UPSC Mains 2020 GS1 Q8 — Indian Social Structure
Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian Society ? Elaborate your answer with illustrations. (Answer in 150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Elaborate
- Scope keywords
- castelost its relevancemulti-cultural Indian Societyillustrations
- Implicit sub-parts
- In what ways has caste identity weakened due to urbanization, secularization, and modern education?
- How has caste morphed into new forms like 'caste-based interest groups' or 'vote banks' in a multi-cultural democracy?
- Does caste continue to dictate social endogamy and rural power structures despite modern influences?
- Conclusion on whether it is 'declining' or 'reinventing' itself.
- Common pitfalls
- Writing a generic essay on the history of the caste system rather than its current 'relevance'.
- Failing to address the 'multi-cultural' aspect—missing how caste interacts with different religions and ethnicities in India.
- Providing a one-sided argument (either saying it's gone or saying it's everything) instead of a balanced elaboration.
- Omitting specific 'illustrations' or contemporary examples like matrimonial ads, khap panchayats, or reservation debates.
- Dimensions required
- Sociological (Endogamy vs Commensality)Political (Identity politics and Mobilization)Economic (Class-Caste nexus and Occupational mobility)Legal-Constitutional (Safeguards vs Ground reality)Digital/Modern (Caste in the era of social media and globalized workspaces)
- Marks allocation hint
Spend 30 words on the transition of caste from a ritual to a secular identity. Allocate 50 words to areas where relevance is fading (urban anonymity, workspace). Allocate 50 words to where it persists or thrives (marriage, politics). Reserve 20 words for a nuanced conclusion stating caste is reinventing, not disappearing.
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