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Social Institutions: Continuity and Change — Syllabus

Madhya Pradesh Board · Class 12 · Sociology

What Social Institutions: Continuity and Change covers in Madhya Pradesh Board Class 12 Sociology: 4 topics, for the 2026-27 session.

43 questions78 flashcards5 concepts

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A comparison illustrating the difference between Varna (four-fold division) and Jati (local, complex sub-castes) in the Indian caste system, showing their relationship.
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4 Topics · Madhya Pradesh Board Class 12 Sociology · 2026-27

Topics in Social Institutions: Continuity and Change

1

1. Caste: Meaning, Features, and Historical Change

  • Caste is uniquely associated with the Indian sub-continent, though similar social effects exist elsewhere.
  • Caste, though characteristic of Hindu society, has spread to Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs.
  • The word caste comes from the Portuguese casta, meaning pure breed.
2

2. Social Reformers and Anti-Caste Movements

  • Ayyankali was a leader of the lower castes and Dalits in Kerala; his efforts won Dalits freedom to walk on public roads and allowed Dalit children to join schools.
  • Jotirao Govindrao Phule denounced caste injustice and purity and pollution rules.
  • Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873 for human rights and social justice for low-caste people.
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3. Caste in the Present: Politics, Class, and Social Visibility

  • Independent India abolished caste in principle, but the state did not dismantle the economic basis of caste inequality.
  • Government jobs were treated in a caste-blind manner, except for reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
  • Modern industry and urbanisation created new spaces where old caste rules became weaker.
4

4. Tribal Communities: Meaning, Classification, and Change

  • Tribe is a modern term for very old communities, among the oldest inhabitants of the sub-continent.
  • Tribes were defined negatively: they did not practice a religion with a written text, did not have a normal state form, and did not have sharp class divisions.
  • By the 1970s, major definitions of tribe were shown to be faulty because size, isolation, religion, and livelihood did not fit all tribes.

Key Concepts

Central concept: Social institutions in India change over time while also showing continuity in caste, tribe, family, and kinship

Caste systemTribal communitiesFamily and kinshipSocial change

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Social Institutions: Continuity and Change for Madhya Pradesh Board Class 12 Sociology?
Key topics in Social Institutions: Continuity and Change include Caste: Meaning, Features, and Historical Change, Social Reformers and Anti-Caste Movements, Caste in the Present: Politics, Class, and Social Visibility, Tribal Communities: Meaning, Classification, and Change. Study these first, then practise questions on each for the Madhya Pradesh Board Class 12 board exam.
How should I revise Social Institutions: Continuity and Change for the Madhya Pradesh Board Class 12 board exam?
Learn the core ideas first, then work through the 43 practice questions on Social Institutions: Continuity and Change. Revise definitions regularly and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

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