Twelve families in a residential colony in Lucknow formed a residents' group when the colony kept running short of water. They meet in the colony park on the first Sunday of every month; on other days they send plans and photos on a phone messaging app. Within months, families who had washed their cars with hoses switched to buckets, as their neighbours in the group did. In March, Rakesh forgot to post the residents' letter to the municipal office, and every family went without tanker water for a week. Meera dug a rainwater pit behind her house, and families in two nearby colonies soon dug pits of their own.
Some residents feel that theirs is hardly a group, because members meet in person only once a month. Which characteristic of a group shows that this view is mistaken?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → A gathering of individuals who interact with one another either directly or indirectly
Option (1) A collection of individuals who are interdependent — Incorrect. Interdependence means what one member does has consequences for others, as when Rakesh's missed letter left every family without tanker water. It does not answer the doubt about how often members meet.
Option (2) A gathering of individuals who interact with one another either directly or indirectly — Correct. Group members may interact directly or indirectly. The monthly meeting in the park is direct contact and the app messages are indirect contact, so meeting in person rarely does not make it less of a group.
Option (3) A social unit of individuals who perceive themselves as belonging to the group — Incorrect. Feeling of belonging gives a group its own identity and sets it apart from other groups. It says nothing about how members keep in touch with one another.
Option (4) A collection of individuals who have common motives and goals — Incorrect. Common motives and goals, such as ending the water shortage, explain why the residents work together. They do not settle whether rare meetings in person weaken the group.
NCERT (2026-27): “Introduction … “• A gathering of individuals who interact with one another either directly or indirectly.” “• A collection of individuals whose interactions are structured by a set of roles and norms. This means that the group members perform the same functions every time the group meets and the group members adhere to group norms. Norms tell us how we ought to behave in the group and specify the behaviours expected from group members.” |