| Summary/Abstract |
In India marrying across the caste kindles strong community resentment, leading to the extent of honor killing, yet few couples dare to defy this stringent social norm. Analysis of large-scale survey (India Human Development Survey 2011–12) data exhibits an inconsequential rise in this social incongruity since 1951 to attain 4.5% in 2012. It is most prevalent in the northeastern region (11.6%), but least prevalent in caste-ridden central India (1.8%). Multi-variate statistics exhibit that if women are allowed to choose their life-partner, caste takes a rear-seat in marriage contemplation. It is quite prominent among the women who selected the husband by themselves and knew the husband at least one year before the marriage. Contrary to general notion, education is not able to promote inter-caste marriage. Odds of inter-caste marriage taking place in Dalit (lowest social standing) households is much lesser than the higher caste. Resilient targeted efforts are necessary to promote inter-caste marriage, which may loosen the noose of the caste system in India.
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