M.N. Srinivas introduces the concept of “Dominant Castes” which is of great help in understanding inter-caste relations and conflicts in Indian society. According to him “A caste is dominant when it preponderates numerically over the other castes, when it also wields preponderant economic and political power, and when it enjoys a high ritual status in local caste hierarchy”.

1. Nature of Dominant Castes:

a. Determinants of Dominance: A dominant caste should own a sizeable amount of the land and it should enjoy greater economic and political power. In addition to this, a number of educated persons being found in the caste and the nature of high occupation people pursue in the caste, add to the dominant caste. When a caste enjoys all the elements of dominance, i .e. numerical strength, economic and political power, high ritual status, it is said to be dominant in a decisive way.

b. Distribution of Dominance: Different elements of dominance are distributed differently among different castes in a village. For example, a caste, which is numerically high, may be poor and lacking in political power, while a ritually high status caste may be rich economically and lacking strength in numbers. It can also be said that when a caste enjoys one form of dominance, it is frequently able to acquire other form of dominance.

c. Dominance is not purely a local phenomenon: As M.N. Srinivas says, in Rural India dominance is purely a local matter. A caste group, which has only a family or two in a particular village, may enjoy decisive dominance in the wider region. Because the caste members of these families maintain a network of ties with the dominant relatives found in the wider region.

d. New factors affecting Dominance of Caste: According to M.N. Srinivas, western education, jobs in the administration and urban sources of income are also significant in contributing to the prestige and power of particular caste groups in the village.

e. Dominant Caste at the State Levels: Lingayats and Vokkaligas in Karnataka, Reddy s and Kammas in Andhra Pradesh, Nairs and Ezhavas in Kerala, Gounder, Padayachi and Mudaliars in Tamil Nadu, Marathas, Brahmins and Mahars in Maharashtra, Rajputs, Jats, Takurs, Gujars, Baniyas, Bhoomihars etc., in the N ith Indian states form the dominant castes in those regions.