Indian Society MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Indian Society - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is - Pluralism

Key Points

• Pluralism
  • Refers to the coexistence of multiple distinct cultures within a society.
  • It allows for the preservation and expression of different cultural traditions and practices.
  • Encourages mutual respect and tolerance among diverse cultural groups.
  • Supports the idea that diversity is a strength and contributes to the richness of society.

Additional Information

• Homogeneity
  • Refers to a society where one dominant culture or group prevails.
  • Opposite of pluralism, it implies uniformity in cultural practices and values.
• Uniformity
  • Indicates similarity and consistency in cultural practices across a society.
  • Does not allow for diversity and variety in cultural expressions.
• Dominance
  • Refers to the control or influence of one cultural group over others.
  • Can lead to suppression of minority cultures and lack of cultural diversity.

Key Points

• Varna
  • The term Varna refers to the ancient classification of the Indian society into four main categories.
  • These categories are Brahmins (priests and teachers), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (traders and agriculturists), and Shudras (laborers and service providers).
  • This system is based on hereditary and occupational roles within the society.
  • It represents a form of social stratification prevalent in traditional Indian society.

Additional Information

• Origins of Varna System
  • The origins of the Varna system are traced back to the Rigveda, one of the oldest sacred texts in Hinduism.
  • It is mentioned in the Puruṣa Sūkta hymn, which describes the creation of the four Varnas from the body of the cosmic being, Purusha.
• Impact on Society
  • The Varna system had a significant influence on the social, economic, and religious aspects of life in traditional India.
  • It contributed to the division of labor and social order, although it also led to social inequalities and rigid caste hierarchies over time.
• Modern Context
  • In contemporary India, the Varna system has been legally abolished, but its influence can still be seen in certain social and cultural practices.
  • Efforts are ongoing to promote social equality and eradicate caste-based discrimination.

 Key Points

• Exogamy
  • Exogamy is a social rule that requires individuals to marry outside their own social group or category.
  • This practice aims to prevent inbreeding and promote genetic diversity within the community.
  • It ensures alliances between different groups, promoting social cohesion and cooperation.

Additional Information

• Endogamy
  • Endogamy is the opposite of exogamy, where individuals are required to marry within their own social group.
  • This practice is often seen in caste systems and certain religious communities.
  • Endogamy helps maintain cultural and social homogeneity within the group.
• Monogamy
  • Monogamy refers to the practice of marrying or being in a relationship with one person at a time.
  • It is the most common form of marriage in many societies globally.
• Polygamy
  • Polygamy is the practice of having more than one spouse simultaneously.
  • It is practiced in some cultures and religions, with polygyny (one man, multiple wives) being more common than polyandry (one woman, multiple husbands).

 Key Points

• Replacement level
  • The replacement level of fertility is the total fertility rate (TFR) at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, without migration.
  • It is typically around 2.1 children per woman for most countries, accounting for infant mortality and childless women.
  • This level ensures population stability by balancing the number of births and deaths.

Additional Information

• Factors Affecting Fertility Rates
  • Socio-economic conditions:
    • Higher income and education levels often lead to lower fertility rates.
  • Access to healthcare:
    • Improved healthcare reduces child mortality, encouraging smaller family sizes.
  • Cultural factors:
    • Norms and values about family size and childbearing can influence fertility rates.
• Global Fertility Trends
  • Many developed countries have fertility rates below the replacement level, leading to aging populations.
  • Developing countries often have higher fertility rates, but these are decreasing with better access to education and healthcare.
• Consequences of Below Replacement Fertility
  • Population aging and potential decline.
  • Economic challenges related to a shrinking workforce and increased dependency ratios.

Key Points

• Virtual market
  • A virtual market refers to a marketplace that operates solely on digital platforms.
  • It allows buyers and sellers to interact, exchange goods, services, and information without physical presence.
  • Examples include e-commerce websites like Amazon, eBay, and Alibaba.

Additional Information

• E-commerce
  • E-commerce stands for electronic commerce, which involves buying and selling goods or services using the internet.
  • It includes various business models such as B2B (Business-to-Business), B2C (Business-to-Consumer), and C2C (Consumer-to-Consumer).
• Advantages of Virtual Markets
  • Convenience: Customers can shop from anywhere at any time.
  • Broader reach: Businesses can reach a global audience without the need for physical stores.
  • Cost-effective: Reduced overhead costs compared to traditional brick-and-mortar stores.
• Security in Virtual Markets
  • Encryption: Ensures secure transactions by encrypting data.
  • Authentication: Confirms the identity of users through various methods like passwords, biometric data, or two-factor authentication.
  • Payment gateways: Secure platforms that handle online payment processing.

