In this article on the social class, you will get Class 12 History Chapter 3 Most Important Questions. I have prepared these from my experience, which I got after appearing for the boards 2025, and I scored 98 out of 100 in History. so, you can use the Kinship, Caste and Class important Questions for your CBSE Board exams 2026. Here you will get detailed solutions to important questions for the first chapter of history. You can get the detailed explanation on our YouTube channel. Make sure to read the complete article so that you can excel in your exams using Class 12 History Chapter 3 Most Important Questions and get the best questions for your exams.

Timeline of Chapter 3: Kinship, Caste and Class

Period / Date	Event / Development	Details / Significance
c. 1500–1000 BCE (Early Vedic Age)	Composition of Rigveda	References to dasa, varnas, and early social structures.
c. 1000–600 BCE (Later Vedic Age)	Development of varna system	Clear references to four varnas in Purusha Sukta of Rigveda.
c. 600 BCE – 200 BCE	Rise of Dharmashastras	Texts prescribing rules of marriage, inheritance, and duties of varnas.
c. 600 BCE onwards	Growth of Buddhism and Jainism	Challenged Brahmanical order, emphasized equality and non-violence.
c. 400 BCE – 400 CE	Composition of Mahabharata	Epic compiled over centuries; important for understanding kinship and social norms.
c. 200 BCE – 200 CE	Compilation of Manusmriti	Laid down detailed rules of dharma, varna, marriage, and patriarchy.
c. 4th century CE	Final redaction of Mahabharata	Text acquired its present form, reflecting political and social life.
c. 5th – 6th century CE	Further Dharmashastra works (e.g., Narada Smriti)	Focus on inheritance, law, and caste rules.

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3 Marker Short Answer Type Class 12 History Chapter 3 Most Important Questions

In this portion, you will find 3 Marker Short Answer Type Class 12 History Chapter 2 Most Important Questions.

Chapter 3: Kinship, Caste and Class (Class 12 History – Themes in Indian History Part I).

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3 Marker Questions

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Q1. Why is the Mahabharata considered an important source for early Indian social history?
Answer:

• The Mahabharata is more than a religious epic; it reflects society, family structures, and politics of its time.
• It provides details about rules of marriage, inheritance, and kinship practices.
• References to women, slaves (dasas), and ruling lineages make it a key text for reconstructing social history.

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Q2. What do you understand by the term Gotra?
Answer:

• Gotra refers to a lineage or clan traced through male ancestors.
• Brahmanical texts prescribed gotra exogamy — marriage outside one’s gotra.
• This system was designed to maintain social order and purity of descent.

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Q3. State three main features of the Varna system.
Answer:

1. Division into four varnas – Brahmanas (priests, teachers), Kshatriyas (warriors, rulers), Vaishyas (farmers, traders), and Shudras (servants).
2. The first three varnas were considered “twice-born,” while Shudras were excluded.
3. It created a rigid social hierarchy based on birth, not on occupation.

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Q4. What does the Mahabharata tell us about the position of women?
Answer:

• Women were generally excluded from property and inheritance.
• Marriage and motherhood were considered their primary duties.
• However, exceptional figures like Draupadi show women could play significant political and social roles.

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Q5. Mention three features of patriarchal society in early India.
Answer:

1. Descent and inheritance were traced through the father.
2. Property rights were usually restricted to sons.
3. Women had to move to the husband’s home after marriage, reinforcing male dominance.

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Q6. Who were the Dasas and Dasis?
Answer:

• In early Vedic society, dasa meant enemies or outsiders.
• Later, it came to mean slaves, both male (dasa) and female (dasi).
• They performed domestic service, agriculture, and other menial tasks.

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Q7. What rules did the Dharmashastras prescribe for marriage?
Answer:

• Marriage was essential for continuing the family lineage.
• Gotra exogamy (marriage outside one’s gotra) and varna endogamy (marriage within one’s varna) were emphasized.
• Widows were not allowed to remarry, reflecting patriarchal control.

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Q8. Name the four ashramas and explain their purpose.
Answer:

1. Brahmacharya – student life focused on learning and discipline.
2. Grihastha – householder stage involving marriage, family, and social duties.
3. Vanaprastha – retirement to the forest after fulfilling responsibilities.
4. Sannyasa – renunciation of worldly life for spiritual liberation.

