The Indian people have absorbed these influences producing a remarkable racial and cultural synthesis. Religion, caste, and language are major determinants of social and political organization in India today. The population also includes Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, and Parsis. The caste system reflects Indian historical occupation and religiously defined hierarchies. Despite economic modernization and laws countering discrimination against the lower end of the class structure, the caste system remains an important factor in Indian society.
Poverty is one of the major problems facing India.
An estimated 30-40 percent of the population lives in poverty. Four out of five of India's poor live in rural areas.