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Indian Social Structure — Syllabus

NIOS · Class 10 · Indian Culture and Heritage

What Indian Social Structure covers in NIOS Class 10 Indian Culture and Heritage: 4 topics, for the 2026-27 session.

57 questions48 flashcards2 formulas & key relations5 concepts

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4 Topics · NIOS Class 10 Indian Culture and Heritage · 2026-27

Topics in Indian Social Structure

1

Structure of Indian Society

  • Tribe is one of the earliest identifiable ethnic-cum-social organisations.
  • Major Vedic tribes included the Bharatas, Yadus, Turvasas, Druhyus, Purus and Anus.
  • The head of a tribe was called Raja or King, and he was first among equals.
2

Untouchability and Slavery

  • Untouchability took root in the last phase of the Vedic period and became a separate category in the age of the Buddha.
  • Untouchables were sometimes called the fifth varna or panchama.
  • Chandala is a loose term used for many types of untouchables.
3

Purushartha, Ashrama and Samskara

  • Purushartha means the four aims of life: dharma, artha, kama and moksha.
  • These aims are practised through the four ashramas.
  • The four ashramas are Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa.
4

Jajmani System, Family and Marriage

  • The Jajmani system developed in the early medieval period and continued into modern times in rural society.
  • It was a complementary relationship between dominant peasant castes and service or artisan castes.
  • Service castes provided services to land-owning peasant castes and dominant castes.

Key Concepts

Central concept: Indian social structure as a changing system of tribe, varna, caste, untouchability, slavery, family, marriage, women, and tribal communities

TribeVarna systemCaste systemUntouchabilitySlaveryPurushartha and AshramaJajmani systemFamily

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Indian Social Structure for NIOS Class 10 Indian Culture and Heritage?
Key topics in Indian Social Structure include Structure of Indian Society, Untouchability and Slavery, Purushartha, Ashrama and Samskara, Jajmani System, Family and Marriage. Study these first, then practise questions on each for the NIOS Class 10 board exam.
How should I revise Indian Social Structure for the NIOS Class 10 board exam?
Learn the core ideas first, then work through the 57 practice questions on Indian Social Structure. 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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