Gender, Religion and Caste — Questions & Answers

Sample questions from Gender, Religion and Caste

1. Q1. What underlying premise forms the basis of the 'sexual division of labour' within most human societies according to the textbook?

   • A.It is based not on biological differences, but on unequal social expectations and rigid cultural stereotypes.✓
   • B.It is scientifically determined by chromosomal differences in physical strength and cognitive ability.
   • C.It is mandated by international labor conventions to protect maternity health.
   • D.It was legally created during the Industrial Revolution by British factory legislation.
   Solution

   A is correct because the NCERT textbook explicitly specifies: 'The sexual division of labour is not based on biology but rather on social expectations and stereotypes.' Mistake B confuses socially constructed roles with biological determinism. Mistake C and D invent formal international or colonial legal origins.

2. Q2. In what way did the universal adult franchise and the principle of 'one person, one vote' alter the relationship between political leaders and traditionally disadvantaged castes?

   • A.It stripped lower castes of their voting rights after five general elections.
   • B.It compelled political leaders to mobilize and treat lower-caste citizens as decisive vote banks, granting them new political weight.✓
   • C.It forced lower castes to vote exclusively for royal aristocratic candidates.
   • D.It made caste associations illegal under Indian election law.
   Solution

   B is correct because the textbook explains: 'The focus on caste in politics has sometimes given an impression that elections are all about caste... The 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.' Mistakes A, C, and D are false.

3. Q3. Under the Indian Constitution, why does the state retain the legal power to intervene in the internal religious affairs of communities despite being a secular republic?

   • A.To ensure equality within religious communities, such as by abolishing untouchability and reforming discriminatory practices.✓
   • B.To appoint Hindu priests to Islamic trusts and Christian bishoprics.
   • C.To ensure that all temple and mosque revenues are paid to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.
   • D.To ban religious ceremonies during national general elections.
   Solution

   A is correct because the textbook clarifies: 'the Constitution allows the state to intervene in the matters of religion in order to ensure equality within religious communities. To ensure this equality, for example, it bans untouchability.' Mistakes C, B, and D invent autocratic state actions unsupported by constitutional law.

4. Q4. Why do political parties in India take care to field candidates from different castes and communities in an election constituency?

   • A.Because the Constitution requires that each constituency be represented by three MPs of different castes simultaneously.
   • B.Because voters are prohibited by law from voting for candidates of their own caste.
   • C.Because political parties are managed directly by caste panchayats.
   • D.Because they calculate the caste composition of the electorate and nominate candidates to muster the necessary votes to win.✓
   Solution

   D is correct because the textbook states: '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.' Mistakes A, B, and C are factually and legally inaccurate.

5. Q5. What is the crucial difference between the representation of women in India's national Parliament and their representation in local self-government bodies?

   • A.Women hold a legally guaranteed one-third of seats in Panchayats and Municipalities, whereas in Parliament their representation has historically remained very low (around 10–14 per cent).✓
   • B.Women hold zero seats in both Parliament and Panchayats.
   • C.Women representation in Parliament exceeds 40 per cent, whereas in local bodies it is less than 5 per cent.
   • D.Women hold 50 per cent seats in the Lok Sabha, but are barred from village Panchayats.
   Solution

   A is correct because the textbook contrasts the constitutional reservation of 33% seats for women in local self-government (bringing >10 lakh women to governance) with their low representation in national Parliament (where the percentage of elected women MPs has historically hovered around 10–12%, reaching ~14.36% in 2019). Mistakes D, B, and C invert or misstate these figures.

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