The most commonly cited features of caste are the following.A. Caste…

The most commonly cited features of caste are the following.

A. Caste involves a system of hierarchical arrangement of rank and status.

B. Caste is determined by birth.

C. Castes does not involve sub-divisions within themselves.

D. Castes were traditionally linked to occupations.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 1

The correct answer is Option (1) → A, B and D only

A. Caste involves a system of hierarchical arrangement of rank and status. Correct. Caste involves a system of many castes arranged in a hierarchy of rank and status; every caste has a specified place in it.

B. Caste is determined by birth. Correct. A child is ‘born into’ the caste of its parents; caste is never a matter of choice.

C. Castes does not involve sub-divisions within themselves. Incorrect. The opposite is true: castes almost always have sub-castes, and sometimes the sub-castes have sub-castes too. This is called a segmental organisation. A single ‘not’ turned a feature of caste into its opposite, so pause on the small words of each statement before ticking it.

D. Castes were traditionally linked to occupations. Correct. A person born into a caste could traditionally practise only the occupation linked to it.

NCERT (2025-26): “Caste in the Past … The most commonly cited defining features of caste are the following:

1. Caste is determined by birth – a child is ‘born into’ the caste of its parents. Caste is never a matter of choice. One can never change one’s caste, leave it, or choose not to join it, although there are instances where a person may be expelled from their caste.
2. Membership in a caste involves strict rules about marriage. Caste groups are ‘endogamous’, i.e. marriage is restricted to members of the group.
3. Caste membership also involves rules about food and food-sharing. What kinds of food may or may not be eaten is prescribed and who one may share food with is also specified.
4. Caste involves a system consisting of many castes arranged in a hierarchy of rank and status. In theory, every person has a caste, and every caste has a specified place in the hierarchy of all castes. While the hierarchical position of many castes, particularly in the middle ranks, may vary from region to region, there is always a hierarchy.
5. Castes also involve sub-divisions within themselves, i.e., castes almost always have sub-castes and sometimes sub-castes may also have sub-castes. This is referred to as a segmental organisation.
6. Castes were traditionally linked to occupations.…”