Which of the following statements explains the concept of 'segmental organisation'?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Castes almost always have sub-castes and sometimes sub-castes may also have sub-sub-castes
Option (1) Every person is born into the caste of his/her parents — Incorrect. This is the feature that caste is determined by birth. It tells how a person gets a caste, not how a caste is divided inside.
Option (2) Marriage in caste system is restricted to members of the group — Incorrect. This is endogamy, the strict rule about marriage within the caste. It is a separate feature of caste.
Option (3) Castes almost always have sub-castes and sometimes sub-castes may also have sub-sub-castes — Correct. Castes involve sub-divisions within themselves, one level inside another, like segments within segments. This is referred to as a segmental organisation.
Option (4) Caste is never a matter of choice — Incorrect. This too belongs to the feature of membership by birth: one can never change one’s caste, leave it or choose not to join it. It says nothing about sub-castes.
NCERT (2025-26): “3.1 Caste and the Caste System … The most commonly cited defining features of caste are the following: 1. Caste is determined by birth – a child is ‘born into’ the caste of its parents. Caste is never a matter of choice. One can never change one’s caste, leave it, or choose not to join it, although there are instances where a person may be expelled from their caste.” “2. Membership in a caste involves strict rules about marriage. Caste groups are ‘endogamous’, i.e. marriage is restricted to members of the group.…” “…5. Castes also involve sub-divisions within themselves, i.e., castes almost always have sub-castes and sometimes sub-castes may also have sub-castes. This is referred to as a segmental organisation.…” |