NCERT Solutions For Class 10 Political Science: Gender Religion and Caste

Question 1: Mention different aspects of life in which women are discriminated or disadvantaged in India.

Answer-
Women in India face discrimination and disadvantage in several aspects of life, making Indian society largely $\underline{\text{patriarchal}}$:
1.$\underline{\text{Literacy and Education}}$: The literacy rate among women is only $\underline{\text{54 per cent}}$ compared with 76 per cent among men. A smaller proportion of girls go for higher studies, as parents often prefer to spend resources on their boys' education.
2. $\underline{\text{Economic Status and Wages}}$: The proportion of women in $\underline{\text{highly paid and valued jobs}}$ is small. Despite the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, women are generally paid $\underline{\text{less than men}}$ even when they do exactly the same work in fields or factories.
3. $\underline{\text{Unpaid Labour}}$: Women work more than men daily (an average Indian woman works $\underline{\text{one hour more}}$ than an average man every day), yet the bulk of their work is $\underline{\text{household related}}$ which remains $\underline{\text{unpaid and invisible}}$.
4. $\underline{\text{Sex Ratio}}$: Due to a preference for sons and sex-selective abortion, the $\underline{\text{child sex ratio}}$ declined to merely $\underline{\text{919 per thousand boys}}$ (2011 Census), falling even below 850 in some States.
5. $\underline{\text{Safety and Security}}$: Women face various kinds of $\underline{\text{harassment, exploitation, and violence}}$ in urban areas, and often even within their own home in the form of $\underline{\text{domestic violence}}$.

Question 2: State different forms of communal politics with one example each.

Answer-
Communalism, which sees religion as the principal basis of social community, can take various forms in politics:
1.$\underline{\text{Everyday Beliefs}}$: This is the most common expression and involves routine $\underline{\text{religious prejudices}}$, stereotypes of religious communities, and the belief in the $\underline{\text{superiority of one’s religion}}$ over others.
2. $\underline{\text{Quest for Political Dominance}}$: This involves a communal mind aiming for the political dominance of one's religious community. For the majority community, this takes the form of $\underline{\text{majoritarian dominance}}$.
3. $\underline{\text{Political Mobilisation}}$: This involves the use of $\underline{\text{sacred symbols, religious leaders}}$, emotional appeal, and plain fear to unite followers of one religion politically. In elections, this means making special appeals to the interests or emotions of voters of one religion in preference to others.
4. $\underline{\text{Communal Violence}}$: Communalism can take its most ugly form as $\underline{\text{communal violence, riots and massacre}}$. A significant example is the $\underline{\text{worst communal riots}}$ suffered by India and Pakistan at the time of the Partition.

Question 3: State how caste inequalities are still continuing in India.

Answer-
Despite economic development, urbanization, and constitutional prohibition, $\underline{\text{caste inequalities}}$ persist in contemporary India:
1.$\underline{\text{Endogamy}}$: Even now, most people $\underline{\text{marry within their own caste or tribe}}$.
2. $\underline{\text{Untouchability}}$: Although prohibited by the Constitution, the practice of untouchability has $\underline{\text{not ended completely}}$.
3. $\underline{\text{Access to Resources and Education}}$: The effects of centuries of advantages continue to be felt. Caste groups that had access to education historically are well-represented in modern education, resulting in a $\underline{\text{disproportionately large presence of ‘upper caste’ among the urban middle classes}}$.
4. $\underline{\text{Economic Hierarchy}}$: Caste continues to be closely linked to economic status. The $\underline{\text{average economic status}}$ still follows the old hierarchy: ‘upper’ castes are $\underline{\text{best off}}$, Dalits (Scheduled Castes) and Adivasis (Scheduled Tribes) are $\underline{\text{worst off}}$, and backward classes are in between.
5. $\underline{\text{Poverty}}$: The proportion of people living in $\underline{\text{extreme poverty}}$ (below the official poverty line) is much $\underline{\text{higher for the lowest castes}}$.

Question 4: State two reasons to say that caste alone cannot determine election results in India.

