Read the passage given below and answer the following question.
Just like caste in India, race in South Africa stratifies society into a hierarchy. About one South African in seven is of European ancestry, yet South Africa’s White minority holds the dominant share of power and wealth. Dutch traders settled in South Africa in the mid-seventeenth century; early in the nineteenth century, their descendants were pushed inland by British colonization. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the British gained control of what became the Union and then the Republic of South Africa. To ensure their political control, the White European minority developed the policy of apartheid, or separation of the races. It was used to deny the Black majority South African citizenship, ownership of land, and a formal voice in government. Every individual was classified by race and mixed marriages were prohibited. As a racial caste, Blacks held low paying jobs; on average, they earned only one-fourth what whites did. In the latter half of the twentieth century, millions of Blacks were forcibly relocated to ‘Bantustans’ or ‘homelands’ – dirt-poor districts with no infrastructure or industry or jobs. All the homelands together constituted only 14 per cent of South Africa’s land, while Blacks made up close to 80 per cent of the country’s population. The resulting starvation and suffering was intense and widespread. In short, in a land with extensive natural resources, including diamonds and precious minerals, the majority of people lived in abject poverty.

With reference to the caste system in India, consider the following statements:

1. It is characterised by a hierarchical ordering of social groups.
2. Traditionally, occupation was closely linked to caste membership.
3. The concepts of purity and pollution influenced social interactions among castes.
4. Marriage outside one's caste was considered the accepted social norm.

Which of the statements given above is NOT correct?

4 Only

The correct answer is Option 4: 4 Only

Option 1: It is characterised by a hierarchical ordering of social groups. This statement is correct. The caste system is organised in a graded hierarchy, with each caste occupying a distinct social position and status.

Option 2: Traditionally, occupation was closely linked to caste membership. This statement is correct. Occupations were traditionally hereditary, and individuals were generally expected to follow the occupation associated with their caste.

Option 3: The concepts of purity and pollution influenced social interactions among castes. This statement is correct. Ideas of purity and pollution regulated social interactions, including restrictions on food sharing, physical contact and ritual practices.

Option 4: Marriage outside one's caste was considered the accepted social norm. This statement is incorrect. The caste system traditionally emphasised endogamy, requiring individuals to marry within their own caste. Marriage outside one's caste (exogamy) was generally discouraged and often attracted social sanctions.