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NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Civics Chapter 4: Gender, Religion and Caste
NCERT solutions for class 10 Social Science Civics Chapter 4 – Gender, Religion and Caste are provided here in PDF.
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Civics Chapter 4: Gender, Religion and Caste
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Civics (Democratic Politics) Chapter 4 – Gender, Religion and Caste have the best and simple answers to all the exercise questions given in the chapter. All these solutions have been prepared according to the guidelines mentioned in the CBSE marking scheme. These NCERT solutions are the most reliable to prepare for your board exams and score good marks. All the NCERT Solutions are provided here in the readable and downloadable formats.
Get below the NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Civics Chapter 4:
NCERT Solutions Class 10
Political Science
Chapter 4: Gender, Religion and Caste
Exercises
1. Mention different aspects of life in which women are discriminated or disadvantaged in India.
Answer:
Different aspects of life in which women are discriminated in India are:
- Education: The literacy rate among women is only 54 per cent compared with 76 per cent among men. When it comes to higher education, a smaller proportion of girls, in comparison to the boys, are allowed to go for higher studies. This is because parents prefer to spend their resources on their sons’ education.
- Sex-ratio: In many parts of India, parents find ways to abort the girl child in a will to have a son. This has led to a decline in child sex ratio (number of girl children per thousand boys) in the country to merely 919.
- High-Paid jobs: The proportion of women working in highly paid and valued jobs is still smaller than men.
- Unequality in wages: The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 states that equal wages should be paid to equal work. However, in almost all areas of work, from sports and cinema to factories and fields, women are paid less than men, even when both do exactly the same work.
2. State different forms of communal politics with one example each.
Answer:
Communal politics is based on the idea that religion is the principal basis of social community. It has different forms:
- The expression of communal superiority in everyday beliefs: This involves religious prejudices, stereotypes of religious communities and a belief in the superiority of one’s religion over other religions. For example, militant religious groups.
- The desire to form a majoritarian dominance: A communal mind often leads to a quest for political dominance of one’s religion over another in a community. It takes a form of majoritarian dominance. For example, separatist leaders and political parties in Jammu and Kashmir and Central India in the past.
- The use of sacred symbols and religious leaders in politics to appeal to the voters: Political mobilisation on religious lines is another frequent form of communalism. Political parties, generally, nominate their candidates according to the caste or religion dominant in a particular constituency. For example, in a Muslim dominated area, people generally elect a Muslim candidate.
- Communal violence is another form of communalism in politics. For example, the anti-Sikh riots in 1984.
3. State how caste inequalities are still continuing in India.
Answer:
Caste has not disappeared from contemporary India. This can be clear by looking at the following facts:
- According to the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), the average economic status of caste groups in India still remains the same as was in the past. Most of the rich section belongs to higher castes, while people of lower castes are generally poor.
- Despite the constitutional prohibition, many people are still considered as untouchables in the country.
- Even now most people marry within their own caste or tribe.
- Political parties often field their candidates in constituency according to the caste prevailing in that constituency. People also tend to vote on the caste lines.
4. State two reasons to say that caste alone cannot determine election results in India
Answer:
The two reasons that say that caste alone cannot determine election results in India are:
(i) No parliamentary constituency in India has a clear majority of one single caste. So, parties need to win the confidence of more than one caste and community to win elections.
(ii) No party wins the votes of all the voters belonging to one particular caste or community. Voters have become wiser and they only vote for those candidates or parties which are expected to work towards the development of their constituency.
5. What is the status of women’s representation in India’s legislative bodies?
Answer:
In India, the proportion of women in legislature has been very low. Women’s representation has always been less than 10% in Lok Sabha and 5% in the State Assemblies. India is behind several developing countries of the world in the case of women’s representation. On the other hand, the situation is better in the case of local government bodies. Here, one-third of seats in local government bodies – in panchayats and municipalities – are now reserved for women. Now there are more than 10 lakh elected women representatives in rural and urban local bodies.
6. Mention any two constitutional provisions that make India a secular state.
Answer:
Two constitutional provisions that make India a secular state are:
(i) Freedom to practice, profess and propagate the religion of one’s choice.
(ii) Prohibition of discrimination on the basis of religion under the fundamental right to equality.
7. When we speak of gender divisions, we usually refer to:
(a) Biological differences between men and women
(b) Unequal roles assigned by society to men and women
(c) Unequal child sex ratio
(d) Absence of voting rights for women in democracies
Answer: (b) Unequal roles assigned by society to men and women
8. In India, seats are reserved for women in
(a) Lok Sabha
(b) State legislative assemblies
(c) Cabinets
(d) Panchayati Raj bodies
Answer: (d) Panchayati Raj bodies
9. Consider the following statements on the meaning of communal politics. Communal politics is based on the belief that:
A. One religion is superior to that of others.
B. People belonging to different religions can live together happily as equal citizens.
C. Followers of a particular religion constitute one community.
D. State power cannot be used to establish the domination of one religious group over others. Which of the statements is/are correct?
