindrances
in India’s way to progress. The problem of the caste system is so ingrained in India that we
still haven’t come out of this vicious web. History reveals that there are many reformists who
tried to uproot the caste system, untouchability, and race discrimination. Inter-caste marriages
are still not accepted in India and are considered taboo. Marriage is one of the most important
social institutions and can help as a measure to remove the shackles of the caste system from
our society. As of now inter-caste marriages are gaining recognition but this is still limited to
the urban part of the country and the rural part is still following the same old traditional way
of marriage.

A study conducted by Kapadia (1966), interviewed 513 university graduates. It was seen that
51 percent of the parents were willing to promote inter-caste marriage. Only about 33 percent
of the parents were against the inter-caste marriage of their wards. There was a higher
positive affirmation by postgraduate students. Urbanization and industrialization had a major
impact on breaking down caste barriers. According to a Times of India report from 1
February 2010, there were 4750 inter-caste weddings involving Dalits in India in 2008–09,
compared to 4205 in 2007–08 and 3945 in 2006–07. Around 1000 inter-caste weddings have
been registered in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra during the past three years, respectively.

For centuries Indians had a very narrow view of marriage. They couldn’t imagine a marriage
beyond the same caste. False conceptions of marriages prevailed for a very long time. Those
who ventured to marry beyond their caste by defying social conventions had to deal with the
repercussions of violence, social boycott, familial boycott, and the deaths of the children
(honor killing). Honor killing is still prevalent in most of the northern parts of India. In
Indian civilization, caste is such a strong and impenetrable division that it is practically
difficult to imagine a union between two members of different castes. It is anticipated that as
society develops and educates more people, the influence of many social factors that divide
people, such as caste, religion, and numerous taboos, would weaken. The largest number of
intercaste weddings were reported in Patna, the capital of Bihar, with 40 marriages in 2014–
15, 49 in 2015–16, and 50 in 2016–17. While Nalanda, the home district of chief minister

5|Page
Nitish Kumar, recorded just 36 intercaste weddings from 2014 to 2017–18, other districts
have reported an average of 2–12 marriages during the past three years. With 40 weddings
reported in 2014–15, 49 in 2015–16, and 50 in 2016–17, Bihar's capital city of Patna has
experienced the largest number of intercaste unions. While Nalanda, the home district of
chief minister Nitish Kumar, only recorded 36 intercaste weddings from 2014 to 2017–18,
other districts have reported between 2 and 12 marriages on average over the past three years.
Officials assume that the number of inter caste marriages would be greater than as depicted
by the figure. One reason that prevents couples seeking inter-caste marriage from requesting
financial aid from the government is a fear of societal rejection.

SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF INTER-CASTE

MARRIAGE
The caste system is a unique kind of social stratification that is mostly prevalent in ancient
and modern India, while it is present in other regions of the world in various forms, including
well-developed systems. The word "caste" comes from the Latin word "caste," which means
"breed." It is split into four castes, known as varnas (colors), which are Brahmin, Kshatriya,
Vaisya, and Sudra. Historically complex and long-established, the caste system once
determined what individuals were allowed to do for a living. Some of its essentials may have
altered, despite the fact that that may have done so. Since caste is inherited and membership
in one requires death, inter-caste marriages are still widely frowned upon in both rural and
urban India.

Contrarily, marriage was a structure created a million years ago as a way to occupy the land.
People gathered to form an institution, breed, and have families in order to pass on their
ownership to their offspring. They thought their kinfolk would aid them in reclaiming their
property. The most fundamental institution in which individuals are born and reared has
evolved over time into the family. It has developed into an incredibly intricate organisation
that aids in our identity formation.

What transpires then when marriage, caste, and marriage all collide? There are a number of
guidelines that must be followed, and breaking them will have severe negative effects. God
will help you if you want to wed someone from a lower caste since our society is driven by a

6|Page
system where everyone seeks to demonstrate their superiority. Through societal boycotts,
family breakups, and the widespread practice of honor murders, we continue to demonstrate
that tyranny is a permanent condition. Although there are more and more crimes involving
inter-caste marriage, there is no legislation protecting those who choose to do so.

CONDITION OF INTER-CASTE
MARRIAGE IN INDIA
One reason why couples in Bihar who choose inter-caste marriage are reluctant to accept
financial aid from the government is fear of societal rejection. Despite the government
offering incentives of up to one lakh rupees to individuals defying the social norm, couples,
particularly those who are trapped by cupid, in Bihar are still more preoccupied on caste
when picking their mates and strongly oppose inter-caste marriage.

435 couples took use of the award in 2017–18, the most in the previous three years. A
breakdown of grant scheme recipients reveals that just 252 couples received grants in 2014–
15, while 254 couples did so in 2015–16. 271 couples chose inter-caste marriage in the 2016–
17 academic year.

