Which among this is NOT a characteristic of a community?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → Membership is voluntary in nature

Option (1) Identity is by birth/ascriptive — A characteristic of a community (Incorrect). Community identity is based on birth and ‘belonging’. Such identities are called ascriptive: they are determined by the accidents of birth.

Option (2) Members have ‘WE’ feeling among each other — A characteristic of a community (Incorrect). Members of a community share a sense of belonging: the same language, the same cultural values and the feeling of being one people with each other.

Option (3) Membership is voluntary in nature — Not a characteristic of a community (Correct). We do not have to do anything to be born into a community; in fact, no one has any choice about which family, community or country they are born into. Membership is given by birth, not chosen.

Option (4) It anchors our self-identity — A characteristic of a community (Incorrect). Our community gives us our mother tongue and the cultural values through which we understand the world, so it anchors our self-identity.

NCERT (2025-26): “6.1 The Importance of Community Identity … Our community provides us the language (our mother tongue) and the cultural values through which we comprehend the world. It also anchors our self-identity. 98 Community identity is based on birth and ‘belonging’ rather than on some form of acquired qualifications or ‘accomplishment’. It is what we ‘are’ rather than what we have ‘become’. We don’t have to do anything to be born into a community – in fact, no one has any choice about which family or community or country they are born into. These kinds of identities are called ‘ascriptive’ – that is, they are determined by the birth and do not involve any choice on the part of the individuals concerned.…”