CBSE Class 10 Social Science Civics Notes Chapter 4 Gender, Religion, and Caste

Author at PW
October 30, 2025
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CBSE Class 10 Social Science Civics Notes Chapter 4

CBSE Class 10 Social Science Civics Notes Chapter 4 helps you understand one of the most important lessons about equality and social justice in India. These gender religion and caste notes are short, easy-to-read summaries that make it easy for you to remember key definitions and examples from the textbook.

In Chapter 4, Gender, Religion and Caste, you learn how these three social factors affect people’s lives and impact politics in our country. This chapter explains how gender roles are divided in society, how religion can be both a uniting and dividing factor, and how the caste system still impacts equality in India. It also explains communalism and the meaning of a secular state, showing how democracy works best when every group gets equal respect.

These CBSE Class 10 Social Science Civics Notes Chapter 4 will help you clearly understand these concepts and prepare well for exams. So, keep reading to get detailed Class 10 Gender Religion and Caste notes.

Check out: CBSE Class 10 Books

NCERT Class 10 Political Science Chapter 4 Notes  

NCERT Class 10 Political Science Chapter 4 Notes gives you an easy-to-understand summary of all the main points from the textbook. These gender religion and caste class 10 notes help you in effective revisions before the examination as well.

CBSE Gender, Religion and Caste Class 10 Notes

1. Gender and Politics

Gender and politics are closely linked aspects of society. In many places around the world, including India, men and women often have different roles and opportunities in political life.

  • Historically, politics has been dominated by men, with women having limited access to decision-making positions.

  • However, over time, there has been a push for greater gender equality in politics, with movements advocating for women's rights and representation.

  • Despite progress, gender inequality persists in many political systems, highlighting the need for continued efforts to ensure equal participation and representation for all genders in political processes.

2. Public/Private Division

This division has resulted in women being less involved in public life, particularly in politics, compared to men. Traditionally, only men were allowed to participate in public affairs, vote, and run for public offices.

  • Over time, gender issues have been raised in politics, advocating for the enhancement of women's political and legal status, as well as improved educational and career opportunities.

  • Movements such as feminism have pushed for equality in personal and family life. The expression of gender division in politics has helped increase women's involvement in public life.

  • However, in India, a predominantly patriarchal society, women still face disadvantages, discrimination, and oppression in various forms:

    • The literacy rate among women is lower than that of men.

    • Women often perform unpaid work, despite working longer hours than men.

    • Sex-selective abortion has led to a decline in the child-sex ratio.

    • Urban areas are increasingly unsafe for women.

Read More: CBSE Class 10 Social Science Civics Notes Chapter 1

3. Women's Political Representation

Issues related to women often do not receive enough attention in politics. As a result, feminists and women's movements argue that unless women have more power, their problems will not be adequately addressed.

  • In India, the percentage of elected women members in the Lok Sabha reached 12 per cent for the first time in 2014, but their representation in state assemblies remains low.

  • One solution to women's issues is to have a fair proportion of women in elected bodies.

  • In Panchayats and Municipalities, one-third of seats are reserved for women. This has led to over 10 lakh elected women representatives in rural and urban local bodies.

  • Gender division demonstrates that addressing social divisions in politics can benefit disadvantaged groups.

4. Religion, Communalism, and Politics

Religion

Religious differences often manifest in politics, especially in India, a country with followers of various religions. People should be able to express their needs and interests in politics as members of religious communities.

Communalism

The use of religion in politics is known as communal politics. This includes presenting one religion as superior, forming demands in opposition to other religions, and using state power to establish dominance.

Communalism takes various forms in politics:

  • Prejudices and stereotypes against religious communities

  • Political mobilisation based on religious lines

  • Communal violence, riots, and massacres, as seen during the Partition of India and Pakistan.

Secular State India is a secular state with features such as:

  • No official religion

  • Freedom of religion for all individuals and communities

  • Prohibition of discrimination based on religion

  • State intervention to ensure equality within religious communities.

Check Out: CBSE Class 10 Sample Papers

5. Caste and Politics

Caste Inequalities:

Occupations being passed down through generations is common in most societies, with the caste system being an extreme form of this. The caste system assigns social roles, marriage partners, and dining companions based on caste.

With economic development and social changes, old notions of caste hierarchy are breaking down. The Indian Constitution prohibits caste-based discrimination and aims to reverse injustices.

Caste in Politics

Caste plays various roles in politics:

  • Political parties ensure representation of different castes and tribes.

  • Appeals to caste sentiments are common during elections.

  • Political parties raise caste-based issues to gain support.

Politics in Caste

Politics influences caste identities and divisions:

  • Caste groups incorporate neighbouring castes to become larger.

  • Dialogues and negotiations occur between caste groups.

