The survey also suggests that class and caste are the biggest grounds for discrimination in the country. More respondents reported facing discrimination on the basis of class than on the basis of caste nationally while more reported facing discrimination based on caste than on the basis of religion, language, or gender, according to the survey. About 26% respondents reported experiencing discrimination (either ‘frequently’ or ‘sometimes’) on the basis of class or ‘economic status’ while 17% respondents reported experiencing caste-based discrimination. Among scheduled caste (SC) households, 21% reported facing caste-based discrimination while 28% reported facing class-based discrimination. Among scheduled tribe (ST) households, 25% reported facing caste-based discrimination while 31% reported facing class-based discrimination.

The ICE 360° survey shows that India’s largest welfare scheme, PDS, not only reaches the poor more than the rich but it also confers greater benefits on the poor. The average amount of grains (rice and wheat) availed by households in the bottom quintile in an average month during the response period was 25kg while that availed by households in the top percentile was 18kg.