The impact of British rule on the caste system in India may be studied under the following heads.

1. Introduction of universalistic Legal system 

2. Impact of English Education 

3. Impact of Social Reform Movement 

4. Influence of New Social Formation 

5. Impact of Freedom.Struggle

6. Impact of Industrialization and Urbanization.

1. Introduction of Universalistic Legal System: The establishment of British courts removed authority from the purview of caste panchayats. They introduced a new principle s of justice, according to which all are equal before the law, and the caste panchayat in v proportion lost their former importance. 

Some of the legislation which brought changes in the caste system can be made as the, following.

a. The Caste Disabilities Removal Act of 1850 This act served to remove some of the disabilities associated with castes including the practice of untouchability.

b. The Hindu Widow Remarriage Act 1856, This act made legal provision for the Hindu widows to remarry. 

c. The Special Marriage Act of 1872 which considered marriage as a civil-contract and legalized inter-caste or inter-religious marriage.

d. Other Legislative and Administrative Measures. In 1858 the British government announced that all schools maintained by the government shall be open to all the classes of its subjects without any discrimination. In 1923, the government issued a resolution that no grants would be paid to any aided educational institutions, which refused admission to the children of the depressed classes.

e. In 1925, a bill was passed by the Madras- legislative council, throwing open all public office, well, tank, or place of public resort, to all classes of people including the depressed. Montogue Chelmshford reforms made constitutional provisions for the special representation of depressed classes in the local as well as in the legislative bodies.

2. Impact of English Education: British education was based on scientific, secular and universal principles. It made an accessible to everyone, irrespective of caste or community, who could pay for it. It remained liberal in content. It propagated principles such as the liberty equality and fraternity.

As education spread to the lower strata, It kindled libertarian impulses among them. Western education provided an indispensable passport to the new economic opportunities. Members from the lower castes became different professionals and took new commercial opportunities offered, by the western education.

3. Impact of Social Reform Movements: Social reforms movements brought changes in ‘the caste system in the British period. They were set out to eradicate caste and to establish a casteless and, classless society. They were against the fictitious difference between caste. They attacked the tendencies of separatism and Inequality in the caste system. 

Some important social reform movements are:

• The Brahma Samaj founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy. 
• Prarthana Samaja’s Athma Rama Pandurang Justice M. Ranade. 
• The Arya Samaja founded by Swamy Dayananda Saraswathi. 
• The Ramakrishna Mission represents the synthesis of the ancient and the modem thoughts. Swami Vivekananda started Ramakrishna Mission. 
• Other Reform Movements such as Annie Beasant’s Theosophical society, Maharshi Arabindo Ghosh’s Divine life Society and etc. Thus all these organizations aimed at the destruction of the caste system and social reconstruction of Indian society.

4. Impact of New Social Formations: The new economic system brought about a new grouping of the population in the economic sphere. The Indians could be differentiated into such categories as capitalists, workers, peasants, proprietors, merchants, tenants, landlords, doctors, lawyers, teachers, and technicians. Each category being composed of individuals belonging to various castes, but having identical material and political, interests.

This division weakened the vertical caste lines. Thus there came into existence such organization as Mill Owners Associations, All India Trade Union Congress, All India Kishan Sabhaand, etc., these groups struggled for their own interests. In the process of this struggle, they developed a new consciousness and outlook and a new solidarity, which slowly weakened the caste consciousness.

5. Impact of Freedom Struggle: The growth of the nationalist movement played a great role in weakening caste consciousness. In India, the presence of foreign rule was a permanent stimulus to the Indians to unite on a national basis. Thus the growth of the national movement undermined the caste consciousness.

6. Impact of Industrialization and Urbanization: The growth of Industries destroyed the old craft and provided new ways to earn a livelihood. Occupational t mobility and movement from compact ancestral village started breaking down in the caste norms. New transport facilities, specially crowed trains and buses, which threw together millions of people of all castes and left little room for the necessities of ceremonial purity.

Taboos on food and water gradually weakening when industrial workers belonging to various castes started working under one roof. The demarcation observed by the members of different castes regarding eating food, physical contact with those of other castes, steadily crumbled in cities.