See first two paras in wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_in_India

Excerpt:

The British Raj furthered this development, making rigid caste organisation a central mechanism of administration. Between 1860 and 1920, the British formulated the caste system into their system of governance, granting administrative jobs and senior appointments only to Christians and people belonging to certain castes.

they incorporated a caste system (that was already operating) into a central mechanism of administration

Caste systems had been operating in Europe as well [1]. But for the embracement, formalization and expansion of the caste system by the British it may have died down as it did elsewhere.

[1] https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Sociology/Intro...

The word does not exist in any Indian language.

To justify the "pre-date", proponents combine highly distorted theory of jatti and varna to artificially synthesize Indian caste system.

The connection of caste with Europe is much more solid and meaningful given the monopoly of church over God and the king as the representative of God.