What is the practice of marriage within a kin group, caste, or a group living in the same locality called?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Endogamy
Option (1) Polyandry — Incorrect. Polyandry is the practice of a woman having several husbands; it concerns the number of spouses, not the group a spouse comes from.
Option (2) Endogamy — Correct. Endogamy refers to marriage within a unit – a kin group, caste, or a group living in the same locality.
Option (3) Polygyny — Incorrect. Polygyny is the practice of a man having several wives; it too concerns the number of spouses.
Option (4) Exogamy — Incorrect. Exogamy is the opposite: marriage outside the unit.
Note: A same/similar question was asked in CUET (UG) in the papers below.
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| – | – | – | 10-06 S3 14-06 S1 02-07 S3 | – |
NCERT (2026-27): “Types of marriages … Endogamy refers to marriage within a unit – this could be a kin group, caste, or a group living in the same locality. Exogamy refers to marriage outside the unit. Polygyny is the practice of a man having several wives. Polyandry is the practice of a woman having several husbands.” |