Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Sociology

Chapter

Indian Society: Continuity and Change

Question:

There are two statements:

Statement I: The four-varna classification and the jati hierarchy operate at more or less the same level of social organisation.

Statement II: Jati involves a more complex network of castes and sub-castes than the varna classification.

Options:

Both statements are correct and Statement II explains Statement I.

Both statements are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I.

Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct.

Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect.

Correct Answer:

Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct.

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option 3: Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct.

Statement I: The four-varna classification and the jati hierarchy operate at more or less the same level of social organisation. — Incorrect. The expression "more or less" makes the statement more convincing, but the distinction between varna and jati is substantial rather than minor. One is a broad classification and the other a highly differentiated local hierarchy.

Statement II: Jati involves a more complex network of castes and sub-castes than the varna classification. — Correct. Jati encompasses hundreds or even thousands of castes and sub-castes, making it considerably more complex than the four-fold varna framework.

NCERT: ""The most common interpretation is to treat varna as a broad all-India aggregative classification, while jati is taken to be a regional or local sub-classification involving a much more complex system consisting of hundreds or even thousands of castes and sub-castes."