Q 1 – In India, the official religion of the state is :
(a) Hinduism
(b) Islam
(c) Christianity
(d) None
(d) None
Q 2 – A system that values men more and gives them power over women is called?
(a) Feminist
(b) Socialist
(c) Patriarchy
(d) Communist
(c) Patriarchy
Q 3 – What is the major cause of declining Girl Child ratio in India ?
(a) Parents preference for sons
(b) Sex selected abortions
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of the above.
(c) Both (a) and (b)
Q 4 – In which system of elected bodies about one-third seats are reserved for women?
(a) Panchayats and Municipals
(b) Lok Sabha
(c) State Assemblies
(d) None of these
(a) Panchayats and Municipals
Q 5 – What does caste hierarchy mean?
(a) A shift from rural areas to urban areas
(b) Shift from one occupation to another
(c) A ladder-like formation in which all caste groups are placed from the highest to the lowest
(d) None of these
(c) A ladder-like formation in which all caste groups are placed from the highest to the lowest
Q 6 – Who among the following said that religion can never be separated from politics?
(a) Acharya Vinobha Bhave
(b) Mahatma Gandhi
(c) Sarojini Naidu
(d) Rajendra Prasad
(b) Mahatma Gandhi
Q 7 – A person who does not discriminate others on the basis of religious beliefs is called?
(a) Communalist
(b) Secular
(c) Casteist
(d) Feminist
. (b) Secular
Q 8 – What is meant by the term ‘Feminist’?
(a) Having the qualities considered typical of women.
(b) A person who believes in equal rights and opportunities for women and men.
(c) The belief that men and women are equal.
(d) Men who look like women.
. (b) A person who believes in equal rights and opportunities for women and men.
Q 9 – What is the result of political expression of gender division?
(a) Has helped to improve women’s role in public life
(b) Has provided a superior status to women
(c) The position remains the same, as it was
(d) None of the above
(a) Has helped to improve women’s role in public life
Q 10 – Fill in the blanks
- There is a disproportionately large presence of ……….. caste among urban middle classes in our country.
2. Expression of caste differences in politics gives many ……….. communities the space to demand power.
3. Using of religion in politics by State power is ……….. politics.
4. Caste is an important source of ……….. inequality because it regulates access to resources of various kinds.
5. New kinds of caste groups have come up in the political arena like ……….. and ……….. caste groups.
6. When a caste is a ……….. of one party, it usually means that a large proportion of the voters from that caste would vote for that party.
7. The Constitution allows the ……….. to intervene in the matters of religion in order to ensure equality within religious communities.
8. Social divisions based on ……….. are peculiar to India.
- upper
- disadvantaged
- communal
- economic
- backward and
- vote bank
- State
- caste
DIRECTION : Mark the option which is most suitable :
(a) If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
(b) If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
(c) If the assertion is true but the reason is false.
(d) If both assertion and reason are false.
Q 11 – Assertion: Men and women should be given equal rights.
Reason: Men are superior to women physically and emotionally.
(a) If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
(b) If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
(c) If the assertion is true but the reason is false.
(d) If both assertion and reason are false.
(c) If the assertion is true but the reason is false.
Q 12 – Assertion: India is a secular state.
Reason: Constitution gives freedom to everyone to profess, practice and propagate any religion without prejudices or any discrimination.
(a) If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
(b) If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
(c) If the assertion is true but the reason is false.
(d) If both assertion and reason are false.
(a) If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
Q 13 – Assertion: Women face discrimination and disadvantage in India in many ways.
Reason: India is a patriarchal society.
(a) If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
(b) If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
(c) If the assertion is true but the reason is false.
(d) If both assertion and reason are false.
(a) If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
Q 14 – Assertion: Female foeticide led to decline of sex ratio in India.
Reason: Indian families abort female children in the desire of a male child.
(a) If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
(b) If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
(c) If the assertion is true but the reason is false.
(d) If both assertion and reason are false.
(a) If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
Q 15 – Assertion: Communalism is based on the idea that religion is the principal basis of social community.
Reason: Caste should be kept away from politics.
(a) If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
(b) If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
(c) If the assertion is true but the reason is false.
(d) If both assertion and reason are false.
(b) If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
Q 16 – Political mobilisation on religious line is frequent form of communalism’. Explain.
Political mobilisation on communal lines involves the use of sacred symbols, religious leaders, emotional appeal and plain fear in order to bring the followers of one religion together in the political arena. In electoral politics this often involves special appeal to the interests or emotions of voters of one religion in preference to others.
Q 17 – Mention any one provision in the Indian Constitution which makes India a secular state.
Under the Right to Freedom of Religion all citizens are free to profess, practise and propagate any religion, or not to follow any.
