Social Science · History

Indian Social Structure

1,850 Questions

Prepare for competitive exams by answering questions on the diverse Indian social structure. Topics include the historical caste system, Vedic political units, and various social reform movements. This hub offers valuable insights into the sociological framework of India.

Caste system dynamicsVedic societySocial reform movementsIndian family structure

Indian Social Structure Questions

Multiple choice social science public health and the government energy and health infectious diseases - transmission and prevention infectious diseases and how to prevent them

Which of the following is true about Kashtakari Sangathan?

  1. Trains women health workers at the village level

  2. It is a tribal organisation

  3. Both A and B

  4. None
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Kashtakari Sangathan is a well-known tribal organization based in Maharashtra that works on various social issues, including the training of women health workers at the village level to improve local healthcare access.

Multiple choice social history of clothing clothing: a social history history

Why were Shanar women attacked by the upper caste Nairs in the southern princely state of Travancore ?

  1. For wearing a cloth across their upper bodies

  2. Due to suffrage movement

  3. For wearing ermine

  4. For wearing cockade
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Shanar women converts began to wear tailored blouses and clothes to cover themselves like the upper castes in 1820s. Complaints were filed in court against this dress change. but this did not prevent Shanar Christian women and even Shanar Hindus from adopting the blouse and upper cloth.
The abolition of slavery in Travancore in 1855 led to riots and attacks on the Shanar women by the upper castes. Their houses were looted and chapels burned, Finally, a proclamation was passed permitting the Shanar women to wear jackets, but not like the women of high caste.

Multiple choice social history of clothing clothing: a social history history

 Why were the Shanar women attacked by Nairs in May 1822?

  1. They refused to do work of Nair families.

  2. They began to wear dress covering upper part of their bodies.

  3. They used bad Languages for the Nairs.

  4. They were attacked unnecessarily.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Shanar women were attacked because they began wearing jackets to cover their upper bodies, which challenged the social norms and caste hierarchies of the Nairs.

Multiple choice social history of clothing clothing: a social history history

Who were generally prohibited from using umbrellas and wearing shoes or golden ornaments?

  1. Nairs

  2. Shanar

  3. Parsis

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Shanar was the caste in India generally prohibited from using umbrellas and wearing shoes or golden ornaments as they were considered lower community. Shanar is a Tamil caste of South India and Srilanka. They were also called as Nadars.

Multiple choice social history of clothing clothing: a social history history

Traders were classified as hat wearers and turban wearers. Who among the following were hat wearers?  

  1. Rich traders

  2. Poor traders

  3. British traders

  4. Indian traders
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

When European traders first began frequenting India, they were distinguished from the Indian ‘turban wearers’ as the ‘hat wearers.’  These two headgears not only looked different, they also signified different things. The turban in India was not just for protection from the heat but was a sign of respectability, and could not be removed at will. 

Multiple choice

What was the primary occupation of the people during the Vedic Period?

  1. Agriculture

  2. Trade

  3. Craftsmanship

  4. Pastoralism
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Vedic people were primarily pastoralists, relying on cattle and other livestock for their livelihood.

Multiple choice

Which of the following was a significant social class during the Vedic Period?

  1. Brahmins

  2. Kshatriyas

  3. Vaishyas

  4. Shudras
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Brahmins were the priestly class and held the highest position in the social hierarchy during the Vedic Period.

Multiple choice

Which religious tradition emphasizes the importance of social equality and the rejection of caste-based discrimination?

  1. Buddhism

  2. Hinduism

  3. Sikhism

  4. Jainism
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Sikhism, founded by Guru Nanak, strongly emphasizes social equality and rejects caste-based discrimination, promoting unity and brotherhood among all individuals.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a common form of social stratification?

  1. Caste System

  2. Class System

  3. Gender Stratification

  4. Racial Stratification
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Gender stratification is not a common form of social stratification, as it is not based on the same hierarchical principles as caste, class, and racial stratification.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a common way in which caste is portrayed in the media?

  1. As a rigid and hierarchical system

  2. As a source of discrimination and oppression

  3. As a positive aspect of Indian culture

  4. As a factor that determines an individual's social status
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

While the media often portrays caste as a rigid and hierarchical system, a source of discrimination and oppression, and a factor that determines an individual's social status, it rarely portrays caste as a positive aspect of Indian culture.

Multiple choice

How does the media contribute to the perpetuation of caste stereotypes?

  1. By presenting caste as a fixed and unchanging aspect of an individual's identity

  2. By portraying inter-caste marriages as taboo or problematic

  3. By reinforcing the idea that caste determines an individual's abilities and opportunities

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The media contributes to the perpetuation of caste stereotypes by presenting caste as a fixed and unchanging aspect of an individual's identity, portraying inter-caste marriages as taboo or problematic, and reinforcing the idea that caste determines an individual's abilities and opportunities.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the process by which caste is reproduced and reinforced through media representations?

  1. Caste stereotyping

  2. Caste essentialism

  3. Caste hegemony

  4. Caste ideology
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Caste hegemony refers to the process by which caste is reproduced and reinforced through media representations. It involves the naturalization and normalization of caste-based social hierarchies and the marginalization of counter-narratives.

Multiple choice

What was the main social structure of the Indus Valley Civilization?

  1. Caste system

  2. Class system

  3. Tribal system

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The exact social structure of the Indus Valley Civilization is not known.

Multiple choice

Which of the following was a major social change in India after independence?

  1. The decline of the joint family system

  2. The rise of nuclear families

  3. The increase in the number of working women

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

All of the above factors contributed to the social change in India after independence.

Multiple choice

Ambedkar argued that the caste system was not simply a social institution, but also a:

  1. Religious belief

  2. Economic system

  3. Political ideology

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Ambedkar viewed the caste system as a complex phenomenon that permeated all aspects of Indian society, including religion, economics, and politics. He argued that it was necessary to address all of these dimensions in order to effectively combat caste discrimination.