(a) A, B, C, and D
(b) A, B, and D
(c) A and C
(d) B and D
Answer: (c) A and C
10. Which among the following statements about India’s Constitution is wrong? It
(a) prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion.
(b) gives official status to one religion.
(c) provides to all individuals freedom to profess any religion.
(d) ensures equality of citizens within religious communities.
Answer: (b) gives official status to one religion.
11. Social divisions based on _________ are peculiar to India.
Answer:
Social divisions based on caste are peculiar to India.
12. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
(a) | B | C | A | D |
(b) | B | A | D | C |
(c) | D | C | A | B |
(d) | C | A | B | D |
Answer:
(b) | B | A | D | C |
Gender Religion and Cast CBSE Class 10 Democratic Policies Chapter 4 NCERT Solutions
Question-1
Mention different aspects of life in which women are discriminated or disadvantaged in India.
Solution:
Family laws of all religions discriminate against women.
There are reports of various kinds of harassment, exploitation and violence against women. Urban areas have become particularly unsafe for women.
In India, the proportion of women in legislature has been very low. For example, the percentage of elected women members in Lok Sabha has never reached even 10 per cent of its total strength. Their share in the state assemblies is less than 5 per cent. In this respect, India is among the bottom group of nations in the world.
Question-2
State different forms of communal politics with one example each.
Solution:
The most common expression of communalism is in everyday beliefs. These routinely involve religious prejudices, stereotypes of religious communities and belief in the superiority of one’s religion over other religions. This is so common that we often fail to notice it, even when we believe in it.
A communal mind often leads to a quest for political dominance of one’s own religious community. For those belonging to majority community, this takes the form of majoritarian dominance. For those belonging to the minority community, it can take the form of a desire to form a separate political unit.
Question-3
State how caste inequalities are still continuing in India.
Solution:
Caste has not disappeared from contemporary India. Some of the older aspects of caste have persisted. Even now most people marry within their own caste or tribe. Untouchability has not ended completely, despite constitutional prohibition. Effects of centuries of advantages and disadvantages continue to be felt today. The caste groups that had access to education under the old system have done very well in acquiring modern education as well. Those groups that did not have access to education or were prohibited from acquiring it have naturally lagged behind. That is why there is a disproportionately large presence of ‘upper caste’ among the urban middle classes in our country. Caste continues to be closely linked to economic status.
Question-4
State two reasons to say that caste alone cannot determine election results in India.
Solution:
When parties choose candidates in elections, they keep in mind the caste composition of the electorate and nominate candidates from different castes so as to muster necessary support to win elections. When governments are formed, political parties usually take care that representatives of different castes and tribes find a place in it.
Universal adult franchise and the principle of one-person-one-vote compelled political leaders to gear up to the task of mobilising and securing political support. It also brought new consciousness among the people of castes that were hitherto treated as inferior and low.
Question-5
What is the status of women’s representation in India’s legislative bodies?
Solution:
In India, the proportion of women in legislature has been very low. For example, the percentage of elected women members in Lok Sabha has never reached even 10 per cent of its total strength. Their share in the state assemblies is less than 5 per cent. In this respect, India is among the bottom group of nations in the world. India is behind the averages for several developing countries of Africa and Latin America. In the government, cabinets are largely all-male even when a woman becomes the Chief Minister or the Prime Minister.
Question-6
Mention any two constitutional provisions that make India a secular state.
Solution:
There is no official religion for the Indian state. Unlike the status of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, that of Islam in Pakistan and that of Christianity in England, our Constitution does not give a special status to any religion.
The Constitution provides to all individuals and communities freedom to profess, practice and propagate any religion, or not to follow any.
Mulitiple Choice Questions
Previous Years’ Questions
1. In local self government institutions atleast one third of all positions are reserved for:
(a) men
(b) women
(c) children
(d) scheduled tribes
2. ‘Feminist movements’ are aimed at:
(a) Liberty
(b) Equality
(c) Participation
(d) Power
3. According to 2001 census what was the sex ratio in India ?
(a) 1000 males 950 females
(b) 1000 males 850 Females
(c) 1000 males 927 females
(d) 1000 males 922 females
4. Which one of the following is not a cause of communalism ?
(a) Religion is taken as the basis of the nation.
(b) When one religion is discriminated against other
(c) State has no official religion
(d) Demands of one religious group are formed in opposition to another.
