Endogamy still dominant in Indian marriages
Desai attributes trend to role of family in arranging marriages
Despite the proliferation of dating apps and greater freedom in interactions between men and women prior to marriage in India, arranged marriages remain the norm. As data from the India Human Development Survey (IHDS) shows, just over 5% of urban Indian marriages are outside of caste, a percentage that is only marginally greater than that for inter-caste marriages in rural India. Faculty associate Sonalde Desai attributes this finding to the continued role of the family in dominating decisions regarding marriage.
Although the manner in which marriages are arranged may have changed, the vetting process still includes the preferences of both the individuals involved and their parents, wherein caste and class are kept similar.