Political Science: Gender, Religion and Caste

Topics in this chapter

• Gender Division and Equality
• Religion, Politics and Secularism
• Caste Inequality and Social Change
• Caste in Electoral Politics
• Constitutional Safeguards and Representation

Cheat sheet

Practice questions

1. Question 1Q-C0DE77

   What does the term 'sexual division of labour' refer to?

   1. A.Division of work between rural and urban areas
   2. B.A system in which household work is mainly assigned to women and paid work outside the home is mainly associated with men
   3. C.Division of jobs according to educational qualifications
   4. D.Division of political power between different parties
   See the answer and solution
2. Question 2Q-E6B2EE

   Which development most directly resulted from the feminist movement's demand for greater political representation in India?

   1. A.Reservation of seats for women in local government bodies
   2. B.A ban on all religious political parties
   3. C.Abolition of elections to village councils
   4. D.Removal of universal adult franchise
   See the answer and solution
3. Question 3Q-F3F67D

   A political leader asks voters to support only candidates belonging to their own religion and claims that the interests of that religious community are opposed to those of all other communities. Which form of communalism is illustrated most clearly?

   1. A.Communalism as a belief in religious diversity
   2. B.Communalism as political mobilisation on religious lines
   3. C.Secularism based on equal treatment of religions
   4. D.Caste inequality in access to education
   See the answer and solution
4. Question 4Q-5DC354

   Which statement best explains the relationship between caste and politics in India?

   1. A.Caste has completely disappeared from social and political life
   2. B.Caste can influence elections, but political competition can also create new alliances among different caste groups
   3. C.Political parties are legally required to nominate candidates from only one caste
   4. D.Caste influences politics only in villages and never in cities
   See the answer and solution
5. Question 5Q-25C39B

   Explain any two ways in which communalism can take a political form.

   See the answer and solution