Inequality in Health Outcomes Across Social Categories in India Since the 1990s: Evidence from Nationally Representative Databases

India has witnessed substantial growth over the past three decades, but its benefits have remained unevenly distributed. This article examines caste-based inequalities in health outcomes in India post-1990s using multiple rounds of the National Family Health Survey and the National Sample Survey Organization data sets. While average health indicators have improved over time, caste-based inequalities in premature mortality and morbidity not only persist but, in some cases, have also widened. Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) continue to face higher levels of premature mortality and disease burden than the Other Backward Classes and upper-caste groups. The result also points to a socially uneven epidemiological transition. SC/ST groups continue to experience a higher burden of infectious diseases, whereas the prevalence of non-communicable diseases and cardiovascular diseases is more prevalent among upper castes. Finally, regression estimates suggest that caste exerts an independent and significant influence on health outcomes in India, highlighting the need for more targeted health policy interventions.