a's adults are literate in one language or another, but aseducation improves, 80% of children are now enrolled in school with hopesof raising that literacy rate. Schooling is free for children up to the age of14, and additionally training is available past that for wealthy children ofupper castes.The Caste system is one traditional element of India's culture thatstill exists despite the government's discouragement. The system, whichdivides people into distinctive groups based on wealth and societal stance,affects everything from community organization to employment.Neighborhoods are patterned to segregate castes, and only people ofhigher castes hold professional or powerful jobs in part because ofinfluential family connections. Urbanization is helping to reduce thesignificance of the caste system; in larger cities, anonymity is easier toachieve, and people may not know to which caste their neighbors belong.The family set-up is one excellent example of cultural dissonance.Traditionally, marriages are arranged by the families of the two partiesand there is generally a dowry involved. Even now, 95% of marriages arearranged. Women, however, have managed to gain more independenceand choice. While they are still expected to be subordinate and modest,women now can vote, file for divorce, and own property. 10% of theParliamentary seats are filled by women in India. India's government is more modern than many foreigners think. The1949 constitution guaranteed a federal system composed of a centralgovernment and subgovernments for each of the 25 states and 7territories. The President, elected by the people, appoints governors toeach other these states/territories. This parliamentary democracy is basedon the British system and contains the two houses, the "Rajya Sabha"(Council of State) and the "Lok Sabha" (House of the People). ThePresident has little actual power. As happens in politics, the party with themost seats in the Parliament controls the...
