CASTE, RELIGION AND ETHNICITY IN INDIAN POLITICS

1. CASTE, RELIGION AND ETHNICITY IN INDIAN POLITICS 

A. Caste in Indian Politics

1. ‘Community and Caste still threaten social harmony and political peace in India.’ Discuss. (1991)
2. How do caste and class interact with each other in Indian politics? (1993)
3. “The electoral behaviour of Indian votes is more or less caste-ridden, including the selection process of party candidates.” In the light of the above statements, critically examine the positive or the negative role of caste in the Indian political system. (1999)
4. Comment: Caste and religion as operative factors with Indian polity. (2000)
5. Examine the effect of caste and community in Indian politics. Do you foresee their continued relevance in the country’s politics? (2008)
6. “The OBC politics has challenged the nature of dominant caste politics in the states.” Critically examine this statement and bring out your conclusions. (2009)
7. Critically examine and comment on the assertion in about 200 words: Indian politics has influenced caste and caste has influenced Indian politics. (2011)
8. Comment on the emergence of Backward classes in the Indian politics. (2016)
9. Development has overshadowed the influence of caste in electoral behaviour in recent elections. Discuss. (2019)
10. Explain how caste as a social category is also becoming a political category in the democratic politics of India. (2021)
11. The rise of caste politics is to be attributed to both regional aspirations and electoral manifestations. Comment. (2023)

B. Religion and Communalism in Politics

1. Comment: Cultural secularization. (1994)
2. Discuss how far the politics of regionalism and communalism have affected nation building in India. (1998)
3. Religion is still an important factor in Indian politics. Discuss. (2017)
4. Examine the role of religion in Indian Electoral Politics in the contemporary times. (2020)

C. Ethnicity and Regional Aspirations

1. Comment: Ethnic separatism. (1995)
2. Analyse the problems of nation building in India. (1996)
3. Comment: Tribal peoples’ movement in the North-East. (2002)
4. Comment: The instability of national politics is due to rising influence of regional politics. (2007)
5. Explain the phenomenon of ethnic politics in India in recent times. (2013)
6. Comment in 150 words: Relation between ethnicity and democracy in India. (2014)
7. Comment: Cultural and Regional differences are the enduring bases on which politics is played out in India. (2016)
8. Critically examine the ethnic conflicts in North-East India. (2018)
9. Ethnicity is the underlying cause which poses a great challenge in the resolution of the problems in the North-East region of India. Comment. (2022)
10. “Relative deprivation is a major source of ethnic conflict.” Elaborate the statement with relevant examples. (2024)

D. Creamy Layer, Elites and Social Justice

1. Comment: Theory of circulation of elites. (1992)
2. Comment: Creamy Layer and social justice. (1995)
3. Illustrate from contemporary Indian experience the theory of circulation of elites. (1995)

E. Women and Social Equality

1. Point out and comment on the historic importance of the document “Towards Equality (1974)”, for women’s movement in India. (2013)