Answer-
While caste matters in electoral politics, it is not the sole decisive factor in election results:
1.$\underline{\text{Absence of Caste Majority}}$: $\underline{\text{No parliamentary constituency}}$ in the country has a $\underline{\text{clear majority of one single caste}}$. Therefore, every party and candidate must win the $\underline{\text{confidence of more than one caste and community}}$ to secure a victory.
2. $\underline{\text{Voters’ Diverse Interests and Attachments}}$: $\underline{\text{No party wins the votes of all the voters of a caste or community}}$. Voters often have a $\underline{\text{strong attachment to political parties}}$ which is stronger than their caste attachment. Additionally, voters consider other factors like their economic condition, the $\underline{\text{performance of the government}}$, and the $\underline{\text{popularity rating of the leaders}}$.

Question 5: What is the status of women’s representation in India’s legislative bodies?

Answer-
Women’s representation in India’s legislative bodies remains $\underline{\text{very low}}$, leading India to be among the $\underline{\text{bottom group of nations}}$ in the world:
1.$\underline{\text{Lok Sabha}}$: The percentage of elected women members in the Lok Sabha touched $\underline{\text{14.36 per cent}}$ for the first time in 2019.
2. $\underline{\text{State Assemblies}}$: Their share in the state assemblies is $\underline{\text{less than 5 per cent}}$.
3. $\underline{\text{Government Cabinets}}$: Cabinets are largely $\underline{\text{all-male}}$, even when a woman holds the position of Chief Minister or Prime Minister.
4. $\underline{\text{Local Bodies}}$: The situation is better in local bodies due to the $\underline{\text{Panchayati Raj Act}}$, which reserves $\underline{\text{one-third of seats}}$ for women in panchayats and municipalities, resulting in $\underline{\text{more than 10 lakh elected women representatives}}$.
5. $\underline{\text{Recent Development}}$: The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Womens’ Reservation Act, 2023) has been passed, which will give $\underline{\text{33 per cent reservation of seats}}$ for women in Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and the Delhi Assembly.

Question 6: Mention any two constitutional provisions that make India a secular state.

Answer-
The Constitution of India reflects the choice of a $\underline{\text{secular state}}$ through several provisions:
1.$\underline{\text{No Official Religion}}$: The Indian state has $\underline{\text{no official religion}}$. Unlike countries where a specific religion is given special status (like Buddhism in Sri Lanka or Islam in Pakistan), the Indian Constitution $\underline{\text{does not give a special status to any religion}}$.
2. $\underline{\text{Religious Freedom}}$: The Constitution provides to all individuals and communities the $\underline{\text{freedom to profess, practice and propagate any religion}}$, or the freedom $\underline{\text{not to follow any religion}}$.
3. $\underline{\text{Prohibition of Discrimination}}$: The Constitution $\underline{\text{prohibits discrimination}}$ on the grounds of religion.

Question 7: 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

Answer-
(b) $\underline{\text{Unequal roles assigned by the society to men and women}}$.

Question 8: In India seats are reserved for women in
(a) Lok Sabha
(b) State legislative assemblies
(c) Cabinets
(d) Panchayati Raj bodies

Answer-
(d) $\underline{\text{Panchayati Raj bodies}}$.

Question 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 are correct?
(a) A, B, C, and D (b) A, B, and D (c) A and C (d) B and D

Answer-
(c) $\underline{\text{A and C}}$. (Communal politics states that beliefs of one religion are $\underline{\text{superior}}$ (A) and that the $\underline{\text{followers of a particular religion must belong to one community}}$ (C)).

Question 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) $\underline{\text{gives official status to one religion}}$. (The Constitution $\underline{\text{does not give a special status}}$ to any religion and there is $\underline{\text{no official religion}}$ for the Indian state).

Question 11: Social divisions based on _________ are peculiar to India.

Answer-
Social divisions based on $\underline{\text{caste}}$ are peculiar to India.

Question 12: Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:
List I List II

1. A person who believes in equal rights and opportunities for women and men A. Communalist
2. A person who says that religion is the principal basis of community B. Feminist
3. A person who thinks that caste is the principal basis of community C. Secularist
4. A person who does not discriminate others on the basis of religious beliefs D. Castiest
   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-

The correct code is $\underline{\text{(b) B A D C}}$.