Indian society is a pluralistic society with a complex social order characterized by a multitude of ethnic, linguistic, religious, and caste divisions. It comprises people living in rural, urban, tribal setting and all sections which carry the ethos of Indianness.

Salient features:

1. Multi-Ethnic Society: India is home to almost all racial profiles like Nordic, Dinaric, Proto-Australoid, Mongolian, etc.
   
   
2. Multi-Lingual Society: Language is a dominant source of identity so much so that the present form of India into states represents the linguistic map of India.More than 1600 languages are spoken in India.
   
   
3. Multi-Class Society.
   
   
4. Patriarchal Society: Patriarchy is a social system in which men hold primary power and enjoy greater status than women. Indian society is largely a patriarchal society. However, some tribal societies are matrilineal societies where women have the dominant decision-making power.
   
   
5. Unity in Diversity:  India as a nation is a classic example of it as despite having multiple geographical, religious, linguistic, cultural, and racial diversity, India has always stood up as an integrated nation.
   
   
6. Family and Kinship System: Blood relations and kinship ties enjoy a stronghold over other social relationships.
   
   
7. Tribes: There are about 705 Scheduled tribes in the country and they constitute 6 per cent of the population of the country, according to the 2011 census.
   
   
8. Caste system: Caste system is a social institution which is based on the principle of pollution and purity. It means that social stratification is largely based on caste. Membership to a caste group is acquired by birth, based on which people are ranked relative to other caste groups. It is one of the oldest forms of repressive system which is still prevalent in India.
   
   
9. Balance between spiritualism and materialism.
   
   
10. Balance between Individualism and collectivism.
    
    
11. Co-existence of traditionalism and modernity.
    
    

Indian society is the result of a long journey from the time of Indus civilization to today’s globalized world. In this journey it has gone many transformations under the influence of outside world and reform movements within the society. However, what is unique and appreciable is the fact that it has managed to adopt and accept various features while preserving its past.