ISC Class 12 Sociology Board Exam Question Paper 2016 with Solutions

ISC Class 12 Sociology Board Exam Question Paper with Solutions

Part - I (20 Marks)

Answer all questions.

Question 1. Answer briefly each of the following questions : [10 x 2]

(i) Define classifications Kinship Terms. [2 Marks]

Answer:
Classificatory kinship terms are terms used to refer to more than one relation in a kinship group. Thus, the term 'Uncle' is a classificatory kinship term which is used to refer to kins such as chacha, foofa, mama, tau, mausa, etc.

Teacher's Note:
a) Ensure you highlight the distinction between denotative and classificatory terms as classified by L.H. Morgan.
b) Give relevant Indian examples to secure full marks.

(ii) Explain the term Consanguineous Family. [2 Marks]

Answer:
A consanguineous family is the family which has blood relations among its members, specifically based on blood ties between parents and children, or among siblings.

Teacher's Note:
a) Contrast it clearly with a conjugal or non-consanguineous family which is based primarily on marital ties.
b) Mention that blood relationship is the core defining characteristic here.

(iii) Explain moral code and religious code. [2 Marks]

Answer:
Moral codes are the rules governing the distinction between right and wrong based on social conscience and ethics. Religious codes refer to the rules which are defined and sanctioned by a specific religion or religious doctrine.

Teacher's Note:
a) Understand that religious codes can sometimes exist independently of universal moral grounds, whereas moral codes emphasize ethical standards.
b) Provide clear sociological distinctions between ethics and religious dogma.

(iv) What is a Taboo ? [2 Marks]

Answer:
Taboo refers to a sacred prohibition on certain things or acts which ensure order, stability, and solidarity within the group. It originates from the Polynesian word 'tabu' which means 'to forbid'. The most important is the incest taboo, which strictly prohibits sexual relationships between primary kins who are related by blood.

Teacher's Note:
a) Mention the etymological root of the term to impress the examiner.
b) Always cite the incest taboo as a classic sociological example.

(v) Define Xenophobia. [2 Marks]

Answer:
Xenophobia is the fear or hatred of what is perceived to be foreign or strange. It can be manifested in many forms such as the fear of losing identity, aggression, suspicion about the activities of a particular group, and the desire to eliminate a particular group in order to secure a presumed purity.

Teacher's Note:
a) Connect this concept to modern issues of migration, globalization, and ethnic conflict.
b) Use precise sociological terms like prejudice and ethnocentrism in explanation.

(vi) What are Bal Panchayats ? [2 Marks]

Answer:
Bal Panchayat is the representative organ of Bal Sabha. Its members are elected or selected from among children and it is accountable to them. The age of the members is typically between 10 to 15 years. It is an initiative supported by UNICEF to involve children in decision-making at the village panchayat level.

Teacher's Note:
a) Highlight the participatory governance aspect involving children.
b) Mention UNICEF's role as supporting agency for complete accuracy.

(vii) What is meant by Sanskritization ? [2 Marks]

Answer:
Coined by M.N. Srinivas, Sanskritization is the process by which a low caste or tribe or other group adopts the customs, traditions, ideology, and rituals of the twice-born castes (Brahmin, Kshatriya, and Vaishya), which is generally followed by a claim to a higher position in the caste hierarchy.

Teacher's Note:
a) Always attribute the term to sociologist M.N. Srinivas.
b) Note that it represents a process of cultural mobility within the caste system rather than structural change.

(viii) State any two functions of education. [2 Marks]

Answer:
1. It completes the process of socialization by inculcating the values, norms, and skills of society.
2. It transmits cultural heritage, such as art, literature, music, religion, and philosophy from one generation to another.

Teacher's Note:
a) Keep the points distinct, covering both socialization and cultural transmission.
b) Functionalist perspective emphasizes these exact two elements.

(ix) Distinguish between economic goods and free goods. [2 Marks]

Answer:
An economic good is a consumable item that is useful to people, but is scarce in relation to its demand, so human effort is required to obtain it. On the contrary, free goods (such as air and sunlight) are naturally available in abundance and need no conscious effort or price to obtain them.

Teacher's Note:
a) Contrast scarcity and utility as the dividing lines between the two.
b) Give appropriate examples for both categories.

(x) What is the racial classification of the Tribes ? [2 Marks]

Answer:
Dr. B.S. Guha has classified the Indian tribes on the basis of physical races. He has divided them into the following racial groups: the Negrito, the Caucasoid, the Proto-Australoid, the Mongoloid, and the Nordic Group.

Teacher's Note:
a) Mention Dr. B.S. Guha explicitly as the anthropologist behind this classification.
b) List all racial strains accurately to secure full credit.

