Modernization has been referred to as a process whereby less developed societies acquire characteristics common to more developed societies. Now our task is to identify the characteristics of the Indian society that are common to more developed societies, that is to identify the criteria of modernity. There has been some broad agreements among the Indian Sociologists on certain key points of the Indian society concerning modernization and that show that our society is gradually acquiring the characteristics common to the developed ones. Following are the features of the rising modernized/developed Indian society : 1. Industrialization of Economy and adoption of scientific technology in industry, agriculture, dairy farming, etc. to make them highly productive. 2. Secularization of Ideas -- that is, a diffusion of secular - rational norms in culture 3. A remarkable increase in geographic and social mobility which includes occupational mobility also. 4. A spread of scientific and technical education. 5. A transition from ascribed to achieved status. 6. An increase in material standard of living. 7. High proportion of working force employed in secondary and tertiary rather than primary production, that is, manufacturing and services as opposed to agriculture and fishing. 8. An increment of mobility in the society, understood in terms of urbanization, spread of literacy and media participation. 9. High expectancy of life at birth 10. Relatively greater measure of public participation in the polity -- or at least democratic representation in defining and choosing policy alternatives.
