Consider the following statements:
(A) Like the category of the tribe, the OBCs are defined negatively, by what they are not.
(B) The OBCs belong neither to the forward castes at the upper end nor to the Dalits at the lower end.
(C) Members of religions other than Hinduism may also belong to the backward castes.
(D) The OBCs are a much less diverse group than the Dalits or adivasis.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → A, B and C only
(A) Like the category of the tribe, the OBCs are defined negatively, by what they are not. — Correct. The OBCs are defined negatively, by what they are not. The category of tribe is defined in the same way.
(B) The OBCs belong neither to the forward castes at the upper end nor to the Dalits at the lower end. — Correct. On the status scale, the OBCs sit between the forward castes at the upper end and the Dalits at the lower end. They belong to neither group.
(C) Members of religions other than Hinduism may also belong to the backward castes. — Correct. Caste is not confined to Hinduism and has entered all the major Indian religions. So members of other religions also belong to the backward castes and share their occupational identity and status.
(D) The OBCs are a much less diverse group than the Dalits or adivasis. — Incorrect. The comparison is reversed. Because they span many religions and levels of status, the OBCs are a much more diverse group than the Dalits or adivasis.
NCERT (2026-27): “The Other Backward Classes … “For these reasons, the OBCs are a much more diverse group than the Dalits or adivasis. …” |