Intercaste marriages between castes which have socio-economic parity have increased, to some extent, but this is less true of interreligious marriages. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)

 Question: Intercaste marriages between castes which have socio-economic parity have increased, to some extent, but this is less true of interreligious marriages. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)

Approach: § Begin with an Introduction that sets a context to the question. § Delve into the reasons for Increase in Intercaste Marriages Between Castes with Socio-Economic Parity. § Give the reasons for low acceptance of inter-religious Marriages. § Conclude suitably.

Answer:

Intercaste marriages in India have seen some increase, especially among castes with socio-economic parity, while interreligious marriages remain relatively rare due to various socio-cultural factors.

Reasons for the rise in intercaste marriages among castes with socio-economic parity:

• Urbanisation and education: The rise of urban culture and improved education has increased societal acceptance of intercaste marriages, with young people prioritizing compatibility over caste.
• In 2023, Bengaluru represented 17.8% of all intercaste marriages in Karnataka.
• Legal Support and governmental Measures:
• SC in Hadia Case clarified that Right to Marry falls within the Core Zone of Privacy under Article 21.
• Schemes like the Central Government's Dr. Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration and Rajasthan's Antarjatiy Vivah Protsahan Yojana promote intercaste marriages by providing financial incentives.

Constraints on inter-religious Marriages:

• Low Social Acceptance: As per a survey of SARI (Social Attitudes Research for India), there is greater opposition to inter-religious marriages as compared to inter caste marriages.
• Forced Religious Conversion: States like UP and Haryana have come with Anti- Conversion law which create legal hurdles for such marriages.
• Shortcomings of Special Marriage Act: The MP High Court ruled against protecting an interfaith couple under the SMA, 1954, citing that Muslim Personal Law deems a marriage between a Muslim man and a Hindu woman invalid.

Conclusion:

Intercaste marriages are on the rise in India, but interreligious marriages still encounter significant obstacles due to complexity of factors, indicating a need for greater acceptance and tolerance.