NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Political Science Chapter 3: Gender, Religion and Caste
Class 10 Social Science (Political Science) Chapter 3 of NCERT Class 10 Social Science Political Science examines three powerful social divisions — gender, religion, and caste — and their complex relationship with democratic politics in India. Democracy promises equality to all citizens, but these deeply embedded social hierarchies often distort that promise. The chapter begins with the gender divide, pointing out that the sexual division of labour — where women are primarily confined to domestic work while men occupy the public sphere — is not natural but socially constructed. This division is reinforced by patriarchy, a system that gives men more power and subordinates women in families and public institutions. Must check NCERT solutions prepared by Myclass24 Experts for NCERT Solutions for Class 10 and NCERT solutions for Class 10 Social Science.
The chapter highlights the political underrepresentation of women in legislatures and the struggle for reserved seats. It then turns to the relationship between religion and politics. While religious identity plays a role in politics across democracies, communalism — the belief that one's religious community is superior and that the state should serve only that community — is dangerous to democracy. The Indian Constitution mandates secularism and forbids the state from favouring any religion. The third strand — caste — examines how the caste system, which assigns hereditary occupations and social status, intersects with Indian democracy. While caste-based politics reflects social realities and can empower marginalised communities, it can also reinforce divisions. The chapter encourages students to think critically about how these three axes of inequality shape political outcomes in India.
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Key Points of Chapter 3: Gender, Religion and Caste
- Sexual Division of Labour: Society assigns domestic roles to women and public roles to men — this is a social construct, not a biological necessity, and it leads to gender inequality in political representation.
- Feminist Movement: Feminists have fought for women's equal political rights — the right to vote, right to property, equal wages, and safety from domestic violence and sexual harassment.
- Women in Indian Politics: As of recent data, women constitute only about 8–9% of Indian Parliament — far below their share of the population, reflecting structural barriers in politics.
- Communalism: The belief that religious identity should determine political affiliation, and that one community's interests are opposed to others, is communalism — a threat to democracy and national integration.
- Forms of Communalism: Communalism manifests as religious prejudice, promotion of one religion over others by a political party, and in its extreme form, communal violence and partition.
- Secularism in India: India's Constitution ensures no state religion; the government neither promotes nor discriminates against any faith; minorities have the right to run their own educational institutions.
- Caste and Social Hierarchy: The caste system assigns hereditary social status and occupation; historically, lower castes (Dalits) faced severe discrimination and exclusion from temples, schools, and public spaces.
- Caste in Elections: Political parties consider caste while selecting candidates; caste groups form voting blocs; yet caste identity is not the only determinant — economic issues, development, and ideology also matter.
Chapter 3: Gender, Religion and Caste — Key Comparison Tables
Table 1: Three Social Divisions and Their Impact on Democracy
| Social Division | Nature of Inequality | Impact on Politics | Constitutional Safeguard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | Women confined to domestic roles; underrepresented in elected bodies; wage gap; domestic violence | Low women representation in Parliament; gender-based voting patterns; women's reservation bill debates | Article 15 prohibits discrimination on basis of sex; equal voting rights; Maternity Benefit Act |
| Religion | Communal politics; majoritarian tendencies; religious minorities face discrimination | Religious vote banks; communal parties; communal riots used for political mobilisation | Article 25–28 guarantee freedom of religion; India declared secular state; no state religion |
| Caste | Hereditary hierarchy; Dalits and OBCs face exclusion; occupational and social discrimination | Caste-based candidate selection; reservation politics; caste vote banks; Dalit political parties | Article 17 abolishes untouchability; SC/ST Reservations; Prevention of Atrocities Act |
| Aspect | Communalism | Secularism |
|---|---|---|
| Core Belief | One religious community is superior; state should serve only that community | All religions are equal; state must not favour or discriminate against any religion |
| Approach to Other Religions | Views other religious groups as enemies or rivals to be dominated | Respects all faiths; promotes dialogue and coexistence among different religious communities |
| Political Use | Politicians use religious symbols and rhetoric to mobilise voters on religious lines | Political parties must not appeal to voters on purely religious lines under the Model Code of Conduct |
| Impact on Democracy | Divides society; creates vote banks based on fear and hatred; can lead to riots and violence | Strengthens democracy; ensures equal citizenship regardless of faith; promotes national unity |
| Indian Constitutional Position | Prohibited — no law can discriminate on basis of religion; communal parties face scrutiny | Enshrined in Preamble; Articles 14–28 guarantee religious freedom and equality to all citizens |