Correct option is B
Correct Answer: (B) A, B and C
Explanation:
→ Statement A is true: Viewing women as inherently 'emotional' or weak is a classic gender stereotype that ignores individual differences and limits their societal opportunities.
→ Statement B is true: The traditional Indian caste system is structurally built on notions of ritual purity and pollution, defining social hierarchies and untouchability practices.
→ Statement C is true: Believing one language is superior to others is a prejudice that fosters discrimination against non-English speakers and undermines linguistic equality.
→ Statement D is false because recognizing a plurality of religions is a core feature of diversity and secularism in India, meaning A, B, and C are the only correct statements.
Information Booster:
→ Stereotyping means fixing individuals or groups into one rigid, generalized image without considering their personal traits.
→ Prejudice means judging other people negatively or seeing them as inferior without objective justification.
→ Article 17 of the Indian Constitution abolished the practice of untouchability, which was rooted in the concept of purity and pollution.
→ India's constitutional secularism is based on the principle of 'Sarva Dharma Sambhava' (equal respect for all religions).
→ The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution recognizes 22 official languages, highlighting India's immense linguistic diversity.