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Gender, Religion and Caste – Class 10 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 10 Social Science, chapter 15. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

Social differences based on gender, religion and caste can affect politics. Democracy allows these groups to voice their demands, but it must avoid inequality, communalism and casteism. The Constitution and laws work to make society more equal.

Gender and politics

The sexual division of labour assigns housework and child care to women; much of women's work is unpaid and unrecognised.
Feminist movements demanded equal rights in voting, education, jobs and political participation.
Women's representation in legislatures has been low; one-third of seats in local bodies are reserved for women, and a 2023 law provides one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Religion, communalism and secularism

Religion in politics is not wrong in itself, but communalism treats one religion as superior and others as enemies.
Communalism takes many forms: everyday beliefs, political mobilisation on religious lines, majoritarian dominance and communal violence.
India is a secular state: there is no official religion, all citizens have freedom of religion, discrimination on grounds of religion is prohibited, and the state can intervene to ensure equality.

Caste and politics

Reformers such as Jotiba Phule, Mahatma Gandhi, B.R. Ambedkar and Periyar Ramaswami Naicker worked against caste discrimination.
Caste affects politics through candidate selection, caste-based mobilisation and vote banks, but no party wins only on the votes of one caste.
Politics also influences caste: castes form coalitions and new categories such as backward and forward castes emerge.

Key terms

Sexual division of labour: a system in which work inside the home is done by women and work outside by men
Feminist: a person who believes in equal rights and opportunities for women and men
Communalism: politics based on the idea that religion is the main basis of social community and one religion is superior
Secular state: a state that does not have an official religion and treats all religions equally

Important questions with answers

What is the sexual division of labour?2 marks

The sexual division of labour is a system in which all work inside the home, such as cooking, cleaning, washing and looking after children, is done by women, while men do work outside the home. Women's household work is unpaid and not valued, which keeps them in a lower position in society.

State three constitutional provisions that make India a secular state.3 marks

There is no official religion for the Indian state, unlike Buddhism in Sri Lanka or Islam in Pakistan. The Constitution gives all individuals and communities the freedom to profess, practise and propagate any religion, or not to follow any. It prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, and at the same time allows the state to intervene in religious matters to ensure equality, for example by banning untouchability.

Explain the different forms communalism can take in politics.5 marks

The most common form is in everyday beliefs: religious prejudice, stereotypes of religious communities and the belief that one's religion is superior. A communal mind often leads to a quest for political dominance of one's own religious community; for the majority community this takes the form of majoritarian dominance, and for minorities it can take the form of a desire for a separate political unit. Political mobilisation on religious lines is another form: using sacred symbols, religious leaders, emotional appeals and fear to bring followers of one religion together in politics, which favours one religion over another in elections. Sometimes communalism takes its ugliest form of communal violence, riots and massacres, as India and Pakistan suffered at the time of Partition. Communalism is a major challenge to democracy because it divides citizens.

Quick revision

Sexual division of labour keeps women's work unpaid.
Communalism ≠ religion in politics; it is religious superiority.
India: no official religion, freedom of religion, no discrimination.
Reformers: Phule, Gandhi, Ambedkar, Periyar.

Exam tips

Use the three-part structure for 'caste in politics': caste influences politics, politics influences caste, and limits of caste.
List the constitutional provisions that make India secular.

Practice MCQs

A person who believes in equal rights for women and men is called a
1. patriarch
2. feminist
3. communalist
4. secularist
Show answer
Answer: (b) feminist. Feminist movements demanded equality.
India is a secular state because it
1. has Hinduism as official religion
2. bans religion
3. has no official religion
4. has Buddhism as official religion
Show answer
Answer: (c) has no official religion. The Constitution does not give special status to any religion.
What share of seats in local bodies is reserved for women
1. one-fourth
2. one-tenth
3. one-half
4. one-third
Show answer
Answer: (d) one-third. This was made compulsory in 1992.
Communalism is best described as
1. following one's religion
2. praying in public
3. treating one religion as superior and others as enemies
4. religious education
Show answer
Answer: (c) treating one religion as superior and others as enemies. It uses religion to divide people politically.
Which reformer worked against caste discrimination in Tamil Nadu
1. Jotiba Phule
2. Dadabhai Naoroji
3. Sardar Patel
4. Periyar Ramaswami Naicker
Show answer
Answer: (d) Periyar Ramaswami Naicker. He led the Self-Respect Movement.
Sexual division of labour means
1. men and women earn equally
2. housework is seen as women's work and outside work as men's
3. all work is shared equally
4. only women work
Show answer
Answer: (b) housework is seen as women's work and outside work as men's. It keeps women's work at home unpaid.
Which statement about caste and politics is correct
1. No parliamentary constituency has a clear majority of one single caste, so parties seek votes of many castes
2. Parties win elections only by the votes of one caste
3. Caste has no role in elections
4. Only upper castes vote
Show answer
Answer: (a) No parliamentary constituency has a clear majority of one single caste, so parties seek votes of many castes. Voters weigh many factors besides caste.
Which of these is not a constitutional feature of a secular state in India
1. a state religion for each state
2. no official religion
3. state can intervene to ensure equality within religious communities
4. freedom to profess any religion
Show answer
Answer: (a) a state religion for each state. India has no state religion at any level.

All chapters of Class 10 Social Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.