UPSC Indian Society – Chapter 3: The Caste System – Continuity and Change (20 MCQs)

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UPSC Indian Society – Chapter 3: The Caste System – Continuity and Change (20 MCQs) – 20 questions, subject: Indian Society. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

The concept of the "dominant caste" was given by:

Correct Answer: D [M.N. Srinivas]

Explanation:

Srinivas defined a dominant caste by numerical strength, land, political power and fairly high ritual status, e.g. Jats and Vokkaligas.

2.  

The Hindu Jajmani System (1936) was written by:

Correct Answer: A [W.H. Wiser]

Explanation:

William H. Wiser's 1936 study of a north Indian village first described the jajmani system of hereditary exchange of services.

3.  

The Indra Sawhney judgment (1992) is associated with:

Correct Answer: A [the creamy layer and the 50% ceiling]

Explanation:

Indra Sawhney upheld 27% OBC reservation, excluded the creamy layer and held that reservations should not normally exceed 50%.

4.  

The Satyashodhak Samaj (1873) was founded by:

Correct Answer: D [Jyotirao Phule]

Explanation:

Jyotirao Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in Pune on 24 September 1873 to fight caste inequality and Brahmanical dominance.

5.  

The Mahad Satyagraha of 1927 led by Ambedkar was for the right to:

Correct Answer: B [draw water from a public tank]

Explanation:

At Mahad in March 1927 Ambedkar led untouchables to drink water from the public Chavdar tank, asserting a civic right.

6.  

Caste in Indian Politics (1970) was edited by:

Correct Answer: C [Rajni Kothari]

Explanation:

Rajni Kothari edited Caste in Indian Politics (1970), arguing that democracy politicised caste rather than simply strengthening it.

7.  

The National Commission for Backward Classes received constitutional status through the:

Correct Answer: D [102nd Amendment]

Explanation:

Article 338B, 2018.

8.  

The Supreme Court allowed States to sub-classify Scheduled Castes for reservation in:

Correct Answer: A [State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh (2024)]

Explanation:

In August 2024 a seven-judge bench, by 6:1, held that States may sub-classify Scheduled Castes, overruling E.V. Chinnaiah (2004).

9.  

Consider the following statements:

1. The SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was enacted in 1989.
2. The 103rd Amendment provided reservation for economically weaker sections.
3. The Mandal Commission recommendations were implemented in central jobs in 1980.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

The PoA Act dates from 1989 and the 103rd Amendment (2019) gave the EWS quota; statement 3 is wrong.

10.  

Assertion (A): Caste associations became important political actors after independence.

Reason (R): Universal adult franchise made numbers a source of political power.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Adult franchise turned numbers into votes, so caste associations organised members as voting blocs and pressure groups; R explains A.

11.  

According to Louis Dumont, the basic principle of the caste system is:

Correct Answer: B [the opposition of purity and pollution]

Explanation:

In Homo Hierarchicus (1966) Dumont held that the opposition of pure and impure underlies caste, ranking ritual status above power.

12.  

The Self-Respect Movement (1925) was launched by:

Correct Answer: B [E.V. Ramasamy]

Explanation:

E.V. Ramasamy (Periyar) launched the Self-Respect Movement in 1925 after leaving the Congress, attacking caste and Brahmanical ritual.

13.  

The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act was enacted in:

Correct Answer: C [2013]

Explanation:

Parliament passed this Act in September 2013; it bans manual scavenging and provides for identifying and rehabilitating manual scavengers.

14.  

The Modernity of Tradition (1967), on caste associations, was written by:

Correct Answer: D [Lloyd and Susanne Rudolph]

Explanation:

The Rudolphs' The Modernity of Tradition (1967) showed caste associations working as modern pressure groups through votes and petitions.

15.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. Poona Pact
2. Satyashodhak Samaj
3. Mahad Satyagraha
4. SNDP Yogam

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [2-4-3-1]

Explanation:

1873, 1903, 1927, 1932.

16.  

Which Article provides for the National Commission for Scheduled Castes?

Correct Answer: A [Article 338]

Explanation:

Article 338 provides for the National Commission for Scheduled Castes; the 89th Amendment (2003) moved the ST commission to Article 338A.

17.  

The word "caste" is derived from a word in which language?

Correct Answer: B [Portuguese]

Explanation:

casta.

18.  

The Harijan Sevak Sangh was founded by Gandhi in:

Correct Answer: B [1932]

Explanation:

after the Poona Pact.

19.  

Article 15(4), enabling special provisions for backward classes, was added by the:

Correct Answer: C [1st Amendment]

Explanation:

1951, after Champakam Dorairajan.

20.  

Tamil Nadu's 69% reservation law was protected by placing it in the:

Correct Answer: D [Ninth Schedule]

Explanation:

76th Amendment, 1994.

➤ Full notes, maps, tables, a reason for every option and Mains PYQs – U07 · Indian Society (UPSC book, ₹249): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/upsc-indian-society

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