Q. Discuss the changes taking place in the industrial class structure in India.
UPSC Sociology 2024 Paper 2
Model Answer:
Industrial Class Structure
The industrial class structure in India is experiencing significant changes due to liberalization, globalization, and technological advancements. Traditional organized labor is declining, giving way to a more fragmented and informal workforce.
Key changes include:
1. Informalization of labor: A large number of industrial workers are now employed on casual or contractual terms without job security or benefits. Sociologist Jan Breman refers to this as the rise of the “footloose labor” class in India.
2. Diminished power of trade unions: With the decline of unionized labor, workers have less collective bargaining power, leading to precarious working conditions.
3. Growth of a new middle class: Economic reforms have fostered the growth of an urban middle class, altering social dynamics and consumption patterns, as discussed by D.L. Sheth.
4. Skill-based stratification: Technological progress has led to higher demand for skilled labor, marginalizing unskilled workers and widening income disparities.
5. Increased women’s participation: More women are joining the industrial workforce, changing gender relations within the class structure, though wage gaps and glass ceilings persist.
6. Impact of globalization: The integration of India’s economy with the world has introduced multinational corporations and new work cultures, affecting employment practices and labor relations.
Conclusion: India’s industrial class structure is shifting toward informality and skill-based divisions, reshaping its socio-economic landscape.