The correct answer is Calcutta.Key Points

• Calcutta is the place where the Indian Association was founded in colonial India.
• The Indian Association was founded in 1876 by Surendranath Banerjee and Ananda Mohan Bose.
• The Indian Association played a significant role in the Indian independence movement and was instrumental in organizing various protests and movements against the British rule.
• The association was also responsible for the formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885.

Additional Information

• Poona was associated with the Deccan Education Society and the Sarvajanik Sabha, which were also involved in the Indian freedom struggle.
• Surat was associated with the Congress session of 1907, where the party was split into two factions - the Moderates and the Extremists.
• Lucknow was associated with the Lucknow Pact of 1916, which was signed between the Congress and the Muslim League, aimed at bringing the two communities together in the Indian freedom struggle.

The correct answer is Caste groups are exogamous.

Key Points

• The features of the caste system in India are:
  •  Hereditary 
    • The caste status of an individual is determined strictly by his heredity, i.e. the caste into which one is born. 
  • Endogamous
    • Its endogamous character strictly prohibits inter-caste marriages. Hence, caste groups are exogamous is not a feature of caste system in India.
  •  Restricted Food Habits
    • ​Higher castes try maintaining their traditional purity by different food habits.
      • Brahmins will only take ‘Satwil’ or ‘Pure’ food.
      • Kshtriya and Vaishya will take ‘Royal’ food.
      • A Shudra takes ‘Tamsi’ food.
  • Each individual caste has its own laws which govern food habits.

 Important Points

• The other features of the caste system in India are:
  • Hierarchal:
    • The caste system has a hierarchy of superiors and inferiors.
    • Hindu caste hierarchy states, The highest position is held by Brahmin, followed by Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra.
  • Fixed Occupations:
    • The occupation in the caste system, which evolved from the Varna system, is definite.
    • A son of a blacksmith pursues the occupation of his trade, a son of a carpenter becomes a carpenter, and so forth.
    • People from many castes have lost their jobs due to the expansion of industries and have switched to farming or other occupations.

• Untouchability:
  • Shudra and outcasts are regarded as untouchables in the Indian caste system.
• Reinforcement by Religious Beliefs:
  • Religious beliefs have played an important role in making the caste system inevitable.
• Absence of Vertical Mobility:
  • In a caste system, there is no mobility movement of its members, up or down, the social status ladder. A person’s status at birth is his life time status.

Jawaharlal Nehru created the phrase ‘unity in diversity’.

• This word perfectly describes India, which, despite its diversity of languages, faiths, castes, and creeds, has a strong sense of unity among its citizens.
• Jawaharlal Nehru used the phrase in his book ‘Discovery of India.

 Additional Information

Jawaharlal Nehru - played a prominent role in the freedom struggle and became the first prime minister of independent India.

• He was a founder and leader of the Non-Aligned Movement.
• He was a prolific author and some of his works are ‘The Discovery of India’ and ‘Glimpses of World History’.​

The correct answer is Hocart and Senart.Key Points

• Hocart and Senart are the two main advocates of religious theory.
• According to Hocart, social stratification originated on account of religious principles and customs. 
• In ancient India religion had a prominent place. The king was considered the image of God.
•  Those who believed in the same deity considered themselves as different from those who believed in some other deity. holds that on account of different family duties there grew up certain prohibitions regarding sacramental food offered to deities.

The correct answer is Occupational Theory

Key Points

• Some of the main theories regarding the origin of caste system in India are:
  1. Racial theory
  2. Political theory
  3. Occupational theory
  4. Traditional theory
  5. Guild theory
  6. Religious theory
  7. Evolutionary theory
  8. Brahmanical Theory
• Occupational theory:
  • Nesfield regarded Caste system as the natural product of the occupational division of Hindu Society. 
  • In his own words “Function and function alone is responsible for the origin of caste system”. 
  • He holds the view that in the beginning when there was no rigidity, each individual was free to have occupation of his choice. 
  • But gradually with the rigidity in the system, occupational changes came to a halt.
  • Castes were identified on the basis of fixed occupation.
  • Persons in noble occupations, such as educating the people, fighting in the battle field, trade etc. was considered as members of superior castes. 
  • The others were treated as persons belonging to inferior castes, such as the Shudras.

