Since independence Indian government has taken various steps to reduce caste inequality. Special programs for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes have been designed and the process started even prior to Independence.

The most important initiative taken by State of India was Reservation, which was introduced to compensate the past and present caste discrimination. Reservation means to set aside some places or seats for the members of scheduled caste and tribes in different spheres of public life like in educational institutions, in public sector jobs, in government jobs, in State and Central legislature.

In addition to reservation various laws have been enacted to eliminate the caste discrimination and to punish the people who are found to be practicing such discrimination specially untouchability.

The various laws that were passed in this respect –

a) Caste Disabilities Removal Act 1850, which disallowed the exclusion of rights of citizens due to change of religion or caste. It allowed the Dalits to take education from Government schools.

b) Constitution Amendment (93^rd Amendment) Act of 2005, introduced reservation for OBCs for higher education in educational institutions

c) Scheduled caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989, to abolish untouchability