Consider the following statements about the social position of trading groups in India:
(A) Merchant communities did not always have a high status in society.
(B) Groups such as the Parsis, Sindhis, Bohras and Jains are counted within the 'Vaisya' varna.
(C) During the colonial period, the long-distance trade in salt was controlled by the Banjaras.
(D) The Banjaras were a marginalised 'tribal' group.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → A, C and D only
(A) Merchant communities did not always have a high status in society. — Correct. Merchant communities did not always have a high status in society, as the case of the Banjaras shows.
(B) Groups such as the Parsis, Sindhis, Bohras and Jains are counted within the 'Vaisya' varna. — Incorrect. The Parsis, Sindhis, Bohras and Jains are traditional business communities outside the Vaisyas. They are groups with distinct religious or other community identities.
(C) During the colonial period, the long-distance trade in salt was controlled by the Banjaras. — Correct. During the colonial period the long-distance trade in salt was controlled by the Banjaras.
(D) The Banjaras were a marginalised 'tribal' group. — Correct. The Banjaras were a marginalised 'tribal' group, which is why their case shows the low status some merchant groups had.
NCERT (2026-27): “Social Organisation of Markets – ‘Traditional Business Communities’ … |