Statement I : The social institutions of caste in India underwent major changes in the colonial period. Statement II : Caste, in contemporary society is more a product of ancient Indian tradition than of colonialism.

Statement I is true as the colonial period introduced significant changes to the caste system through administrative measures, the census, and legal reforms [5]. The British used the census to categorize and rigidify previously fluid social identities, effectively 'ethnicizing' caste to simplify governance [5]. Statement II is false because modern scholarship, notably by Nicholas Dirks, argues that caste as understood today is a 'modern phenomenon' and a product of the historical encounter with British colonialism rather than a mere survival of ancient tradition [4]. While ancient roots like 'varna' and 'jati' existed [1], the British transformed these into a rigid, hierarchical, and universalized system [5]. Colonial policies like the 'Divide and Rule' strategy and the introduction of private property further upset traditional caste balances, making contemporary caste a colonial construct in many respects [3].

Sources

1. [1] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 2: Indian States and Society in the 18th Century > Social and Cultural Life > p. 39
2. [4] https://www.lse.ac.uk/international-development/Assets/Documents/PDFs/Dissertation/Prizewinning-Dissertations/PWD-2008/WP104.pdf
3. [5] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-48619734
4. [2] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 13: Growth of New India Religious and Social Reform After 1858 > Struggle Against Caste > p. 232
5. [3] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 8: Socio-Religious Reform Movements: General Features > Factors that Helped to Mitigate Caste-based Discrimination > p. 200