The most commonly cited rules that the caste system has imposed are as follows:
• Caste is determined by birth-a child inherits the “bom information” the caste of its parents. One can never change one’s caste, leave it, or choose not to join it. Caste is never a matter of choice.
• Membership in a caste involves strict rules about marriage. Caste groups are “endogamous” i.e. marriage is restricted to members of the group.
• Members of a particular caste have to follow rules about food and food sharing.
• An individual bom into a caste could only practice the occupation associated with that caste, so that occupations were hereditary.
• Caste involves hierarchy of rank and status. Every person has a caste. Every caste has a caste. Every caste has a specified place in the hierarchy of all castes.
• Castes involve sub-division within themselves. Sometimes sub-castes may also have subcaste i.e. segmental organisation.