  • New caste groups, such as "backwards" and "forward" caste groups, emerge in politics.

Caste can lead to tensions and conflicts in politics, but it is not the sole determinant of election outcomes. Other factors, such as government performance and leader popularity, also influence elections.

Check Out: CBSE Class 10 Previous Year Papers

Advantages of Using Gender Caste and Religion Class 10 Notes

Studying Gender Caste and Religion Class 10 Notes helps you understand one of the most important topics in civics. These notes make learning easy by explaining how social differences such as gender, religion, and caste impact people’s lives and our society. Here are some additional benefits of using CBSE Class 10 Social Science Civics Notes Chapter 4:

Deep Understanding of Concepts

These CBSE Class 10 Social Science Civics Notes Chapter 4 explain every topic simply and in an organised way. You can easily understand how gender roles create inequalities, how different religions shape people’s identities, and how the caste system affects opportunities in society.

Complete Coverage of the Syllabus

The class 10 gender religion and caste notes include all key topics from Civics Chapter 4, such as gender inequality, religious diversity, caste hierarchy, and intersectionality. They also explain the challenges of discrimination and the steps taken towards equality and justice.

Time-Saving and Exam-Friendly

With these gender religion and caste class 10 notes, you can revise quickly without going through the whole chapter again. The notes highlight important points, making them useful for last-minute preparation and helping you recall facts easily during exams.

How to Score Well in CBSE Class 10 Social Science Board Exam 2026

You can prepare for the upcoming CBSE Class 10 Social Science board exam effectively by following a proper study plan. Since the social science in class 10 covers history, geography, political science, and economics, the syllabus becomes lengthy. Therefore, to score well, you need effective tips, as explained here:

Start with Understanding and Completing the Syllabus

  • Start by going through the detailed CBSE Class 10 Social Science Syllabus to understand what topics are important and how many marks each carries.

  • Focus on important dates and events.

  • Try to connect topics with real-life examples, as it makes remembering concepts easy and also helps you write answers more deeply in the exam.

Practice Writing Answers On Your Own

  • Solve CBSE Class 10 sample papers regularly. This helps you understand the exam pattern and manage time better.

  • Write full answers in your own words and check them later to see and identify your mistakes.

Map Work and Visual Learning

  • In social science, maps and visually related questions carry a good weightage of marks. So, practice locating major rivers, dams, crops, and soil types on maps.

  • You can also use flowcharts and diagrams to explain answers better.

  • This practice not only helps you get marks but also makes learning more interesting and easier to remember.

Prepare Each Subject Effectively

  • History: Make timeline charts of events like the French Revolution and the Indian Freedom Movement. Try to understand how one event led to another. Writing short summaries after reading each chapter helps you remember details easily.

  • Geography: Focus on map work and location-based questions. Learn the importance of natural resources and their conservation.

  • Political Science: Understand important concepts such as democracy, federalism, and power sharing. Practice writing questions that compare countries like India, Sri Lanka, and Belgium.

  • Economics: Focus on graphs and data-based questions. Learn how to analyse economic indicators like per capita income. Try to explain solutions for issues such as unemployment or poverty in your own words.

Make Learning Easy with Additional Social Science Books

  • Along with NCERT textbooks, it’s a good idea to include a few extra books for more practice. CBSE Class 10th Books by PW explain topics in an easy way and give you plenty of questions to practice.

CBSE Class 10 Social Science Civics Notes Chapter 4 FAQs

Q.1. What are the CBSE Class 10 Social Science Civics Notes Chapter 4?

Ans. CBSE Class 10 social science civics notes chapter 4 explain the chapter “Gender, Religion, and Caste” briefly and effectively. These notes help you understand how social differences affect people and society.

Q.2. What important topics are covered in the gender, religion and caste class 10 notes?

Ans. The gender, religion and caste class 10 notes cover all main topics like gender inequality, religious diversity, and the caste system. You will also learn how these three factors influence social and political life in India.

Q.3. How do the NCERT class 10 political science chapter 4 notes help me score well in boards?

Ans. NCERT Class 10 Political Science Chapter 4 notes help you score better by deeply explaining all important concepts. They save your time during revision and help you remember important topics and examples easily.

Q.4. What is gender discrimination, and how can we control it?

Ans. Gender discrimination means treating people unfairly because of their gender. For example, giving more importance to boys than girls in education or jobs. To control this, we must promote equal opportunities, respect everyone’s rights, and raise awareness about equality through education and laws.

Q.5. Are gender caste and religion class 10 notes enough to understand this chapter?

Ans. Gender caste and religion class 10 notes are very useful for understanding this chapter. They give you all the main points, examples, and short summaries that make learning easy. But for a deeper understanding, you should also read the NCERT textbook.

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