Case Based Questions: Gender, Religion, and Caste | Social Studies (SST) Class 10 PDF Download

Q1: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Gender division is a form of social division that exists in all societies. It is often considered natural and unchangeable, but in reality, it is based on social expectations and stereotypes. In most families, women are expected to do household work, while men engage in external jobs. Women’s work, even when it contributes to income, is often undervalued and unrecognized. Over time, feminist movements have played a crucial role in demanding equal rights and political representation for women.

i. Why is gender division considered a form of social division? (1 mark)
ii. What role have feminist movements played in addressing gender discrimination? (1 mark)
iii. How does the undervaluation of women’s work impact their role in public life? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. Gender division is a form of social division because it creates inequality between men and women, limiting women's opportunities in education, employment, and politics.
ii. Feminist movements have fought for equal voting rights, access to education and employment, and legal protection against gender discrimination.
iii. The undervaluation of women's work results in less recognition in public life, fewer job opportunities, and minimal political representation, keeping them out of decision-making roles. This perpetuates stereotypes and restricts their ability to influence policies and societal change.

Q2: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Women have historically been underrepresented in political decision-making. In India, the percentage of women in the Lok Sabha was only 14.36% in 2019, while their representation in state assemblies is even lower. To improve women’s participation, the government has introduced one-third reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions. In 2023, the Women’s Reservation Act (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) was passed, reserving 33% of seats for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.

i. What percentage of seats are reserved for women in Panchayati Raj institutions? (1 mark)
ii. How does the Women’s Reservation Act (2023) aim to improve gender equality in politics? (1 mark)
iii. Why is women’s political representation necessary for democracy? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. One-third (33%) of seats are reserved for women in Panchayati Raj institutions.
ii. The Women’s Reservation Act (2023) reserves 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies to increase women’s political participation.
iii. Women’s political representation ensures inclusive governance, addresses women’s issues effectively, and promotes gender equality in decision-making. It also strengthens democracy by reflecting diverse perspectives and ensuring fair representation of all sections of society.

Q3: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Communalism is the political use of religion, where one religious group is placed above others. It is based on the belief that people of different religions cannot live together as equal citizens. Communal politics can take different forms, such as religious prejudices, political mobilization along religious lines, and even communal violence. To counter communalism, India follows the principle of secularism, ensuring that no religion is given special status by the state.

i. What is communalism? (1 mark)
ii. How does communalism impact political decision-making? (1 mark)
iii. How does the Indian Constitution ensure secularism to prevent communalism? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. Communalism is a political ideology that considers religion as the main identity of a community and promotes religious divisions in politics.
ii. Communalism affects political decision-making by encouraging religious-based political mobilization, leading to discrimination and conflicts.
iii. The Indian Constitution ensures secularism by not giving any religion official status, providing religious freedom, and preventing discrimination based on religion. It also mandates equal treatment of all religions by the state and protects the rights of individuals to practice, profess, and propagate their religion freely.

Q4: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Caste plays an important role in Indian electoral politics. Political parties often select candidates based on caste composition in different constituencies. Some parties are known to represent specific caste groups. However, no single caste forms a majority in any constituency, so all parties must seek votes from multiple caste groups. This prevents caste-based politics from being the only deciding factor in elections.

i. How do political parties use caste in electoral politics? (1 mark)
ii. Why can caste alone not determine election results in India? (1 mark)
iii. What are the negative effects of caste-based politics? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. Political parties nominate candidates from dominant caste groups in a constituency to gain electoral support.
ii. Caste alone cannot determine elections because no constituency has a single dominant caste, and voters consider other factors like party policies and leadership.
iii. Caste-based politics creates divisions in society, diverts attention from development issues, and sometimes leads to caste conflicts. It also perpetuates inequality and hinders the formation of a unified national identity.

Q5: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Caste has been a source of historical social inequality in India. The Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) have faced discrimination and lack of access to education and employment. To correct this, the government introduced reservation policies that provide SCs, STs, and OBCs reserved seats in legislatures, government jobs, and educational institutions.

i. Why were reservation policies introduced in India? (1 mark)
ii. Name two benefits that reservation policies provide to disadvantaged caste groups. (1 mark)
iii. How has economic development helped in reducing caste-based discrimination? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. Reservation policies were introduced to ensure social justice by providing educational and job opportunities to historically disadvantaged caste groups.
ii. Two benefits of reservation policies:

• Guaranteed representation in government jobs and legislatures.
• Increased access to higher education for marginalized caste groups.

iii. Economic development has led to urbanization, occupational mobility, and improved education, reducing caste-based barriers in society. It has created new opportunities beyond traditional caste roles, fostering greater interaction and equality among people from different backgrounds.

