During the early Vedic **, enjoyed equal status with men in all aspects of life. Rigvedic verses suggest that were educated, married at a mature age and were free to select their own husbands. Scriptures such as the Rig Veda and Upanishads mention several sages and seers. In approximately 500 B.C., the status of began to decline. Although various reform movements allowed to be admitted to religious orders, by and large in India faced confinement and restrictions. Indian ' position in society further deteriorated during the medieval **, when child marriages and a ban on remarriage by widows became part of social life in some communities in India. During the British Raj, many reformers fought for the betterment of . in India now participate fully in areas such as education, sports, politics, media, art and culture, service sectors, science and technology, etc. Indira Gandhi, who served as Prime Minister of India for an aggregate ** of fifteen years, is the world' longest serving woman Prime Minister. The Constitution of India guarantees to all Indian equality (Article 14), no discrimination by the State (Article 15(1)), equality of opportunity (Article 16), and equal pay for equal work (Article 39(d)). In addition, it allows special provisions to be made by the State in favor of and ** (Article 15(3)), renounces practices derogatory to the dignity of **** (Article 51(A) (e)), and also allows for provisions to be made by the State for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief.
I. The status of ** in Indian society is not equal to that of men because*
i. in many parts of the country, some medieval customs are still practiced
ii. of the lack of equal ****’ rights
iii. both i and ii above.
II. The improved status of ** in modern India is reflected by*
i. participation of ***** in different walks of life
ii. constitutional safeguards
iii. both i and ii above.
III. The status of ** started deteriorating*
i. before medieval **
ii. during medieval **
iii. after medieval **.
The correct answers to I, II and III are:
A. iii, iii and ii, respectively
B. i, iii and i, respectively
C. iii, iii and i, respectively
D. i, iii and ii, respectively.
