Which social group traditionally provided most of the agricultural labor for the dominant landowning group in many regions of India? |
Other Backward Classes Middle-ranked castes Dalits Both 1 and 3 |
Dalits |
The correct answer is option 3: Dalits While dominant landowning groups are usually middle or high ranked castes, most of the marginal farmers and landless belong to lower caste groups. In official classification they belong to the Scheduled Castes or Tribes (SC/ STs) or Other Backward Classes (OBCs). In many regions of India, the former ‘Untouchable’ or dalit castes were not allowed to own land and they provided most of the agricultural labour for the dominant landowning groups. This also created a labour force that allowed the landowners to cultivate the land intensively and get higher returns. |