In India, caste has historically played a significant role in shaping societal structures, including economic hierarchies. While the country progresses economically and socially, caste dynamics continue to influence wealth distribution. As of 2024, certain castes wield considerable financial power, showcasing the enduring impact of historical privileges and opportunities. Let’s delve into the top 10 richest castes in India and explore their economic prowess.
Richest Castes in India
As India progresses, the caste system diminishes, yet societal values persist. Some communities hold significant economic influence. Notably, Jains, Parsis, and Sikhs contribute substantially to India’s economic growth. According to a recent Business Insider report, 22% of upper caste Hindus possess 41% of private assets. Maharashtra, UP, and Kerala stand out as the wealthiest states, contributing nearly half of India’s wealth.
Top-10 Richest Castes in India By March 2024
India’s diverse cultural landscape includes several castes renowned for their economic success. Here are the top 10 richest castes in India, contributing significantly to the nation’s wealth and development:
Top-10 Richest Castes in India 2024 | ||
Rank | Caste | Prominent Personalities |
1. | Parsis | Jamsetji Tata, Ratan Tata, Sam Manekshaw, Homi Jehangir Bhabha, S.H. Kapadia, Ardeshir Godrej, Freddie Mercury, Boman Irani |
2. | Jains | Narendra Patni, Vineet Jain, Gautam Adani, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Rasiklal Manikchand Dhariwal, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Shailesh Ranka |
3. | Sikhs | Kuldeep Singh Dhingra, Malvinder Mohan Singh, Analjit Singh, Dara Singh, Ajay Banga, Manmohan Singh, Nikki Haley, Arjun Singh, Dharmendra Singh Deol, Khushwant Singh |
4. | Kayastha | Subhash Chandra Bose, Swami Vivekananda, Raja Todar Mal, Rajendra Prasad, Jayaprakash Narayan, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Bhagwati Charan Verma, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Munshi Premchand, Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha |
5. | Brahmins | Bajirao, Rani Laxmi Bai, Deepika Padukone, Shakuntala Devi, Anupam Kher, Pranab Mukherjee, Narayan Murthy, Rabindranath Tagore, Vijay Mallya, Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai, V. Rajsundran. |
6. | Banias | Narendra Modi, Mukesh and Anil Ambani, Laxmi Mittal, Ghanshyam Das Birla, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Uday Kotak, Naresh Goyal, Mukesh Bansal, Arvind Kejriwal, Sachin Bansal |
7. | Punjabi Khatri | Raj Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Captain Vikram Batra, Kalpana Chawla, Virat Kohli, Abhinav Bindra, Oberois, Karan Johar, Pankaj Chaddah, Inder Kumar Gujral, Priyanka Chopra, Purushottam Das Tandon |
8. | Sindhi | Hinduja Brothers, Lal Krishna Advani, Vishal Dadlani, Raju Hirani, Niranjan Hiranandani, Pankaj Advani, Chandra Kochhar, Ranveer Singh Bhavnani, Chandra Prakash Gurnani, Ram Jethmalani, Patanjali Keswani |
9. | Rajput | Sushant Singh Rajput, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, The Great Khali, Major Dhyan Chand, Milkha Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Major Shaitan Singh, Kangana Ranaut, Prithviraj Chauhan, V. P. Singh |
10. | Christians | George Fernandes, G. George Muthoot, Vinod Kambli, Leander Paes, J. John, Tiger Prabhakar, C. Jamir, Mary Kom |