Only Hindus are eligible for the 1979-instituted programme, and individuals who use it must
officially register their marriages. The Nitish Kumar administration increased the incentive
amount for couples seeking inter-caste marriage from 50000 to 1 lakh in 2015 after sensing
the scheme's lack lustre reception. The government believed that by offering financial
incentives for choosing inter-caste marriage, people who were interested in getting married
would forgo their caste identity. The programme did not, however, provide the expected
outcome. Records from the social welfare department, which oversees the programme, reveal
that from 2015–16 to 2017–18, 13 crore were allotted for the grant programme, but only 5.27
crore were actually spent. 7.73 crore had to be given back since there were no beneficiaries
and the funds could not be used. The low prevalence of inter-caste marriage in the state is
invariably a sign that society as a whole, regardless of individual economic circumstances, is
still fiercely protective of its caste identity and does not permit its youngsters to choose life
mates outside of their caste. The largest number of inter-caste weddings were reported in
Patna, the capital of Bihar, with 40 marriages in 2014–15, 49 in 2015–16, and 50 in 2016–17.

7|Page
While Nalanda, the home district of chief minister Nitish Kumar, recorded just 36 inter-caste
weddings from 2014 to 2017–18, other districts have reported an average of 2–12 marriages
during the past three years.

Recently, a scheme was being launched by state government of bihar called Bihar Antarjatiya
Vivah Yojana 2022. This scheme is being run by Dr. Ambedkar Foundation under the aegis
of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Under this scheme the couple who had an
inter-caste marriage can avail the amount of 2.5 lakhs.

SUPREME COURT ON INTER-CASTE

MARRIAGES
Supreme court believes that inter-caste marriages are in favor of “national interest” and act as
a unifying factor in a nation where caste is the bane for the growth and development of
society. "The sooner the caste system is abolished, the better; it is a scourge on the country.
At a time when we need to be unified to address challenges facing the country, it is really
separating the country. The caste structure would be destroyed as a result of inter-caste
marriages, which is actually in the national interest "Justices Markandeys, Katju, and, Gyan
Sudha Mishra rendered a decision.

Inter-caste marriages are not prohibited under the Hindu Marriage Act or by any other
legislation, according to the ruling in Lata Singh v. the State of UP. If the family object to
their children's inter-caste marriage, their only option is to sever all ties to them. "However,
they are not allowed to make threats, carry out or encourage acts of violence, or harass
someone who enters into an inter-caste or interreligious marriage. This nation is free and
democratic "The court declared.

CONCLUSION
India still maintains a rigorous caste structure and is mostly a traditional nation. The choice of
spouses in weddings is heavily influenced by caste. The majority of Indians find it
challenging to consider marriage outside of their own caste. However, it is encouraging to see

8|Page
that the influence of caste in marriage choosing is reportedly lessening with time, with reports
of inter-caste weddings accounting for roughly 10% of all marriages in India. This is a solid
start toward entirely eliminating India's caste system. Due to the effects of modernity,
socioeconomic progress, and the globalization of the Indian economy, this change in the
marriage pattern in India is a fairly new phenomenon. The pattern of inter-caste marriages in
India is also influenced by a number of socioeconomic and demographic variables. The
pattern of inter-caste marriages exhibits substantial regional diversity. In contrast to the
socioeconomically underdeveloped northern Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
Bihar, and Rajasthan, there appears to be a greater rate of inter-caste marriages in
socioeconomically prosperous states like Punjab, Haryana, Assam, Maharashtra, and
Karnataka. With the level of urbanization and socioeconomic growth, it is anticipated that the
prevalence of such inter-caste marriages would rise. In order to lessen the caste barrier that
still exists in Indian culture, it is necessary to laud, publicize, and support such unions. When
caste prejudice is totally eradicated from the Indian marriage system, it will be a long time
before that happens.

9|Page
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Das, Das, Roy, Tripathy, kumudin, K. C. ,. T. K. ,. P. K. Dynamics of Inter-Religious and

Inter-Caste Marriage in India. Accessed 14 Oct. 2022.

Das, K. C. Intercaste Marriage in India: Evidence from National Family Health Survey.

Accessed 14 Oct. 2022.

Ray, Rahi. “Social Implications of Intercaste Marriages and Conclusion.” Sociology Group:

Sociology and Other Social Sciences Blog, 5 Oct. 2017,

https://www.sociologygroup.com/intercaste-marriages/.

Roy, Anirban Guha. “Inter-Caste Marriages Still a Taboo in Bihar’s Caste Driven Society.”

Hindustan Times, 29 June 2018, https://www.hindustantimes.com/patna/inter-caste-

marriages-still-a-taboo-in-bihar-s-caste-driven-society/story-

oAqUwGAPVWHLsFaH2ysHrK.html.

Shetty, Amol. “Intercaste Marriages in India.” Amol Shetty - Academia.Edu, 21 Aug. 2016,

https://www.academia.edu/27928238/INTERCASTE_MARRIAGES_IN_INDIA.

Trigunayat, Samarth. Academike, 21 Aug. 2014,

https://www.lawctopus.com/academike/inter-caste-inter-religious-marriages-social-

legal-issues/.

10 | P a g e