Washermen, Potters, Goldsmiths, Oil-pressers are known as:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Service Castes
Option (2) Service Castes — Correct. Rural life supported many specialists and craftspersons, such as potters, goldsmiths and oil-pressers. This diversity of occupations was reflected in the caste system, which in most regions included specialist and ‘service’ castes such as washermen, potters and goldsmiths.
Note: The pre-rationalised NCERT, the textbook of 2022, names ‘Washermen’ among the service castes; the NCERT book (2025-26) names ‘Dry Cleaners’ in their place.
NCERT (2025-26): “…Rural life also supported many other specialists and craftspersons as story-tellers, astrologers, priests, water-distributors and oil-pressers. The diversity of occupations in rural India was reflected in the caste system, which in most regions included specialist and ‘service’ castes such as Dry Cleaners, Potters and Goldsmiths. Some of these traditional occupations have declined.…” NCERT (Pre-rationalised): “…Rural life also supported many other specialists and crafts persons as story-tellers, astrologers, priests, water-distributors, and oil-pressers. The diversity of occupations in rural India was reflected in the caste system, which in most regions included specialist and ‘service’ castes such as Washermen, Potters, and Goldsmiths. Some of these traditional occupations have declined.…” |