The characteristics of the caste system:-
(A) Caste is an ascribed status.
(B) Caste groups are 'endogamous'.
(C) Caste is an achieved status.
(D) Castes involve segmental organization.
(E) Caste groups are based on choice of individuals
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 is an ascribed status. Correct. Caste is determined by birth: a child is ‘born into’ the caste of its parents. A position given by birth in this way is called ascribed.
(B) Caste groups are 'endogamous'. Correct. Membership in a caste involves strict rules about marriage: marriage is restricted to members of the group.
(C) Caste is an achieved status. Incorrect. An achieved status is one a person earns by his or her own effort. Caste can never be changed or left, however much a person achieves, so it is ascribed, not achieved.
(D) Castes involve segmental organization. Correct. Castes almost always have sub-castes, and sub-castes may have their own sub-castes. This is called a segmental organisation.
(E) Caste groups are based on choice of individuals Incorrect. Caste is never a matter of choice: one can never change one’s caste, leave it or choose not to join it.
NCERT (2025-26): “3.1 Caste and the Caste System … 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.…” “…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.…” |