Goa, July 17 -- Caste remains one of the most visible and influential social structures in India, impacting nearly every aspect of life-from employment and education to customs, dietary habits, and interpersonal relationships. Though caste is largely hereditary, it is not entirely static. Through shifts in practices or marital alliances, some caste groups have historically altered their social standing.

At its root, the caste system traces back to the varna framework of the Vedic period, which classified society into four broad hierarchical groups based on perceived purity and pollution: Brahmins (priests and teachers), Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors), Vaishyas (traders and agriculturists), and Shudras (manual laborers and service provi...