Vast social networks, family, friends of friends. Your identity is tied to who you are and very many people who you know in your town either knows your family or knows someone who knows your family. Indians have very extensive social ties
Will they try to figure out who my relatives are? How? Would I be asked about relatives in an interview?
What happens if I just shrug and say I’m from city X and I went to school in city Y and here I am?
I understand that those who have lots of social captital have it tied to a network and a place such as a town. They would want to stay in that network to use their capital. For example move back home after studying. But for those with little or even “negative” social capital (ie you are better off with no background than your actual background), why aren’t they more mobile or even just claiming they are?
For tech jobs no one is going to ask these questions.
It's like getting in to american closed society - they'll check your social ties and if noone can vouch for you or know you, you're immediately suspect.
And those checks aren't made in your face - it's usually in the background and async.