---
title: "Casteism: Definition, Law and UPSC Notes | Model Diplomat"
description: "Casteism refers to social discrimination based on caste, affecting millions in India and influencing policies and social dynamics in the country."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/casteism"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Casteism is the practice of social discrimination, prejudice, and hierarchical exclusion based on caste, the endogamous birth-ascribed groups of the Indian social order.
- How does casteism differ from caste?
- Which laws specifically penalise casteist discrimination in India?
- Is casteism the same as racism under international law?
- What is the constitutional ceiling on caste-based reservations?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Casteism is the practice of social discrimination, prejudice, and hierarchical exclusion based on caste, the endogamous birth-ascribed groups of the Indian social order.

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In January 2016, the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula at the University of Hyderabad sparked nationwide protests against institutional casteism, prompting India's Ministry of Human Resource Development to review campus grievance mechanisms.

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