5. Which of the following divisions is unique to India ?
(a) Gender division
(b) Caste division
(c) Economic division
(d) Religious division
NCERT Questions
6. When we speak of gender divisions, we usually refer to:
(a) Biological difference between men and women
(b) Unequal roles assigned by the society to men and women
(c) Unequal child sex ratio
(d) Absence of voting rights for women in democracies
7. In India seats are reserved for women in
(a) LokSabha
(b) State legislative assemblies
(c) Cabinets
(d) Panchayati Raj bodies
8. Considerthefollowing statements on the meaning of communal politics. Communal politics is based on the belief that:
(i) One religion is superior to that of others.
(ii) People belonging to different religions can live together happily as equal citizens.
(iii) Followers of a particular religion constitute one community.
(iv) State power cannot be used to establish the domination of one religious group over others.
Which of the statements are correct?
(a) (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
(b) (i), (ii) and (iv)
(c) (i) and (iii) only
(d) (ii) and (iv) only.
9. Which among the following statements about India’s Constitution is wrong ? It
(a) prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion
(b) gives official status to one religion
(c) provides to all individuals freedom to profess any religion
(d) ensures equality of citizens within religious communities.
10. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:
| List I | List II |
| (i) A person who believes | A. Communalist in equal rights and opportunities for women and men. |
| (ii) A person who says that | B. Feminist religion is the principal basis of community. |
| (iii) A person who thinks | C. Secularist that caste is the principal basis of community. |
| (iv) A person who does not | D. Castiest discriminate others on the basis of religious beliefs. |
(a) (i) – B; (ii) – C; (iii) – A; (iv) – D
(b) (i) – B; (ii) – A; (iii) – D (iv) – C
(c) (i) – D; (ii) – C; (iii) – A (iv) – B
(d) (i) – C; (ii) – A; (iii) – B (iv) – D
Additional Questions
11. Sexual Division of labour signifies, that
(i) Gender division emphasises division on the basis of nature of work.
(ii) Division between men and women.
(iii) Caste is the basis of Gender Division.
(iv) Work decides the division between men and women.
(a) (i), (iii) and (iv) (b) (i), (ii) and (iv)
(c) (i) and (iii) (d) (iv) and (i)
12. Which statement is true for secularism/secular state ?
(a) Recognises every religion and gives due importance to every religion.
(b) It is based on the idea that religion is the sole basis of social community.
(c) Secular state has its official religion.
(d) No official religion for the secular state.
13. Caste hierarchy means :
(a) Shift from one occupation to another.
(b) A ladder like formation in which all the caste groups are placed from the highest to the lowest castes.
(c) Religious equality.
(d) Communal harmony and peace on the basis of caste.
14. “A woman or a man who believes in equal rights and opportunities for men and women.” Select the correct option for the definition.
(a) Feminist
(b) Patriarchy
(c) Caste hierarchy
(d) Social change
15. “Process to shift from one occupation to another, usually it is being practised by the new generation.” It is significant to :
(a) Social change
(b) Secular state
(c) Occupational mobility
(d) Communal representation
16. ‘Equal Wages Act’ signifies;
(a) Law that deals with family related matters.
(b) Law provides that equal wages should be paid for equal job for both men and women.
(c) An Act which signifies that all work inside the home is done by the women of the family.
(d) A radical law against the discriminatory attitude and sexual division of labour.
17. Do you think that women could have made the gains if their unequal treatment was not raised in the political domain ?
(a) Yes, because some form of gender division or sexual division needs to be expressed in politics.
(b) No, gender division should not be expressed in politics.
(c) No, because unequal treatment requires moral obligation not the legal one.
(d) All the above.
18. Select the laws enacted by the Parliament for the welfare of women.
(a) Special Marriage Act of 1955
(b) Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961
(c) Equal Remuneration Act of 1976
(d) All the above
19. Why did our constitution framers choose the model of a secular state ?
(a) Constitution framers wanted to check religious differences.
(b) To check casteism
(c) To check the challenges of communalism
(d) To check communal politics.
20. Which leaders worked for the elimination of caste system in India ?
(a) Jotiba Phule, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi and Periyar Ramaswami Naicker.
(b) Raja Ram Mohun Roy, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.
(c) Jotiba Phule, Periyar Ramaswami Naicker and Mahatma Gandhi.
(d) Swami Vivekanand, Jotiba Phule and Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
21. In which countries women are given high profile ?
(a) Saudi Arabia, Sweden and Norway
(b) Sweden, Norway and Finland
(c) France, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia
(d) Norway, Finland and Saudi Arabia
22. What is the exact ratic^of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in 2001 ?
(a) Scheduled castes constitute 17.8% and scheduled tribes 9.2%.
