Caste, Class, and Aspiration: Intergenerational Mobility Among First-Generation College Graduates in Central India

Abstract

Higher education has long been positioned as a principal mechanism of social mobility in post-independence India, particularly for historically marginalised caste groups. This study examines the intergenerational mobility experiences of first-generation college graduates in urban centres of Madhya Pradesh, with attention to how caste and class jointly shape access to, and returns from, higher education. Using a survey of 350 first-generation graduates stratified by caste category (General, OBC, SC, and ST), the study measures occupational mobility relative to parental occupation, subjective class mobility, and aspirational orientation. Findings show that while first-generation graduation is associated with measurable occupational upgrading across all caste categories, the magnitude of mobility differs significantly by caste, with SC and ST graduates experiencing smaller occupational gains and greater reported discrimination in the labour market than their General and OBC counterparts. Regression analysis identifies caste category, father's occupational category, and access to reservation benefits as significant predictors of occupational mobility. The paper argues that educational expansion has produced 'bounded mobility' for historically disadvantaged groups — real but constrained gains that fall short of eliminating caste-based stratification. Policy implications for equity in higher education and employment are discussed.