  • In support of his theory, Nesfield cited the example that the occupation of artisans working in metals is ranked higher than basket makers or some other primitive occupations which do not involve the use of metals.

Exogamy is not a feature of caste system

Important Points

•  The following are the features of the caste system:
  • Segmentary division: The social structure of society is segmented into a number of little social groups known as castes. Each of these castes has an established social structure, and birth determines who belongs to each caste.
  • Hierarchy: A ladder of authority where the lower rungs are consistently encircled by the upper ones is called a hierarchy. We learn a key social principle of hierarchy from the caste system.
  • Endogamy: Endogamy is the most fundamental aspect of the caste system. The main characteristic of a caste is endogamy, or the requirement that members of a caste or sub-caste only ever marry other members of that caste or sub-caste.
  • Hereditary Status: Generally speaking, a man acquires the status of the caste to which he is born. Caste membership is decided by birth.
  • Hereditary Occupation: The hereditary occupation aspect of the old caste system.
  • Food and drink restrictions: There are laws governing what kinds of food and drinks people can consume and from which castes. The cooking taboo establishes who is allowed to prepare the food. The eating taboo may specify the mealtime routine to be followed.
  • The idea of pollution: through physical proximity, food sharing customs, etc., it plays a significant role in preserving the necessary distance between various castes. The distance from pollution varies from caste to caste and location to location.
• We are referring to the cultural side of castes since it has been regarded as both a ritual and an idea.

Thus we know that Exogamy is not a feature of caste system.

The term "diversity" refers to a lack of uniformity as well as a sense of variation.

• Diversity is the term that applies to dissimilarities. It may be in language, food, culture, living, religion, etc.
• India is a unique country where one can observe it extensively. 
• In a democratic nation, every individual has equal rights. Citizens have the right to elect their representatives.
• Diversity means differences in region, culture, language, and religion in society.
• Diversity originates with the birth or character of the person.

Reclassification of population education: An improved understanding of reclassification as a sociodemographic component of urban growth is important for urban planning and sustainable development. The net effect of reclassification on urban change is the largest when reclassification is assumed to occur at the end, and the smallest when assumed to occur at the beginning, of the decennial census periods. Education is a vital aspect of population change, social development and economic growth for every society. impacting the economic future and social well-being of all individuals. Key Points 

International Conference on Population 1984: ​

• The International Conference on Population, held in August 1984.
• The Conference adopted the Recommendations for the Further Implementation of the World Population Plan of Action
• The United States now considered population a neutral phenomenon for development. 
• Many developing countries, including Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan expressed their firm support for family planning and population programs. 
• Many developed countries, including Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom stated their willingness to increase their support for population programs.
• This conference reviewed and endorsed most aspects of the agreements of the 1974 Bucharest Conference but replace the old demographic-loaded concept.

Thus, we conclude that both I and II statements are correct.

The correct answer is MacIver and Page

Important Points

• Class is a crucial element of social stratification. 
• It is understood in two different ways. 
• First, Karl Marx defined a social class as “all those people who share their relation to the means of economic production.” 
• According to him, a class is determined by its possession of such objective, usually economic criteria like wealth, occupation, income etc.
• Secondly, there are thinkers like MacIver and Page who view class as a status group. 
• According to them, “A social class is any portion of a community marked off from the rest by social status.” 
• Ogburn and Nimkoff, in a way, subscribe to the line of thinking of MacIver and Page. 
• They said, “A social class is the aggregate of persons having essentially the same social status in a given society.”

• In this way, while the Marxists view class pre-eminently as an economic division, others regard it as a status group.

Hence, the correct answer is - MacIver and Page.

The correct answer is - 22

Key Points

• 22 Official Languages
  • According to the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, there are 22 officially recognized languages.
  • The Eighth Schedule lists the languages that the Government of India has recognized as official languages.
  • This recognition plays a crucial role in language policy and the promotion of linguistic diversity in India.

Additional Information

• Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution
  • The Eighth Schedule was initially included in the Constitution to recognize 14 languages.
  • Subsequent amendments have increased the number to 22 languages.
• Language Policy in India
  • The official recognition of languages ensures that they receive government support for their development.
  • This includes support in areas such as education, publications, and broadcasting.
• Linguistic Diversity
  • India is known for its vast linguistic diversity, with hundreds of languages spoken across the country.
  • Recognizing multiple languages officially helps in preserving and promoting this cultural heritage.