PART - II (50 Marks)

Answer any five questions.

Question 2.
(a) Social institutions are the main building blocks of the society. In this context, explain the features of the Social Institutions. [5]

Answer:
Social institutions are established sets of norms and subsystems that organize social life. The features of social institutions are as follows:
1. Means of Social Control: Social institutions act as mechanisms to regulate and control the social behavior of individuals in accordance with established norms.
2. Dependent upon Human Activity: They are created and sustained by human interactions and activities over time.
3. High Stability: Social institutions are generally much more stable and enduring than other informal means of social control.
4. Collection of Values and Norms: They embody a complex collection of social values, cultural norms, rules, and regulations.
5. Fulfillment of Basic Needs: Social institutions serve as a source for the completion of specific biological, psychological, and social needs and objectives of society.

Teacher's Note:
a) Structure your answer into clear bulleted points with headings.
b) Emphasize how institutions provide stability to social structures.

(b) Explain any five features of a family. [5]

Answer:
Following are the different features of a family:
1. Universality: Family is a universal institution which is found in each and every human society, primitive or modern.
2. Fundamental Basis: It is a fundamental institution established on the basis of biological impulses associated with mating, procreation, and parental care.
3. Limited Size: It possesses a relatively limited size defined by biological conditions and kinship ties which cannot be indefinitely expanded.
4. Formative Influence: It exercises profound influence over its members and shapes their personalities during their formative years.
5. Sense of Responsibility and Cooperation: It teaches the meaning of social responsibility, mutual obligation, and the need for cooperation to its members.

Teacher's Note:
a) Cover both structural and functional aspects of family.
b) Use sociological terminology like 'formative influence' and 'universality'.

Question 3.
(a) Marriage is characterized by both Exogamy and Endogamy. Explain this statement with a detailed discussion of these two rules of marriage. [5]

Answer:
Marriage rules regulate the selection of mates in society. Both exogamy and endogamy operate simultaneously in determining marital alliances:
Exogamy: It is the rule that prohibits marriage between individuals who share specific degrees of blood or affinal relationships, meaning marriage outside the group. In India, common types of exogamy include Gotra, Sapinda, and Pravara exogamy.
Endogamy: It is the rule of marriage that promotes or mandates marriage within the same group, restricting spouse selection from outside a specific caste, class, or tribe. In India, types of endogamy include tribal endogamy, caste endogamy, class endogamy, sub-caste endogamy, and race endogamy.

Teacher's Note:
a) Clearly contrast 'marriage outside' (exogamy) with 'marriage inside' (endogamy).
b) Provide Indian institutional examples such as Gotra and caste endogamy for high scores.

(b) Discuss Panchayati Raj and its three tiers. [5]

Answer:
The Panchayati Raj system came into being as per the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1992. It refers to a decentralized form of governance where villages are empowered to manage their own affairs, fulfilling the vision of 'Gram Swaraj' or village self-governance. The 3-tier system of Panchayati Raj consists of:
1. Village-level Panchayats (Gram Panchayat).
2. Block-level Panchayats (Panchayat Samiti).
3. District-level Panchayats (Zilla Parishad).
Powers and responsibilities delegated to panchayats at different levels include:
- Preparation of economic development plans and social justice plans.
- Implementation of developmental schemes.
- Levying and collecting appropriate local taxes, duties, tolls, and fees.

Teacher's Note:
a) Mention the 73rd Amendment and the year 1992 explicitly.
b) List both the structural tiers and the functional responsibilities.

Question 4.
(a) What is meant by secularism ? Discuss its role in plural society like India. [5]

Answer:
Secularism is a belief and constitutional principle stating that no religion should be established as the state religion. In the Indian context, secularism means the equal treatment and respect of all religions by the state (Sarva Dharma Sambhava). India is a multi-religious country where Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism are practiced.
Role of Secularism in a plural society like India:
1. Civil Coexistence: It enables people of different faiths to live in civility with mutual respect for all beliefs.
2. Democratic Equality: It is an essential pillar of democracy that grants equal rights to all citizens regardless of faith.
3. Safeguarding Minorities: It protects minorities and preserves democracy by preventing majoritarian dominance.
4. Curbing Communalism: It acts as an institutional check against the growth of destructive communal tensions and conflicts.

Teacher's Note:
a) Differentiate Western secularism (strict separation) from Indian secularism (principled distance and equal respect).
b) Emphasize its role in maintaining national integration in a pluralistic society.

