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Q58 (CDS-II/2018) History & Culture › Culture, Literature, Religion & Philosophy › Ancient and classical literature Answer Verified

According to the Manusmriti, women can acquire wealth through which of the following means?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

According to the Manusmriti, there are distinct gendered rules for the acquisition of wealth. For men, the text identifies seven means: inheritance, finding, purchase, conquest, investment, work, and acceptance of gifts [2]. In contrast, women are permitted six means of acquiring wealth, collectively known as 'stridhana'. These include gifts received during the marriage ceremony (before the fire), the bridal procession, or as a 'token of affection' [2]. Additionally, wealth could be acquired from her brother, mother, or father, as well as subsequent gifts from her husband [2]. While men could acquire wealth through purchase and investment, these were not listed as valid means for women in the Manusmriti [2]. Furthermore, the text generally restricted women's rights to inherit ancestral or landed property, emphasizing that such resources were primarily controlled by men [1].

Sources

  1. [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Kinship, Caste and Class > How could men and women acquire wealth? > p. 69
  2. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Kinship, Caste and Class > 4.1 Gendered access to property > p. 68
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