Consider the following statements:

Statement I: A caste could claim a different traditional social position simply by adopting the occupation of another caste.

Statement II: The traditional caste system functioned as a division of labour in which occupational mobility was, in principle, restricted.

Choose the correct answer.

Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct.

The correct answer is Option 1: Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct.

Traditional occupations were linked with caste membership, and each caste was expected to occupy its designated position in society. The system recognised different occupational roles but did not, in principle, allow individuals or groups to move freely between them. Thus, merely changing one's occupation did not alter one's caste position.

Statement I: A caste could claim a different traditional social position simply by adopting the occupation of another caste. Incorrect. In the traditional caste system, a caste's social position was fixed and hereditary. Occupations were linked to caste, but simply taking up another caste's occupation did not entitle a person or caste to claim a different social position. 

Statement II: The traditional caste system functioned as a division of labour in which occupational mobility was, in principle, restricted. Correct. The caste system assigned specific occupations to different castes, thereby functioning as a division of labour. However, unlike a modern division of labour where individuals are free to choose or change occupations, the traditional caste system did not, in principle, permit occupational mobility.

NCERT: "The hierarchical ordering of castes is based on the distinction between ‘purity’ and ‘pollution’. This is a division between something believed to be closer to the sacred (thus connoting ritual purity), and something believed to be distant from or opposed to the sacred, therefore considered ritually polluting. Castes that are considered ritually pure have high status, while those considered less pure or impure have low status. As in all societies, material power (i.e., economic or military power) is closely associated with social status, so that those in power tend to be of high status, and vice versa. Historians believe that those who were defeated in wars were often assigned low caste status. Finally, castes are not only unequal to each other in ritual terms, they are also supposed to be complementary and non-competing groups. In other words,each caste has its own place in the system which cannot be taken by any other caste. Since caste is also linked with occupation, the system functions as the social division of labour, except that, in principle, it allows no mobility"