Changing Social Institutions: With Reference to the Family in India

Of all human groups family is the most important primary group. Indian families have been not only the centre of social and economic life, but also the primary source of support for the family members. The importance of family structure in India had been recognized since Vedic age. Due to the processes of change, some aspects of society have changed significantly, and are still changing, while others have maintained its continuity in contemporary social situations. As regard the changes in the structure of the family it is said that due to industrialization, urbanization, wes ternization and modernization significant changes have occurred in many aspects of families in India. The traditional form of family in India is the joint family. Now the change is coming in the family structure from joint to nuclear. This research paper discusses the changing structure of family in India. This study is based on secondary information.