How has the caste system changed in India and Pakistan?
(1 point)
• It faded from existence as societies became less religious.
• Caste-based discrimination has been outlawed.
• Women can now belong to the highest castes.
• There are now only three castes instead of five.
Caste-based discrimination has been outlawed in India and Pakistan. This means that legally, individuals cannot be discriminated against based on their caste. However, it is important to note that despite the legal ban, caste discrimination still persists in many aspects of society, particularly in rural areas.
Regarding the statement that women can now belong to the highest castes, it is incorrect. The caste system is based on birth, and traditionally, it is not possible for individuals to change their caste. Gender does not determine a person's caste; it is assigned at birth and is generally hereditary. Therefore, women's belonging to a particular caste is determined by their birth in a family belonging to that caste, and not by any recent changes.
Lastly, the claim that there are now only three castes instead of five is not accurate. The caste system in India, for example, is still highly complex and comprises numerous sub-castes and categories. While there may be broad categorizations into different castes, the number of castes in India and Pakistan have not significantly changed in recent times.