A 2023 Update of Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic Status Classification Scale for the Indian Population

Abstract

Socioeconomic status (SES) has various roles in health, nutritional status, mortality, and even morbidity of the population. SES also plays a vital role in dental health through acceptability, accessibility, affordability, and utilization of available dental health services. SES helps identify the hierarchical position of an individual in the social structure. It often reveals not only the dental health status of the individual but also helps in identifying their behavioral tendencies toward the importance of dental health.[1] One of the most widely used SES scales for classifying people by SES is Kuppuswamy SES Scale for both urban and rural populations. Kuppuswamy SES scale is dynamic and depends upon the consumer price index (CPI). CPI is an index of the variation in prices for retail goods and services that households acquire for the purpose of consumption.[2] CPI numbers are widely used as an indicator of inflation. Labour Bureau, Government of India, releases three CPI: CPI for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) base 2001, CPI for Agricultural Laborers base 1986–87, and CPI for Rural Laborers base 1984–85. The most commonly used and the most appropriate CPI for revision of socioeconomic classifications has been (CPI-IW) as it represents the expenditure of a normal working class family. Kuppuswamy’s Socioeconomic Scale is the most widely used scale for urban population which was given in the year 1976 and further modified by various authors.[3] Dynamic nature of inflation may pose a risk to the validity of any published update on SES. Updated Kuppuswamy SES scale for 2019 considering updated occupational divisions and updated income scale is shown in Table 1. The advantages and limitations of this scale have been previously discussed extensively by Lahariya.[4] Like the extent of the utility of these scales, and even though being used by many researchers in India although believed by few. Using this index would probably give a more accurate picture of SES classification for the entire urban population and for the country as a whole.Table 1: Modified Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic Status Scale, 2023 (Consumer price index - 132.8, February)Kuppuswamy’s SES although being most widely used, there are certain limitations to the same such as the validity, utility, and relevance.[4] Furthermore, one of the previous studies reported using such a scale majority of the families were classified in upper socioeconomic strata.[5] At the same time, no serious attempt has been done in India to restructure or redevelop SES assessment tools from scratch and more like convention such scales are still in use. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.