Upsc Polity Master Notes: Political Parties (Prelims & Mains

Gender, Religion, and Caste – UPSC Prelims Notes1. Gender and PoliticsGender DivisionDefinition: A social construct based on stereotypes, not biological differences.Patriarchy: System where men dominate and hold power over women.Sexual Division of Labor:Women – Primarily handle household duties (unpaid labor).Men – Engage in income-generating work (paid labor).Women’s work outside remains undervalued and underpaid.Women’s Political RepresentationRecent Data (2023-2024)Lok Sabha: 15% women MPs.Rajya Sabha: 13% women MPs.State Assemblies: 9% women MLAs (average across states).Panchayati Raj: 33% reservation for women.Women’s Reservation Act (2023): 33% seats reserved for Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, and Delhi Assembly.Global Comparison: India ranks below the global average of 25% in women’s parliamentary representation.Gender Inequality in IndiaSex Ratio (2025 estimates): 933 females per 1,000 males.Child Sex Ratio: 108 boys per 100 girls.Literacy Rate (2011 Census):Male: 82%Female: 65%Workforce Participation: Women constitute 21.8% of India's labor force.Wage Gap: Women earn 19% less than men for the same work.Violence Against Women:400,000+ cases reported in 2021 (NCRB data).Legal protections: Domestic Violence Act 2005, IPC Sections 354 & 376.2. Religion, Communalism, and PoliticsReligious Composition in India (Census 2011)Hindus: 79.8%Muslims: 14.2%Christians: 2.3%Sikhs: 1.7%Buddhists: 0.7%Jains: 0.4%Other Religions & Persuasions: 0.7%Religion Not Stated: 0.2%Key ObservationsStable Religious Proportions: Minor shifts in religious shares over time.Growth Rate Myth: Muslim population