(b) Discuss Totemism as a theory of religion. [5]

Answer:
Totemism is a form of tribal religious belief in which people believe they have descended from specific animate or inanimate objects and hold a feeling of awe and reverence towards them. These objects range from plants and animals to stones or rocks. Émile Durkheim studied totemism as the simplest and most basic form of religion among the aborigines of Australia.
Key features of totemism:
- Sacred Status: The totemic object is worshipped and treated as sacred.
- Clan Membership: Totemic objects are closely linked with clan organization; every clan has a totem.
- Kinship Link: Members believe they are direct descendants of the totemic object, adopting its name and offering sacrifices.
- Taboos and Rituals: Harming the totem is generally forbidden except under prescribed ritual conditions, and the loss of a totem is mourned ceremoniously.

Teacher's Note:
a) Reference Émile Durkheim and his work on primitive religion.
b) Explain the sociological link between totemic symbols and group solidarity.

Question 5.
(a) Write a note on the Agrarian land relations in India. [5]

Answer:
India is primarily an agricultural country where land ownership determines social and economic relationships. Agrarian land relations in India historically comprised three key categories:
1. Landowners (Zamindars): They were historically the tax gatherers and non-cultivating owners of the land, mostly belonging to upper-caste groups.
2. Tenants: They hired land from landowners for cultivation and paid rent in cash or kind.
3. Agricultural Labourers: Their position was often that of bondsmen or hereditarily attached labourers belonging mostly to lower-caste groups.
Post-independence, due to land reform movements and rural development programmes, these rigid, hierarchical relationships have undergone transformation and attained greater flexibility.

Teacher's Note:
a) Highlight the tripartite structure of agrarian hierarchy in traditional India.
b) Conclude with the impact of post-independence land reforms.

(b) State any five types of economies amongst the Indian tribes and briefly explain them. [5]

Answer:
Following are the main tribal economies in India:
1. Food-Gatherers and Hunters: Nomadic tribes like the Andamanese, Onge, Kadar, and Jarawa practice subsistence hunting and gathering with simple social organization.
2. Permanent Settled Cultivators: Tribes like the Oraon, Munda, Ho, and Santhal practice settled wet cultivation, crop rotation, and sometimes work as agricultural labourers.
3. Pastoral Economy: Tribes like the Toda of the Nilgiris and Bhotia of Almora rear livestock, exchanging milk and dairy products for daily essentials.
4. Shifting Hill Cultivators: Tribes like the Gonds, Nagas, and Khasis practice slash-and-burn (Jhum or Podu) cultivation on hilly terrains, rotating plots as soil fertility declines.
5. Craftsmen: Tribes like the Nagas and Khasis engage in handloom production, while Lohars work as traditional blacksmiths, supplementing subsistence through specialized crafts.

Teacher's Note:
a) Provide exact tribal examples for each economic type.
b) Ensure diversity in economic adaptation from hunting to crafts is covered.

Question 6.
(a) Give a detailed account of any five features of Indian tribes. [5]

Answer:
Following are the features of Indian tribes:
1. Common Habitat: Different tribes occupy a distinct territorial area or geographic niche where the tribal population resides.
2. Common Language: A particular tribe typically shares a distinct language or dialect, often without a written script.
3. Common Religion: Religion plays a major role, with tribes sharing common deities, animistic beliefs, or totems.
4. Endogamous Group: Tribes generally practice clan exogamy and tribal endogamy, marrying within the tribe.
5. Sense of Unity: Members possess a strong consciousness of kind and a deep sense of unity, functioning as a mutually supportive community.

Teacher's Note:
a) Highlight territorial and cultural isolation as historic tribal traits.
b) Use standard sociological parameters defining a tribe.

(b) Define the term ethnicity. Describe any four features of ethnicity. [5]

Answer:
Ethnicity refers to a situation where a social group shares a common culture and a strong 'we-feeling', identifying with each other on the basis of shared ancestry, language, history, and cultural heritage. Features of ethnicity include:
1. Inherited Status: Ethnicity is primarily an ascribed or inherited status based on birth and descent.
2. Shared Cultural Heritage: Members share customs, mythologies, language, religion, homeland, and physical appearance.
3. Sense of Distinctiveness: Members believe they are culturally distinct and different from outsiders, possessing strong solidarity.
4. Group Dynamics: Ethnic groups often form minority groups within a broader society, and their social significance varies across historical and political contexts.

Teacher's Note:
a) Distinguish ethnicity from race and caste.
b) Focus on shared culture, ancestry, and subjective identity.

Question 7.
(a) Briefly explain any five functions of Dormitories in tribal India. [5]

Answer:
Following are the functions of youth dormitories in tribal communities:
1. Safety and Defense: Positioned centrally, dormitories housed trained warriors ready to defend the community in times of conflict.
2. Recreational Centre: They served as centers for traditional dance, music, drama, and as guest houses for visitors.
3. Socialization and Community: They fostered a strong sense of community discipline, camaraderie, and tribal solidarity.
4. Preservation of Tradition: They functioned as educational institutions transmitting tribal lore, customs, and skills to the younger generation.
5. Gender Segregation: Many dormitories were organized to separate unmarried males and females, enforcing moral codes and community purity.

