Subject: Indian Society

The dynamics of intercaste and interfaith marriages in India reflect deeply embedded social structures and evolving socio-economic realities. Recent data from National Family Health Survey (NFHS) indicates a gradual increase in inter-caste marriages from 10% in 2011 to 12.6% in 2023, while interfaith marriages remain stagnant at approximately 2.1-2.6%.

Factors Contributing to Higher Inter-caste Marriages

• Socio-economic Parity: Growing economic mobility and urbanization have reduced social distance between castes of similar economic status, facilitating matrimonial alliances.

• Educational Advancement: Increased access to higher education has created shared social spaces, leading to greater interaction between different castes of similar economic backgrounds.

• Legislative Support: Laws like the Special Marriage Act, 1954 and Dr. Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration through Inter-Caste Marriages provide institutional support for inter-caste unions.

Barriers to Inter-religious Marriages

• Stronger Social and Cultural Barriers: Interreligious marriages are far less common (about 2% of all marriages) due to deep-rooted religious identities and customs, which are often seen as non-negotiable.

• Community and Familial Pressure: Fear of social ostracism, community backlash, and even violence (such as honor killings) discourages such unions.

• Legal and Institutional Hurdles: Legal requirements, such as those under the Special Marriage Act, and concerns over privacy or forced conversions further deter interreligious marriages.

• Historical Tensions: Past communal conflicts and ongoing mistrust between religious communities reinforce barriers to interreligious unions.

A path forward requires legal reforms, awareness campaigns, and economic upliftment of marginalized groups. Highlighting positive examples—such as Kerala’s Sadbhavana Marriages and Maharashtra’s Inter-faith/Inter-caste Marriage Incentive Scheme—can help break stereotypes and foster greater social acceptance.