It was not a social problem in the past to have a differential treatment by certain sections of population on the basis of rigid caste system. The focus of attention has been changed and the implications of caste system in political, educational, religious, family and marriage and economic activities are considered as undesirable and undemocratic. With the introduction of new ideologies and philosophies of life the caste system has become a social problem. People realized that the are some disadvantages of the caste system those were from all ranks, except the privileged classes and castes, have started thinking seriously that something should be done to decrease the unhealthy effects of caste system.
Caste brings a clear racial discrimination and segregation, which cannot be tolerated in an open and democratic society. Such a differential treatment to the individuals can result in revolutions among continuous social disrganization, restlessness and dissatisfaction among the members of a society. Caste system is also one of the major factors in establishing unhealthy and undemocratic relations of an individual with his fellow beings. Further, caste system is the major hindrance in having a healthy competition in all social institutions. Caste system hinders both vertical and horizontal social mobility in the society. An average person is unable to climb to the social ladder due to caste system in society, which results in social, economic and political injustice. The caste system brings inequality in the educational, occupational, professional, economic and political institutions. It kills individual initiative and development process.
The racial discrimination have become very acute in the countries like India, United Kingdom, United States of America and South Africa. In these countries there is a strict social Stratification and most of the people are regarded as inferior on the basis of race, colour, or caste. Such restricted social participation and limited choices at the disposal of an individual have resulted in blocking the road to progress and development in the caste-ridden societies. The discrimination is obvious in religious, economic, family and marriage, political, and play and recreational activities of the people of above-mentioned societies. With the passage of time and the introduction of democratic ideologies of life, it can be expected that the caste system would pose serious social problems in these societies in The time to come.