Meera, a psychologist, visits a village school in Odisha. Eight-year-old Rohan keeps asking 'why', solves puzzles faster than older pupils and works alone on a problem for hours, yet his marks are only average. Meera gives the class a test made in an American city, with questions on subway trains, supermarkets and ice-hockey scores. City children do well on it, but most village children score low, though they handle farm accounts and local trade easily. The headmaster later says a child is truly wise when she respects community ways, cares for elders and the needy, and sees others' point of view, not merely when she solves sums fast.
The headmaster's description of a wise child reflects which facet of intelligence in the Indian tradition?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Social competence
Option (1) Cognitive capacity — Incorrect. Cognitive capacity covers sensitivity to context, understanding, discrimination, problem solving and effective communication. Solving sums fast belongs here, and the headmaster says this on its own does not make a child wise.
Option (2) Emotional competence — Incorrect. Emotional competence is self-regulation and self-monitoring of emotions, honesty, politeness, good conduct and self-evaluation. It is about handling one's own feelings.
Option (3) Entrepreneurial competence — Incorrect. Entrepreneurial competence covers commitment, persistence, patience, hard work, vigilance and goal-directed behaviour. The headmaster speaks of duties towards others.
Option (4) Social competence — Correct. Social competence means respect for social order, commitment to elders, the young and the needy, concern about others and recognising others' perspectives. The headmaster's wise child shows each of these.
NCERT (2026-27): “Intelligence in the Indian Tradition … “• Cognitive capacity (sensitivity to context, understanding, discrimination, problem solving, and effective communication).” “• Social competence (respect for social order, commitment to elders, the young and the needy, concern about others, recognising others’ perspectives).” “• Emotional competence (self-regulation and self-monitoring of emotions, honesty, politeness, good conduct, and self-evaluation).” |