Socioeconomic classification psm parks
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socioeconomic classification PSM Park's textbook Kuppuswamy BG Prasad Uday Pareek
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Socioeconomic Classification - Park's Textbook of PSM
Socioeconomic status (SES) is defined as "the position that an individual or family occupies with reference to the prevailing average standards of cultural and material possessions, income, and participation in group activity of the community." Social status may be inherited, but in modern society it is achieved based on occupation, income, type of housing, neighbourhood, membership of associations, and material possessions.
Major Variables for Measuring SES
The three principal variables used in India are:
- Education - measures inculcation of values, knowledge and achievements
- Occupation - most widely used single indicator
- Income - important but difficult to measure honestly
Other measures include purchasing power, religion, and rural/urban residence.
1. Kuppuswamy's Socioeconomic Scale (Urban)
Developed by Kuppuswamy - the most widely used scale for urban populations in India. It uses three variables: Education, Occupation, and Family Income (per month).
(A) Education Score
| Education Level | Score |
|---|---|
| Profession or Honours | 7 |
| Graduate or Postgraduate | 6 |
| Intermediate or Post High School Diploma | 5 |
| High School Certificate | 4 |
| Middle School Certificate | 3 |
| Primary School Certificate | 2 |
| Illiterate | 1 |
(B) Occupation Score
| Occupation | Score |
|---|---|
| Profession | 10 |
| Semi-profession | 6 |
| Clerical, Shop-owner, Farmer | 5 |
| Skilled worker | 4 |
| Semi-skilled worker | 3 |
| Unskilled worker | 2 |
| Unemployed | 1 |
(C) Family Income/Month (Modified for 2007, using CPI-IW base year 2001)
| Income (Rs./month) - 2007 | Score |
|---|---|
| ≥ 19,575 | 12 |
| 9,788 - 19,574 | 10 |
| 7,323 - 9,787 | 6 |
| 4,894 - 7,322 | 4 |
| 2,936 - 4,893 | 3 |
| 980 - 2,935 | 2 |
| < 980 | 1 |
Classification by Total Score (Maximum = 29)
| Total Score | Socioeconomic Class |
|---|---|
| 26 - 29 | Upper (I) |
| 16 - 25 | Upper Middle (II) |
| 11 - 15 | Lower Middle (III) |
| 5 - 10 | Upper Lower (IV) |
| < 5 | Lower (V) |
Note: The income component must be updated periodically using the All India Average Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW). The 2025 updated version by Jabeen et al. provides current income cutoffs.
2. B.G. Prasad Classification (1961, Income-based)
Originally proposed by B.G. Prasad (1961) - based solely on per capita monthly income. Classifies into 5 classes:
| Class | Socioeconomic Status | Original Income (Rs./month) |
|---|---|---|
| I | Upper | ≥ 100 |
| II | Upper Middle | 50 - 99 |
| III | Middle | 30 - 49 |
| IV | Lower Middle | 15 - 29 |
| V | Lower | < 15 |
The original figures are now obsolete and must be updated using CPI-IW. For 2025, Class I = ≥ Rs. 60,125/month per capita (as per Jabeen et al., 2025).
3. Pareek and Kulshrestha Scale (Rural & Urban)
Developed by Uday Pareek - applicable for both rural and urban areas. It uses more variables than Kuppuswamy, including:
- Caste (scored 1-6)
- Occupation (scored 0-6)
- Education (scored 0-6)
- Land ownership (scored 0-6)
- Social participation (scored 0-6)
- Material possessions (scored 0-6)
Classification (Udai Pareek Scale)
| Total Score | Class |
|---|---|
| > 43 | Upper |
| 33 - 42 | Upper Middle |
| 24 - 32 | Middle |
| 13 - 23 | Lower Middle |
| < 13 | Lower |
4. Limitations of Occupational Classification Alone (as per Park's)
- Heterogeneous grouping - each class bundles widely different occupations
- Occupational mobility - people change occupations over time, creating discrepancies
- Women - ambiguity in classifying women's occupations alongside men
Summary Comparison
| Feature | Kuppuswamy | B.G. Prasad | Udai Pareek |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setting | Urban | Urban/Rural | Rural & Urban |
| Variables | Education + Occupation + Income | Income only | Caste + Occupation + Education + Land + Possessions + Social participation |
| No. of classes | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Max score | 29 | - | ~48 |
| Needs updating | Yes (income) | Yes (income) | Less frequent |
Key point for exams: Kuppuswamy's scale is most commonly used for urban populations; Pareek's scale is preferred for rural populations. B.G. Prasad's scale is the simplest (income only) but needs the most frequent updating.
- Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, pp. 785-786
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