Q 18 – How has the principle of Universal Adult Franchise helped in combating casteism?
(i) Under the universal adult franchise all the citizens of India who are at least 18 years of age are a voter to elect the representatives to the Parliament and the State Legislatures. They possesses this right without any discrimination of caste, creed, colour, sex, religion or belief.
(ii) Universal adult franchise and the principle of one-person-one-vote has compelled political leaders to gear up to the task of mobilising and securing political support.
(iii). It also brought new consciousness among the people of castes that were hitherto treated as inferior and low.
Q 19 – What were Gandhiji’s views regarding religion and politics? Explain.
Gandhiji used to say that religion can never be separated from politics. What he meant by religion was not any particular religion like Hinduism or Islam but moral values that form the basis of all religions. He believed that politics must be guided by ethics drawn from religions.
Q 20 – Besides caste, which other factors do in matter in electoral politics ?
(i) Voting on the basis of community : Political leaders pursue the voters to cast their vote on the basis of communal lines.
(ii) Political Mobilization on Religious lines : Political mobilization on religious lines is another frequent form of communalism. This involves the use of sacred symbols, religious leaders, emotional appeal and plain fear in order to bring the followers of one religion together in the political arena. In electoral politics this often involves special appeal to the interests or emotions of voters of one religion in preference to others.
(iii) Performance of the government : Along with caste and community people also check the performance of the political party or the agenda of the party.
Q 21 – The rigid caste system is disappearing in India. Explain the major factors responsible for this. Suggest any two ways through which this can further be reduced.
Or
Why caste barriers are breaking down in India? Give three reasons to explain.
(I) Social Reformers : Social reformers like Jotiba Phule, Gandhiji, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, etc., advocated and worked to establish a society in which caste inequalities are absent.
(ii) Economic Factors : With, economic development, large-scale urbanisation, growth of literacy and education, occupational mobility and the weakening of the position of landlords in the villages, the old notions of caste hierarchy are breaking down. Now, most of the time in urban areas, it does not matter much who is walking along next to us on a street or eating at the next table in a restaurant.
(iii) Constitution : The Constitution of India prohibits discrimination of any type. It provides equal opportunities to all.
(iv) Fundamental Rights : Provision of Fundamental rights has played a major role because these rights are provided to all the citizens without any discrimination. The caste system can further be reduced by the spread of education, and by promoting intercaste marriages.
Q 22 – Why was model of Secular State chosen for India? Explain.
(i) Diversity : India is a diverse country. People of different caste, color, creed, religion live together.
(ii) Constitution : Indian Constitution provide freedom to people to adopt any religion.
(iii) Freedom struggle : India got its freedom in 1947. People belonging to different religions, caste and creed has fought for freedom of India.
Q 23 – What were Gandhiji’s views regarding religion and politics ?
Gandhiji used to say that religion can never be separated from politics. What he meant by religion was not any particular religion like Hinduism or Islam but moral values that form the basis of all religions. He believed that politics must be guided by ethics drawn from religions.
Q 24 – How does religion influence the political set up in our country? Explain.
Gandhiji said, “Religion can never be separated from politics”. By religion he did not mean any particular religion like Hinduism or Islam, but moral values and ethics drawn from religion to guide politics. Religion in politics is not as dangerous as it may seem to us. Ethical values of each religion can play a major role in politics. According to human rights groups, most of the victims of communal riots in our country are from religious minorities.
Government can take special steps to protect them. Family laws of all religions discriminate against women. The government can change laws to make them more equitable. These instances show a relationship between religion and politics. People should be able to express in politics their needs, interests and demands as members of a religious community. Thus, it is the responsibility of those whose political power is able to regulate the practice of religion, to prevent discrimination and oppression. These political acts are not wrong as long as they treat every religion equally.
Q 25 – State how caste inequalities are still continuing in India.
Caste has not disappeared from contemporary India and caste division is special to India. Some of the older aspects of caste persist even today.
- Even now most people marry within their own caste.
- Untouchability has not ended completely despite constitutional prohibition.
- Effects of centuries of advantages and disadvantages can be felt today. The caste groups that had access to education under old system have done well, whereas those groups that did not have access to education have lagged behind.
- There is a large presence of ‘upper caste’ among the urban middle classes in our country.
- Caste continues to be linked to economic status as is evident from National Sample Survey:
- The average economic status of caste groups still follows the old hierarchy
- the ‘upper’ castes are best off, the Dalits and Adivasis are worst off and the backward classes are in between.
- Although every caste has some poor members, the proportion of those living in extreme poverty is higher for lowest castes and much lower for the upper castes.
- Similarly, every caste has some members who are rich. The upper castes are heavily over-represented among the rich while the lower castes are under-represented.
- The SC, ST and OBC together account for about two-thirds of India’s population.