Which of the following statement is incorrect about civil society?

It includes media institutions, trade unions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), religious organisations, and other kinds of collective entities except the political parties.

The correct answer is option 3: It includes media institutions, trade unions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), religious organisations, and other kinds of collective entities except the political parties.

Option 1: It is the broad arena which lies beyond the private domain of the family. This option is correct. Civil society refers to the broad public arena beyond the private domain of the family.

Option 2: It lies outside the domain of both state and market. This option is correct. Civil society is the non-state and non-market part of the public domain where citizens voluntarily associate.

Option 3: It includes media institutions, trade unions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), religious organisations, and other kinds of collective entities except the political parties. This option is incorrect. The factual inaccuracy lies in excluding political parties. Political parties are specifically included among the institutions that constitute civil society.

Option 4: The main criteria for inclusion in civil society are that the organisation should not be state-controlled. This option is correct. The statement is consistent with the definition. The full criterion is that the organisation should not be state-controlled and should not be a purely commercial profit-making entity.

NCERT: Civil society is the name given to the broad arena which lies beyond the private domain of the family, but outside the domain of both state and market. Civil society is the non-state and non-market part of the public domain in which individuals get together voluntarily to create institutions and organisations. It is the sphere of active citizenship: here, individuals take up social issues, try to influence the state or make demands on it, pursue their collective interests or seek support for a variety of causes. It consists of voluntary associations, organisations or institutions formed by groups of citizens. It includes political parties, media institutions, trade unions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), religious organisations, and other kinds of collective entities. The main criteria for inclusion in civil society are that the organisation should not be state-controlled, and it should not be a purely commercial profit-making entity. Thus, Doordarshan is not part of civil society though private television channels are; a car manufacturing company is not part of civil society but the trade unions to which its workers belong are.