Long Answer -Class-10-Civics- Chapter 3 Gender, Religion and Caste

Long Answer -Class-10-Civics- Chapter 3 Gender, Religion and Caste

Q1. How can the relationship between politics and religion be beneficial and problematic at the same time? Explain.

Ans : Beneficial:

a. Influence of religion can make politics value based.

b. Religious communities can politically express their needs and interests.

c. Political authorities can monitor and control religious discrimination and oppression.

Problematic:

a. Religion can become the base for the development of nationalist sentiments which can lead to conflicts.

b. Political parties will try to make political gains by pitting one group against the other.

c. State power may be used to establish the domination of one religious group over another.

Q2. How can caste take different forms in politics? Explain with examples. 

Ans : Influence of caste on politics:

a. While choosing candidates for election, political parties consider the caste composition of the voters to win support.

b. When the government is formed, political parties take care that representative from different castes find place in the government.

c. Political parties make appeal to the caste sentiments to win votes.

d. Some political parties are known to favour some particular caste.

e. Universal adult franchise and the principle of one-person one-vote have compelled the political leaders to bring caste sentiments into politics to muster support.

Q3. What are the problems faced by Indian women which affect their social status? Explain any five.

 Ans :In our country, women still lag much behind men despite some improvements since Independence. Women face disadvantage, discrimination and oppression in various ways:

1. The literacy rate among women is only 54 percent as compared with 76 percent among men.

2. Similarly, a smaller proportion of girl students go for higher studies. Girls are performing as well as boys in school. But they drop out because parents prefer to spend their resources for their boys’ education rather than spending equally on their sons and daughters.

3. The proportion of women among the highly paid and valued jobs is still very small. On an average, an Indian woman works one hour more than an average man everyday.

4. The Equal Remuneration Act provides 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.

5. In many parts of India, parents prefer to have sons and find ways to have the girl child aborted before she is born. Such sex- selective abortion led to a decline in child sex ratio.

6. Woman face harassment, exploitation and violence on the domestic front.

Q4.Analyse any five advantages and disadvantages of the political expression of caste differences?

 Ans :Advantages:

 a. It gives disadvantaged groups the opportunity to demand a share in power and decision making.

b. Many’ political parties take up the issue of ending caste discrimination.

 c. Measures for uplifting the status of the backward/ castes will be undertaken.

Disadvantages:

a. Caste-based politics divert attention from main issues such as poverty, corruption, etc.

b. Caste-based politics lead to tensions, conflicts and violence.

Q5. What factors have brought about a change in the Indian caste system in modern times? Explain.

Ans : Decline of the caste system in India:

1. Efforts of social reformers like Phule, Gandhiji, Ambedkar against caste system have helped to promote a tasteless society.

2. Economic development has reduced the emphasis on caste.

3. Large scale urbanisation has diminished the awareness of caste, as people rub shoulders in buses, trains and offices.

4. Growth of literacy and education has helped to decrease the belief in caste.

5. Occupational mobility is possible now and children are not compelled to continue the profession of the family or father.

6. Weakening of the position of landlords in the villages has led to decline of the rigid caste barriers in villages.

7. Constitutional provisions such as Right to Equality of all before law have helped to prevent discrimination legally.

8. Policy of reservation of seats in local self- government bodies and legislatures as well in educational institutes have helped to uplift the political, social and economic position of lower castes.