Read the below passage and answer the question:
Different kinds of social institutions, ranging from the family to the market, can bring people together, create strong collective identities and strengthen social cohesion. The very same institutions can also be sources of inequality and exclusions. In Indian context, the term 'diversity' emphasizes differences rather than inequalities. When we say that India is a nation of great cultural diversity, we mean that there are many different types of social groups and communities living here. These are communities defined by cultural markers such as languages, religion, sect, race or caste. When these diverse communities are also part of larger entity like a nation, then difficulties may be created by competition or conflict between them. Cultural diversity can present tough challenges. The difficulties arise from the fact that cultural identities are very powerful they can arouse intense passions and are often able to mobilise large number of people. The challenges of cultural diversity can result in communal riots, demands for regional autonomy, caste wars. The major challenges that diversity poses in India - issues such as regionalism, communalism and casteism. The concept of 'community identity' is closely associated with cultural diversity based on birth and 'belonging' rather than on some form of acquired qualifications or 'accomplishment'.
Which of the following are the challenges of Cultural diversity?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Communal riots and caste wars
Option (3) Communal riots and caste wars — Correct. Cultural identities are very powerful: they can arouse intense passions and mobilise large numbers of people. When diverse communities compete or come into conflict within one nation, the passage says the challenges of cultural diversity can result in communal riots, demands for regional autonomy and caste wars.
Option (4) Secularism and social equality — Incorrect. Secularism and social equality are values a nation adopts to meet the challenges of diversity, by treating all communities alike. They are part of the answer to the problem, not the problem itself.
Note: The opening lines of the chapter ‘The Challenges of Cultural Diversity’, which name communal riots, demands for regional autonomy and caste wars as divisive forces, were there in the pre-rationalised NCERT, which NTA followed in 2023. These lines have been deleted from the NCERT book (2025-26), though the chapter is still there and still discusses communalism and communal riots.
NCERT (2025-26): “The term ‘diversity’ emphasises differences rather than inequalities. When we say that India is a nation of great cultural diversity, we mean that there are many different types of social groups and communities living here. These are communities defined by cultural markers such as language, religion, sect, race or caste. When these diverse communities are also part of a larger entity like a nation, then difficulties may be created by competition or conflict between them. This is why cultural diversity can present tough challenges. The difficulties arise from the fact that cultural identities are very powerful – they can arouse intense passions and are often able to moblise large numbers of people. Sometimes cultural differences are accompanied by economic and social inequalities, and this further complicates things. Measures to address the inequalities or injustices suffered by one community can provoke opposition from other communities. The situation is made worse when scarce resources – like river waters, jobs or government funds – have to be shared.” “Communalism … Communalism is an especially important issue in India because it has been a recurrent source of tension and violence. India has had a history of communal riots from pre-Independence times, often as a result of the divide-and-rule policy adopted by the colonial rulers.…” NCERT (Pre-rationalised): “…If you read the newspapers regularly, or watch the news on television, you may often have had the depressing feeling that India has no future. There seem to be so many divisive forces hard at work tearing apart the unity and integrity of our country – communal riots, demands for regional autonomy, caste wars……” |