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SAI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

SESSION 2020-21

CLASS-X

POLITICAL SCIENCE- Ch-4-Gender, Religion and Caste

Lesson Notes

SUB-TOPIC-5

SUB TOPIC NOTES
(Pg-
49,50,51,52,5
3,54)
Caste and
Politics Caste Inequalities
 Caste division is special to India. Caste system was based on

exclusion of and discrimination against the ‘outcaste’ groups. They
were subjected to the inhuman practice of untouchability.
 With economic development, large scale urbanisation, growth of
literacy and education, occupational mobility and the weakening of
the position of landlords in the villages, the old notions of caste
hierarchy are breaking down.
 The Constitution of India prohibited any caste-based discrimination
and laid the foundations of policies for reversing the injustices of the
caste system.
 Even now most people marry within their own caste or tribe.
Untouchability has not ended completely, despite constitutional
prohibition.
Caste in Politics
Caste can take various forms in politics.
 When parties choose candidates in elections; they keep in mind the
caste composition of the electorate and nominate candidates from
different castes so as to muster necessary support for winning
elections.
 When governments are formed, political parties usually take care
about the representatives of different castes and tribes to find a
place in it.
 During elections, political parties and candidates make appeals to
caste sentiment to muster support. Some political parties are known
to favour some castes and are seen as their representatives.
 Universal adult franchise and the principle of one-person-one-vote