In the Indian caste system, there are numerous narrow castes defined by practice and in literature, all or most within four large caste categories: (the varnas): viz Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras.[2][3][4][5] Certain people were excluded altogether, ostracized by all other castes and treated as untouchables.[6][7]
Outside the caste system, proper, are persons excluded from the caste system: Dalits (Untouchables), Christians, Buddhists, and others. There exist 1,108 Scheduled castes identified within the Indian constitution of 1950: Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 lists 1,108 castes across 25 states in its First Schedule,[8] These are disadvantaged groups, all or mostly not castes in the sense meant here. See List of Scheduled castes for these.
^Christophe Jaffrelot (2006). "The Impact of Affirmative Action in India: More Political than Socioeconomic". India Review. 5 (2): 173–189. doi:10.1080/14736480600824516.
^Gore, M.S. Urbanization and Family Change. Popular Prakashan, 1990. p. 70. ISBN9780861322626.
^William Shurtleff, Akiko Aoyagi. History of Soybeans and Soyfoods in South Asia / Indian Subcontinent (1656-2010). Soyinfo Center, 2010. p. 758. ISBN9781928914310.