NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Civics (Political Science) Chapter 3 Gender, Religion and Caste help students to score good marks in the exams. These NCERT Solutions are prepared by expert teachers and available with free PDF download option. Here we have provided answers to all the questions in a very easy language.
Class 10 Civics Chapter 3 Gender, Religion and Caste Questions and Answers
EXERCISES
Question 1: Mention different aspects of life in which women are discriminated or disadvantaged in India.
Answer: In India, women are discriminated and disadvantaged n the following ways:
- Many girls in India still have limited access to education due to factors like poverty, social norms favoring boys’ education, early marriage, and safety concerns.
- Women face unequal opportunities in the workforce. They are often paid less than men for the same work.
- Traditional gender roles often restrict women’s behavior and choices. Expectations to prioritize household and family responsibilities over personal aspirations are common.
- Due to the preference for the boy child, female foeticide is practiced in many parts of the country.
Question 2: State different forms of communal politics with one example each.
Answer: Different forms of communal politics are as given below:
Different forms of communal politics, as described in the provided text, include:
- Common Expression in Everyday Beliefs: This involves religious prejudices, stereotypes of religious communities, and the belief in the superiority of one’s religion over others. Such beliefs are often so ingrained that they go unnoticed even by those who hold them. For example even today the members of lower classes are not allowed to enter the temples in many regions.
- Quest for Political Dominance: A majority community tries to dominate other communities in politics. This may compel the minority community to form a separate political unit. For example, in Sri Lanka, majoritarianism has been followed which has resulted in conflict in the country.
- Political Mobilization on Religious Lines: This form involves using sacred symbols, religious leaders, emotional appeal, and fear to unite followers of one religion in the political arena. In elections, it often translates to appealing specially to the interests or emotions of voters of one religion over others.
- Communal Violence: This is the most extreme form of communal politics. It involves riots and massacres based on religious lines. Historical examples include the communal riots during India and Pakistan’s Partition and subsequent large-scale communal violence in the post-Independence period.
Question 3: State how caste inequalities are still continuing in India.
Answer: In India, caste inequalities persist in several areas:
- Marriage: People often marry within their own caste, reinforcing social divisions.
- Untouchability: Despite being illegal, practices of untouchability against lower castes continue in some areas.
- Education: Access to education is still challenging for lower castes due to economic and social barriers.
- Economic Status: There’s a strong link between caste and economic status, with lower castes generally poorer.
- Social Mobility: The caste system limits opportunities for social advancement, especially for those from lower castes.
Question 4: State two reasons to say that caste alone cannot determine election results in India.
Answer: Caste alone cannot determine election outcomes in India due to:
- Political parties increasingly form alliances across various castes, reducing the impact of any single caste group on elections.
- Voters also consider issues like economic policies, development, government performance, and candidate appeal, which go beyond caste considerations.
Question 5: What is the status of women’s representation in India’s legislative bodies?
Answer: As of 2024, the status of women’s representation in India’s legislative bodies shows a gradual but still limited progress. In the Lok Sabha, which is the lower house of the Indian Parliament, women’s representation has reached approximately 15%. Whereas in the Rajya Sabha, which is the upper house, women make up around 13% of the members.
On the other hand, the situation is different in the case of local government bodies. As one-third of seats in local government bodies (panchayats and municipalities) are reserved for women, there are more than 10 lakh elected women representatives in rural and urban local bodies. However, no state in India has more than 20% women representation in its Assembly, with Chhattisgarh having the highest at 18%.
Question 6: Mention any two constitutional provisions that make India a secular state.
Answer: Two constitutional provisions that make India a secular state are:
- The Indian Constitution does not recognize an official state religion. Any individual and community freedom to profess, practice and propagate any religion, or not to follow any.
- The Constitution prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion, ensuring equality for all citizens irrespective of their religious beliefs.
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) 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) 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.
a) A, B, C and D
b) A, B and D
c) A and C
d) B and D
Answer: c) A and 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) gives official status to one religion
Question 11: Social divisions based on ______________ are peculiar to India.
Answer : Social divisions based on 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:
| (b) | B | A | D | C |
More study materials for CBSE Class 10
| NCERT Solutions for Class 10 | CBSE Notes for Class 10 |
| CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 | Important Questions for Class 10 |
| RS Aggarwal Solutions For Class 10 | RD Sharma Solutions For Class 10 |