QUESTION 18
GS1
15 marks
Is caste disappearing in urban India? Illustrate your answer with examples.
WRITE IN
11 min
250 words
What the examiner wants
Assess how urbanization changes the form and visibility of caste rather than simply erasing or preserving it.
IllustrateAnswer exactly what the question asks.
Demand-wise check
- 1Arenas where caste may weaken: occupational mixing, anonymity, education and inter-group interaction≈65 words
- 2Arenas where caste persists/transforms: marriage, housing, networks, politics, employment and social capital≈65 words
- 3Examples showing reduced ritual visibility but continuing network/institutional effects≈65 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Disappearance thesisCounter-evidenceTransformed formsExamplesNuanced judgment
Where marks usually go
- Using rural caste practices to prove urban persistence
- Treating occupational mobility as proof that endogamy or network caste has vanished
Value addition
- Continuity–change spectrum across urban domains
→ Draw it in the body, next to the point it supports.
Official source anchors
These are authoritative sources selected for this exact PYQ. Where a card is an official-domain anchor rather than a fact-level citation, verify the precise provision, definition or data point on the linked source before using it.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 11 minutes, then get it checked.