India's industrial class structure has undergone significant transformations, particularly since the economic liberalization reforms of 1991. Traditionally, it was characterized by a relatively small, organized industrial working class and a large, unorganized agricultural and informal sector. However, this landscape has dramatically shifted.

One of the most prominent changes is the rise of a new middle class, driven by the growth of the services sector, especially information technology (IT), telecommunications, and finance. This class is characterized by higher education, professional skills, and often a global outlook, distinct from the traditional salaried middle class. Concurrently, there's been a decline in the traditional industrial working class in manufacturing, partly due to automation, outsourcing, and the shift towards a service-oriented economy. Many manufacturing jobs have moved to the informal sector or have been replaced by contractual labor.

The informalization and contractualization of labor are pervasive trends. A significant portion of the workforce, even in organized sectors, is now employed on temporary contracts, without social security benefits, leading to job insecurity and exploitation. This has given rise to the gig economy, where workers are engaged in short-term, flexible tasks, further blurring traditional employer-employee relationships and creating a new segment of precarious labor.

Increasing inequality is another stark feature, with a widening gap between highly skilled, well-paid professionals and the vast majority of informal and low-wage workers. The feminization of labor is also evident, with more women entering the workforce, often in low-wage, informal, or service-sector jobs, though their representation in leadership roles remains limited. Finally, globalization and technological advancements continue to reshape the demand for skills, creating new job categories while rendering others obsolete, thus constantly reconfiguring the industrial class structure in India.