Final answer:
The Indian caste system categorizes individuals into hierarchical groups based on birth, affecting their occupation and marital choices. It is bound by religious beliefs in karma and destiny, and while challenging, social change has been ongoing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Indian caste system is a closed stratification system that impacts an individual's life in various ways, including occupation, marriage, and social interactions. Individuals are born into a specific caste and, traditionally, are expected to marry within that caste, thus maintaining the social order. Within the system, there are four main varnas recognized across India: the Brahmins (associated with priests), the Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors), the Vaishyas (traders), and the Shudras (servile laborers), with the addition of a group known outside this system, the 'untouchables' or Dalits.
Cultural values and religious beliefs concerning karma and reincarnation deeply embed the caste system within the Hindu tradition. Marriage within one's caste is not only a societal expectation but is also seen as a moral duty, and the stratification is supported by ideologies of fate and the will of a higher power. Over time, various movements and social changes have sought to challenge and alter the rigid structures of the caste system, offering avenues for change and resistance.