M.N. Srinivas, a prominent Indian sociologist, adopted a structural-functionalist approach to study Indian society, particularly focusing on caste and village life. Influenced by Radcliffe-Brown and Evans-Pritchard, he viewed society as a system of interconnected parts, each contributing to the maintenance and stability of the whole. Srinivas emphasized empirical fieldwork, conducting extensive studies in Coorg and Rampura, which provided rich ethnographic data.

His key contributions include concepts like 'Sanskritization,' 'Westernization,' and 'Dominant Caste.' Sanskritization describes the process by which a lower caste or tribe adopts the customs, rituals, and lifestyle of a higher, often 'twice-born,' caste to improve its social status. While functionalist in explaining social mobility within the caste framework, it also highlighted the perpetuation of hierarchical values. Westernization, conversely, referred to the changes brought about by British rule, including new technologies, institutions, and values. The 'Dominant Caste' concept identified a caste that wielded significant economic, political, and numerical power in a village, often setting norms for others.

Srinivas's approach provided a nuanced understanding of social change and continuity in India, moving beyond purely textual interpretations. He showed how traditional structures adapted and persisted amidst modernization, and how various social institutions functioned to maintain social order, even while undergoing internal transformations. His work, though sometimes criticized for underplaying conflict and power dynamics, remains foundational for understanding the complexities of Indian social structure.