(b) Scheduled castes constitute 20.4% and scheduled tribes 8.2%.
(c) Scheduled castes constitute 15.6% and scheduled tribes 7.8%.
(d) Scheduled castes constitute 16.2% and scheduled tribes 8.2%.
23. Indicate ‘True’ and ‘False’ for the given statements:
(a) Feminist means a woman or a man who believes in equal rights and opportunities for women and men.
(b) Communalism signifies an ideology which stands for regional harmony and economic prosperity.
(c) Inequality of women states equal treatment to women as compared to men.
(d) The concept of Patriarchy refers to a system that values men more and gives them power over women.
24. “India is a country of religious differences.” Justify the statement by selecting suitable option.
(a) of different social groups.
(b) India is the land of different religions like Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
(c) of different community people.
(d) of different caste people.
25. Participation of women in public life is relatively low in countries like;
(a) Norway
(b) Sweden
(c) Finland
(d) Bangladesh
26. Women in India are discriminated in;
(a) Political life
(b) Social life
(c) Economic life
(d) All the above
27. Over the past few decades, sex ratio in India;
(a) has not changed
(b) has gone down
(c) has increased
(d) has shown a fluctuating trend
28. The peculiarity of social division in India, unlike many other countries, is that it is based on;
(a) Religion
(b) Language
(c) Caste
(d) Income levels
29. State True and False :
(a) Indian Constitution advocates an official language for India.
(b) Gandhiji used to say that religion can never be separated from politics.
(c) Communalism signifies an ideology which stands for regional harmony and economic.
(d) Inequality of women states equal treatment to women as compared to men.
30. Fill in the blanks :
(a) The concept of …………. refers to a system that values men more and gives them power over women.
(b) …………… means a woman or man who believes in equal rights and opportunities for women and men.
(c) Shift from …………….. areas to urban areas is known as occupational mobility.
(d) ………….. was based on exclusion of and discrimination against the ‘outcaste’ group.
(i) Patriarchy / Feminist
(ii) Feminist / Patriarchy
(iii) Rural / Urban
(iv) Caste hierarchy / Caste system
ANSWERS
Gender Religion and Cast CBSE Class 10 Chapter 4 Democratic Policies Extra Questions
According to new CBSE Exam Pattern, MCQ Questions For Class 10 Social Science with Answers Carries 20 Marks.
Question-1
What does gender division refer to?
Solution:
Gender division refers to the unequal roles assigned to men and women by the society.
Question-2
Name 2 countries where participation of women in public life is very high.
Solution:
Sweden and Norway are the 2 countries where participation of women in public life is very high
Question-3
Mention 2 essential characteristic of a secular state.
Solution:
A secular state allows its citizens to practise and propagate any religion or not follow any religion at all. The constitution of the state prohibits any discrimination on the basis of religion
Question-4
What is meant by caste hierarchy?
Solution:
Caste hierarchy is a grading of groups from the highest to the lowest castes , for example, the Brahmins to the untouchables.
Question-5
What is Communalism?
Solution:
The term Communalism is widely used across South Asia to describe the systematic misuse of religion for political purposes. It represents the processes of political construction of community identities along religious lines. Communal politics represents one’s own religious community in an antagonistic relationship with ‘the other religious community.’ Socially engineered prejudice, tension and conflict between religious communities constitute communalism. Communalism Combat stands for equal respect to all religions and is opposed to the cynical manipulation of faith in the pursuit of power; therefore, we are opposed to both majority and minority communalism.
Question-6
Write a brief note on the Hindu caste system.
Solution:
The Hindu caste system reflects Indian occupational and socially defined hierarchies. Ancient Sanskrit sources divide society into four major categories, priests or Brahmin, warriors or Kshatriya, traders or Vaishya and labourers or the Shudra. In addition to these castes we also have the “untouchables.”
The Indian society is divided into thousands of jatis, which are local groups based on occupation.
Despite economic modernisation and laws countering discrimination against the lower end of the caste structure and outlawing “untouchables,” the caste system remains an important source of social identification and a potent factor in the political life of the country.
Question-7
What are the positive aspects of caste system in Indian politics?
Solution:
The caste system plays different kinds of roles in politics. In some situations, expression of caste differences in politics gives many disadvantaged communities the space to demand their share of power. In this aspect caste politics has helped people from Dalits and Backward Castes to gain better access to decision making.
Several political and non-political organisations have been demanding and agitating for an end to discrimination against particular castes, for more dignity and more access to land, resources and opportunities.
Caste privilege and solidarity provide a kind of safety net. This will probably change as economic competition intensifies; but caste assertion largely precludes class solidarity.