Teacher's Note:
a) Emphasize youth dormitories like Ghotul or Dhumkuria as vital socializing agencies.
b) Cover educational, defensive, and recreational functions.

(b) Write a note on the Telangana Movement. [5]

Answer:
The Telangana movement was a prolonged socio-political movement demanding a separate state of Telangana carved out of Andhra Pradesh, based on regional and linguistic identity. Lasting for decades, it culminated when the Union Cabinet approved the bill on 7th February 2014, and Telangana officially came into existence as India's 29th state on 2nd June 2014, with Hyderabad as its capital.
Causes of the Movement:
- Diversion of financial resources and revenues generated in Telangana to the coastal Andhra region.
- Neglect of local development, education, and irrigation infrastructure despite resources like the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam being located in the region.
Consequences:
- Formation of the new state of Telangana.
- Protection of local employment quotas and allocation of resources for regional development.

Teacher's Note:
a) Mention key dates (2014 formation) and geographical context.
b) Balance causes (economic disparity) and consequences (statehood).

Question 8.
(a) Explain any five features of castes in India. [5]

Answer:
Following are the features of caste in India, as famously outlined by G.S. Ghurye:
1. Segmental Division of Society: Society is divided into distinct hereditary segments (castes) whose status is determined by birth rather than wealth.
2. Hierarchy: A social and religious ranking system where Brahmins occupy the highest status and Shudras historically faced social disabilities.
3. Restrictions on Feeding and Social Intercourse: Rules govern commensality regarding who can accept food or water from whom to preserve ritual purity.
4. Endogamy: Strict adherence to marrying within one's own caste or sub-caste.
5. Hereditary Occupation: Traditional association of specific occupations assigned to specific castes, such as priestly duties for Brahmins and manual labour for lower castes.

Teacher's Note:
a) Reference G.S. Ghurye's classic sociological features of caste.
b) Ensure all points are clearly articulated with standard sociological terminology.

(b) What does gender bias imply ? Mention any four consequences of gender bias. [5]

Answer:
Gender bias implies the systematic practice of discrimination against individuals based on their gender, rooted in socially constructed roles rather than biological differences, often privileging males over females.
Consequences of gender bias:
1. Low Sex Ratio: Preference for male children leads to female foeticide, infanticide, and skewed child sex ratios.
2. Educational Disparity: Lower female literacy rates compared to males due to patriarchal perceptions that investment in female education brings no economic returns to natal families.
3. Gender Wage Differentials: Women often earn less than men for equivalent work and qualifications.
4. Domestic Violence and Abuse: Patriarchal attitudes manifest as domestic exploitation, physical abuse, and dowry-related violence against women.

Teacher's Note:
a) Define gender as a social construct before listing consequences.
b) Support consequences with statistical and sociological realities.

Question 9.
(a) Explain five features of social change. [5]

Answer:
Following are the features of social change:
1. Universal Phenomenon: Social change occurs in all societies, whether primitive or modern, as no society remains completely static.
2. Community Change: It is a structural change that affects the life patterns, institutions, and relationships of entire communities rather than isolated individuals.
3. Uneven Speed: The rate of social change is not uniform across different historical epochs or societies.
4. Predictability is Difficult: It is virtually impossible to make exact, definite predictions regarding the precise future nature and extent of social change.
5. Human and Chain Reaction: Social change is driven by human agency and often triggers a cascading series of secondary changes across different social sectors.

Teacher's Note:
a) Highlight the dynamic and continuous nature of social change.
b) Use bullet points for clear presentation.

(b) Define mass media. Discuss various types of mass media. [5]

Answer:
Mass media refers to diverse technological formats designed to reach large audiences rapidly, conveying information, news, and entertainment to the general public. It plays a pivotal role in shaping public opinion and social norms.
Various types of mass media:
1. Traditional Media: Folk arts, traditional theatre forms (like Yatra in West Bengal or Shumang Leela in Manipur), and puppetry that connect culturally with local populations.
2. Print Media: Newspapers, magazines, books, brochures, pamphlets, and photography that communicate via visual and textual representations.
3. Electronic Media: Television, radio, films, and audio-visual recordings.
4. New Media: Digital and internet-based media including mobile phones, social media, blogging, websites, and internet streaming platforms.

Teacher's Note:
a) Categorize media from traditional folk forms to modern digital new media.
b) Highlight the sociological impact of mass media on public opinion.