Q6: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Even though women have made progress in education and employment, gender stereotypes still exist in many societies. Women are often expected to perform household work, while men engage in economic activities. Despite equal legal rights, gender discrimination continues in areas such as wages, property inheritance, and job opportunities. Many organizations and governments are working to promote gender equality through legal reforms and awareness campaigns.

i. What are gender stereotypes? (1 mark)
ii. Name one area where women still face gender discrimination. (1 mark)
iii. How can governments help in reducing gender discrimination? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. Gender stereotypes are fixed ideas about the roles and behavior of men and women based on traditional beliefs.
ii. Women still face gender discrimination in wages, as they are often paid less than men for the same work.
iii. Governments can help reduce gender discrimination by:

• Implementing equal pay laws.
• Providing financial support for women entrepreneurs.
• Ensuring strict punishment for workplace harassment.

Q7: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

India is a multi-religious country, where people of different faiths live together. The Indian Constitution guarantees religious freedom and does not promote any single religion. However, at times, religious conflicts arise due to misunderstandings, political influences, or extremist ideologies. To maintain peace, the government promotes inter-religious harmony and strict laws against religious discrimination.

i. What does the Indian Constitution say about religion? (1 mark)
ii. How does religious diversity benefit a country? (1 mark)
iii. What steps can be taken to promote religious harmony in a diverse country like India? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. The Indian Constitution guarantees religious freedom and ensures that the state does not favor any particular religion.
ii. Religious diversity benefits a country by promoting cultural richness, fostering tolerance, and encouraging mutual respect among different communities.
iii. To promote religious harmony in a diverse country like India, the following steps can be taken:

• Implementing educational programmes on tolerance
• Taking legal action against hate speech
• Encouraging community dialogues to resolve religious misunderstandings

Q8: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Although caste-based discrimination has declined in urban areas, caste identities still influence social interactions and political decisions. In elections, some political parties appeal to caste groups to gain votes. However, due to changing economic and social conditions, caste alone is not the deciding factor in elections anymore. People now consider education, employment, and development issues while voting.

i. How does caste influence politics in India? (1 mark)
ii. Why is caste no longer the only deciding factor in elections? (1 mark)
iii. How can caste-based discrimination be further reduced in society? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. Caste influences politics as some parties appeal to caste groups for votes, and political candidates are selected based on caste-based voter strength.
ii. Caste is no longer the only deciding factor because voters now focus on issues like education, employment, and governance rather than caste alone.
iii. Caste-based discrimination can be reduced through strict anti-discrimination laws, inter-caste marriages, and awareness campaigns promoting equality. Additionally, economic development, access to education, and inclusive policies can help break down caste barriers and foster social harmony. 

Q9: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

In the past, women had limited access to education and employment. However, due to social reforms and legal measures, women's literacy rates and participation in the workforce have increased. Despite these advancements, many women still face workplace discrimination, lack of leadership roles, and unequal pay. Governments and organizations continue to promote women’s empowerment through skill training, scholarships, and legal protections.

i. How has women’s participation in education and employment changed over time? (1 mark)
ii. Name one major challenge women still face in the workplace. (1 mark)
iii. How can women’s empowerment be promoted further? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. Women’s participation in education and employment has increased due to legal reforms, awareness campaigns, and economic opportunities.
ii. One major challenge women still face in the workplace is unequal pay compared to men for the same job.
iii. Women’s empowerment can be promoted through educational scholarships, leadership training programs, and enforcing equal pay policies. Additionally, creating safe work environments, providing mentorship opportunities, and encouraging women's participation in decision-making roles can further enhance their empowerment.

Q10: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

India is a secular country, which means that all religions are treated equally by the state. The government does not favor any particular religion and ensures that citizens have the freedom to practice, preach, and propagate any religion of their choice. However, at times, religious discrimination and conflicts occur, which threaten the country’s unity. To prevent this, the Constitution provides legal protection to minorities and laws against discrimination.

i. What does secularism mean in the Indian context? (1 mark)
ii. How does the Constitution protect religious minorities? (1 mark)
iii. What steps can be taken to strengthen secularism in India? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. Secularism in India means that the government does not favor or discriminate against any religion, ensuring religious freedom for all.
ii. The Constitution protects religious minorities by allowing them to freely practice their faith, protecting their cultural rights, and preventing discrimination through legal provisions.
iii. Secularism in India can be strengthened through several key actions:

• Enforce strict anti-discrimination laws to protect individuals from bias based on religion.
• Promote interfaith dialogues to foster understanding and respect among different religious communities.
• Educate the public about religious harmony to encourage peaceful coexistence.