Caste, class, city and choice: Unravelling caste-based school segregation in urban India

This article investigates the interplay between housing segregation and school segregation in major Indian cities, emphasising the broader implications for urban equity. Analysis of UDISE+ and population census data reveals a positive and statistically significant association between residential segregation rooted in caste divisions and the perpetuation of caste-based school segregation in urban India. This residential segregation, stemming from the intersection of caste and class, confines socially and economically disadvantaged caste groups to nearby low-fee private schools or public schools. India’s school admissions policy, which relies on unrestricted school choice based on income, exacerbates these inequities and perpetuates caste-based segregation among schools due to persistent caste-based economic disparities in urban areas. The findings underscore the critical impact of spatial and educational segregation on urban equity, offering insights into how these forms of segregation reinforce social stratification in urban settings.