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Q9. Differentiate between Shruti and Smriti.
Answer:

• Shruti: Texts considered divine revelations, such as the Vedas and Upanishads; regarded as eternal.
• Smriti: Human-composed texts like Manusmriti, Dharmashastras; contained rules for social conduct and law.
• Shruti had higher authority, while Smriti could adapt to changing times.

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Q10. Why were genealogies important for ruling families?
Answer:

• Genealogies connected rulers to ancient, prestigious lineages.
• They legitimized political authority by linking kings to divine or heroic ancestors.
• Texts like the Mahabharata and Puranas preserved these genealogies to strengthen rulers’ social and religious status.

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8 Marker Long Answer Type Class 12 History Chapter 3 Most Important Questions

This portion will provide you with 3 Marker Long Answer Type Class 12 History Chapter 3 Most Important Questions.

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Q1. Why is the Mahabharata considered an important source for understanding social history?
Answer:

• The Mahabharata is more than an epic; it reflects contemporary society.
• Key Points:
  1. Provides details about kinship and family structures.
  2. Explains marriage practices such as gotra exogamy and varna endogamy.
  3. Highlights the patriarchal system and inheritance rules.
  4. Depicts the position of women, e.g., Draupadi’s role and marginalization of widows.
  5. Mentions slaves (dasas and dasis) and their service roles.
  6. Contains genealogies of rulers like the Kurus, legitimizing dynasties.
  7. It was revised over centuries, thus reflecting social changes.
• Hence, historians treat it as a major source for reconstructing social, political, and cultural history.

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Q2. Explain the main features of the Varna system.
Answer:

• The Varna system was a hierarchical division of society.
• Features:
  1. Four varnas: Brahmanas (priests, teachers), Kshatriyas (rulers, warriors), Vaishyas (farmers, traders), and Shudras (servants).
  2. Purusha Sukta (Rigveda) provided a divine origin to the varna system.
  3. The first three varnas were “twice-born” and had access to Vedic learning.
  4. Shudras were denied education and were meant to serve others.
  5. Chandalas and untouchables were placed outside the varna system.
  6. The system was birth-based, not occupation-based.
  7. It justified social inequality as divinely ordained.
• Thus, the Varna system structured early Indian society on rigid, unequal lines.

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Q3. Discuss the rules of marriage and the position of women in early societies.
Answer:

• Marriage Rules (from Dharmashastras & Epics):
  1. Gotra exogamy: One could not marry within the same gotra.
  2. Varna endogamy: Marriages were preferred within the same varna.
  3. Polygamy existed among ruling families.
  4. Polyandry is also reflected (e.g., Draupadi’s marriage to the Pandavas).
• Position of Women:
  1. Women were denied inheritance rights in property.
  2. Their main duty was marriage, childbearing, and household work.
  3. Widows were not permitted to remarry.
  4. They were considered partners in religious duties with their husbands.
  5. Exceptional women like Gargi and Draupadi show they could play intellectual or political roles.
• Hence, while women had a secondary status, they were still central to kinship and ritual practices.

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Q4. What were the main features of patriarchal society and rules of inheritance?
Answer:

• Early Indian society was patriarchal and male-dominated.
• Features:
  1. Descent and inheritance were traced through the father (patriliny).
  2. Property was controlled by men; sons inherited the father’s wealth.
  3. Two systems existed: Primogeniture (eldest son inherits) and Coparcenary (all sons share inheritance).
  4. Women were excluded from property rights.
  5. After marriage, women moved to the husband’s household, reinforcing male control.
  6. Fathers were considered the authority figure and household head.
• This system consolidated male dominance and restricted women’s role in economic and social affairs.

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Q5. How did Buddhism and Jainism challenge Brahmanical social norms?
Answer:

• Both religions offered an alternative to Brahmanical dominance.
• Buddhism:
  1. Emphasized karma, not birth, as the basis of social position.
  2. Accepted followers from all castes and even women in monasteries.
  3. Rejected the authority of the Vedas and sacrificial rituals.
• Jainism:
  1. Advocated strict ahimsa (non-violence) and equality of all living beings.
  2. Denied caste-based discrimination; emphasized personal effort for salvation.
  3. Accepted women and men equally in the religious community.
• Impact:
  1. Weakened the ideological control of Brahmanas.
  2. Promoted ideas of equality, compassion, and moral conduct.
• Thus, both religions served as social reform movements that questioned Brahmanical orthodoxy.

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