Class 10 ch 3 Gender religion and caste

 Textbook questions 

Q.Mention different aspects of life in which women are discriminated or disadvantaged in India.

Q1. Ans: Women in India face discrimination and disadvantage in the following ways:

a. They are not given a proper education. As a result, the literacy rate among women is only 54%.

b. The majority of their work is unpaid. Where they are compensated for their labour, they are paid less than men.

c. Female foeticide is prevalent in several parts of the country due to a preference for the boy child.

d)Many women face sexual harassment and domestic violence, which makes it hard for them to follow their dreams. This happens because people often see women as physically weaker, there is not enough support from the police, and society is largely male-dominated.

Q2. State different forms of communal politics with one example each.

Ans: Different forms of communal politics:

1The 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.

Example: Militant religious groups.

2.The desire to form a majoritarian dominance or a separate state.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.

Example: Separatist leaders and political parties in Jammu and Kashmir and Central India.

3.The use of religious symbols and 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

Example: Hate speeches against particular minorities during elections.

4.Communal violence is another form of communalism in politics. For example, the anti-Sikh riots in 1984.The riots in Gujarat in 2002.

Q3. State how caste inequalities are still continuing in India.
Ans: Caste inequalities are still continuing in India in the following ways:

1. Most people still marry within their own caste or tribe, and inter-caste marriages are often discouraged, especially by upper castes.
2. Despite being banned by the Constitution, untouchability persists, particularly in rural areas.
3. Groups with historical access to education continue to excel, while those previously excluded still lag behind.
4. Caste contributes to economic inequality, as it affects access to resources. Upper castes are best off, Dalits and Adivasis are worst off, with the backwards classes in between.
5. Although every caste has some poor members, the proportion of people living in extreme poverty is much higher for the lowest castes. Lower caste people, like rural landless labourers, are generally poor and are exploited even today. 

Q4. State two reasons to say that caste alone cannot determine election results in India.
Ans: Caste alone cannot determine election results in India because:

1. No parliamentary constituency has a clear majority of a single caste. Hence, every candidate and party needs to win the support of more than one caste/community to win elections.
2. No party wins all the votes of a particular caste. When it is said that caste is a 'vote bank' of one party, it means that a large proportion of the voters from that caste vote for that party.

Q5. What is the status of women’s representation in India’s legislative bodies?
Ans: The status of women’s representation in India’s legislative bodies is very less as mentioned below:

1. In Lok Sabha, the percentage of elected women members is less than 15 per cent of its total strength.
2. Their share in the state assemblies is less than 5 per cent. India is among the bottom group of nations in the world in this respect.
3. The proportion of women in legislative bodies has been very low. Because of the demand of Women’s organisations and activists ,In 2023, Nari shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Womens’ Reservation Act, 2023) has been passed which will give 33 percent reservation of seats for women in Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies and also Delhi Assembly.

Q6. Mention any two constitutional provisions that make India a secular state.
Ans: Two constitutional provisions that make India a secular state are:

1. The Constitution provides all individuals and communities freedom to profess, practice and propagate any religion, or not to follow any.
2. The Constitution prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion.

Q7. When we speak of gender divisions, we usually refer to:
(a) Biological difference 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
Ans: (b) Unequal roles assigned by society to men and women

Gender division usually refers to the societal assignment of unequal roles, responsibilities, and expectations to men and women, which often leads to inequality and discrimination

 Q7. When we speak of gender divisions, we usually refer to:

(a) Biological difference 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
Ans: (b) Unequal roles assigned by society to men and women

Gender division usually refers to the societal assignment of unequal roles, responsibilities, and expectations to men and women, which often leads to inequality and discrimination

Q8. In India, seats are reserved for women in
(a) Lok Sabha
(b) State Legislative Assemblies
(c) Cabinets
(d) Panchayati Raj bodies
Ans: (d) Panchayati Raj bodies

In India, seats are reserved for women in Panchayati Raj bodies, which are the rural local government institutions. This reservation aims to promote women's participation in local governance.

 Q9. Consider the following statements on the meaning of communal politics. Communal politics is based on the belief that:

Α. One religion is superior to that of others.
Β. 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
Ans: (c) A and C

Communal politics is based on the belief that one religion is superior to others and followers of a particular religion form one community. Statements Β and D represent principles of secularism and equal citizenship, which are contrary to communal politics.

Q10. 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
Ans: (b) gives official status to one religion

India’s Constitution does not give official status to any religion; it promotes secularism and prohibits discrimination based on religion. 

Q11. Social divisions based on ______________ are peculiar to India.
Ans: Social divisions based on caste are peculiar to India.

 Caste

Q12. Match List I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:

Ans b 1b ,2A, 3D,4C