I think the new president may have the moral authority to change that. Theoretically, it’s illegal in India and they actually have “affirmative action” programs for lower castes. But in practice, everybody knows these people are “affirmative action.”
I had a long train ride once with an Indian who told me about his trials and tribulations trying to get a job in the government or university - because many positions were reserved for untouchables or other lower castes. There were not enough of them to go around, so to speak, so every one of them who applied got hired. And one of the reasons for the Indian diaspora is that a lot of jobs that competent higher caste people could have gotten were reserved to the lower castes.
Vocational trades may be a different thing, and there’s probably a lot of opposition simply because you have to think of the castes as giant labor unions...for example, Patels run hotels...and they don’t want anybody cutting in on the action.
Modi's BJP party - which is HIS party - is a party of, by and for RADICAL Hindus. They want to EXPUNGE India of 'foreign influences' - specifically Islam and Christianity which many Indians still say is "The British religion" which they resent.
As to jobs, I cannot argue with what your friend said because my exposure to Indian culture is limited to the very poor and rural area of Southeast India. I do not know how Mumbai or Punjab or other big cities with higher castes handle their low castes. I am told from those who live there that it is the same in most of India as I experienced where I lived.
The Caste system DOES NOT ALLOW CONSIDERATION of merit based placement or advancement, which is why I am sure there are 'affirmative action' laws. That said, laws cannot change 3,000 years of Hindu religion - and that fact was made very plain to me numerous times.
The fact is that the low castes and the Dalits make up a majority of the population in India. India is essentially ruled by a minority starting with the major castes of the Brahmins, then the Kshatryas, the Vaishya and then the Sudhra. Castes outside of those main 4 designations are rendered 'untouchables' as they are "outside the castes of gods". Christians are automatically sent to the bottom - and the majority population, including low caste Hindus consider them an abomination, because they do not worship the creation and worship a God who exists OUTSIDE of what they worship.
But you have said well that "they don't want anyone cutting in on the action". That pretty much describes the reality for most in India.
I do not see Modi changing that. The beneficiaries of his reforms into Capitalism will be the Vaishya and upper castes. Think of it as India's form of Corporatism or Crony Capitalism - which they have already perfected.