Gender, Religion and Caste Question Answers: NCERT Class 10 Social Science - Democratic Politics

 All religions family rules are discriminating against women. There are cases of various kinds of harassment, exploitation and violence against women. Urban areas have become more unsafe for women. In India, the ratio of women in legislature is very low. For example, the percentage of elected female members in Lok Sabha has never reached even 10 percent of its total strength. Even female members in the state assemblies is also less than 5 percent. In this respect, India is at the last among the nations in the world.

Different forms of communal politics are as given below:

Everyday beliefs: Religious prejudices, stereotypes of religious communities, and belief in the superiority of one’s religion are so rare that we often did not recognise them even when we believe in it. For example In many regions, the members of lower classes are not allowed to enter the temples . Majoritarian dominance: A majority community tries to dominate minority communities in politics. This may compel to formation of a separate political unit by minority community. For example, in Sri Lanka, majoritarianism has been followed which has led to conflict in the country. Political mobilization on religious lines: Religious appeals are made to attract the voters. In politics, sacred symbols and religious leaders are also used sometimes to bring the followers of one religion together. Religious leaders are asked to move in favour of a political party.  Communal violence: Sometimes communalism takes the ugliest form of communal violence, riots, and massacre. At time of partition, India and Pakistan suffered the worst communal riots. Even after independence, communal riots have taken place in India.

Caste inequalities are still continuing in India in these ways:

Most of the people still marry within their own caste. Inter caste marriages are still not allowed in the upper caste people or sometimes in other caste people . Untouchability still exists in differents part of country after being prohibited by the Constitution , particularly in rural areas. In the field of education too the position is far from satisfactory. The caste groups that had access to education under the old system can only acquire modern education as well. But those groups who did not have access to education or prohibited from acquiring it have naturally lagged. Caste is still a source of economic inequality because it regulates access to resources while the upper castes are best off, the Dalits and Adivasis are worst off, and the backward castes are in between. Although every caste has poor members, the portion of living in extreme poverty is higher for the lowest castes. Lower caste people are generally poor and exploited even today. Caste still continues to be linked to economic status. 

 When parties select candidates in elections, the caste composition of the electorate is kept in mind and candidates from different castes are nominated so as to gather necessary support to win elections. While forming government, political parties usually takes representatives of different castes and tribes. Universal adult franchise and the principle of one-person-one-vote geared up political leaders to mobilise and secure political support. It also brought awareness among the people of low castes .

The status of women’s representation in India’s legislative bodies is less as mentioned below :

In Lok Sabha, the percentage of total strength of elected women members has never reached even 10 percent . The state assemblies portion is less than 5 percent. India is among the lowest group of nations in the world. Women in national parliaments are mention below :

Nordic Countries – 40%

America – 20.2%

Europe – 19.6%

Asia – 16.3%

India – 8.3%

Arab States – 8.2% 1

Thus, India is above of Arab states only. Even after a woman becomes a Chief Minister or the Prime Minister, cabinets are still male dominating. Thus the ratio of women in legislative bodies has been very less. Women's organization have demanded reservation of one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies for women. Due to lack of agreement among the political parties, a bill with this proposal has been pending before the parliament for more than a decade but has not been passed yet.

 Unlike the status of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Islam in Pakistan and Christianity in England, our Constitution does not give a special status to particular religion. All individuals and communities  have freedom to profess, practice and propagate any religion, as per our constitution.

(2) Unequal roles assigned by the society to men and women (i.e. It is the act of favouring men over women.)

(4) Panchayati Raj bodies (i.e. 1/3rd seats are reserved for women apart from the total number of seats)

 (c) (I) and (iii) only

(2) gives official status to one religion

 Caste

 (b) (i) - B; (ii) - A; (iii) - D; (iv) - C