Social Stratification in India - PTE Writing Sample Answer
Read the passage below and summarise it using one sentence. Type your response in the box at the bottom of the screen. Your response will be judged on the quality of your writing and on how well your response presents the key points in the passage. You have 10 minutes to submit your response. Probably the oldest form of social stratification in India is the caste system. The caste system was made to divide work among groups of people to maintain balance in the society with the distribution of occupation. But since this caste system was carried out from one generation to another in families, it soon became hereditary. The caste system, as per Hindu Vedas, has four primary castes and several hundred sub-castes. Though the caste system was developed with a good motive, later, the social evils turned it into an opportunity for oppression and injustice. The Indian law, however, has banned any prejudice or discrimination based on caste. All this gave rise to negative feelings like greed, disgust, racism, and the false sense of entitlement. The most oppressed and suffered caste was the sect of people associated with janitors’ work, and they were called the untouchables. Later, Mahatma Gandhi gave them the name Harijans. It is because of social reformers like Dr. Ambedkar and Raja Rammohan Roy that the scenario of the caste system is changed in India, as now no discrimination based on caste is allowed.
Sample Answer
The oldest form of social division in India is the caste system which has become hereditary social evil over time that leads to oppression and injustice, however the Indian law banned any prejudice or discrimination based on caste and now no discrimination is allowed.