Consider the following statements about merchant communities in India:
(A) Like the other varnas, 'Vaisya' is often a status that is claimed or aspired to rather than a fixed identity.
(B) The banias of North India are a 'Vaisya' community whose traditional occupation has been trade or commerce.
(C) Some caste groups that have entered into trade tend to claim 'Kshatriya' status in the process of upward mobility.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → A and B only
(A) Like the other varnas, 'Vaisya' is often a status that is claimed or aspired to rather than a fixed identity. — Correct. Like the other varnas, Vaisya is often a status that groups claim or aspire to. It is not a fixed identity.
(B) The banias of North India are a 'Vaisya' community whose traditional occupation has been trade or commerce. — Correct. The banias of North India are a Vaisya community. Trade or commerce has been their traditional occupation for a long time.
(C) Some caste groups that have entered into trade tend to claim 'Kshatriya' status in the process of upward mobility. — Incorrect. Caste groups that enter trade tend to claim 'Vaisya' status as they move up. Vaisya is the varna linked with the merchant and trade, so 'Kshatriya' is the wrong varna here.
NCERT (2026-27): “Social Organisation of Markets – ‘Traditional Business Communities’ … |