NCERT Class 12 Sociology Social Change and Development in India: Chapter 2 — Cultural Change
This chapter, "Cultural Change," from NCERT Class 12 Sociology, examines the profound societal transformations in India, largely influenced by colonial rule. It delves into two key developments: the conscious reform efforts by 19th and early 20th-century social reformers and nationalists against discrimination, and the less deliberate but significant cultural shifts like sanskritisation, modernisation, secularisation, and westernisation. The chapter highlights the emergence of social reform movements in response to colonial challenges, addressing issues such as sati, child marriage, widow remarriage, and caste discrimination. It contrasts these with earlier reform efforts, emphasizing the unique modern context and intellectual influences of the 19th-century movements. This chapter is crucial for understanding the interplay of structural and cultural changes in shaping contemporary Indian society within the CBSE curriculum.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 12 |
| Subject | Sociology |
| Book | Social Change and Development in India |
| Chapter | Chapter 2 — Cultural Change |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 1 minute |
| Word count | 152 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the impact of colonialism on Indian social structure and culture.
- Identify key social reform movements and their objectives in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Recognize the role of social reformers and nationalists in challenging discriminatory practices.
- Differentiate between deliberate reform efforts and less deliberate cultural changes.
- Analyze the processes of sanskritisation, modernisation, secularisation, and westernisation as responses to colonialism.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Colonialism | The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. |
| Industrialisation | The development of industries in a country or region on a wide scale. |
| Urbanisation | The process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger as more people begin living and working in central areas. |
| Social structure | A continuing arrangement of persons in relationships defined or controlled by institutions. |
| Culture | Socially established norms or patterns of behaviour. |
| Social reformers | Individuals who sought to improve society by challenging existing social evils and advocating for change. |
| Nationalists | People who strongly identify with their nation and support its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations. |
| Sati | A historical practice in which a widow immolates herself on the funeral pyre of her husband. |
| Child marriage | The practice of marrying children at a young age. |
| Widow remarriage | The practice of allowing widows to marry again after the death of their husbands. |
| Caste discrimination | Unfair treatment or prejudice against someone based on their caste. |
| Sanskritisation | A process whereby people or groups from lower castes or tribes change their customs, rituals, ideology, and way of life in the direction of a higher, frequently 'twice-born' caste. |
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Practice questions
- What were the two main developments discussed in this chapter that were products of colonial rule? Answer: The two developments were the conscious efforts by social reformers and nationalists to bring in changes against discrimination, and the less deliberate but decisive changes in cultural practices like sanskritisation, modernisation, secularisation, and westernisation.
- Name three social evils prevalent in Indian society that 19th-century social reform movements addressed. Answer: Three social evils were sati, child marriage, and caste discrimination. The ban on widow remarriage was also a significant issue.
- What was unique about the 19th-century social reform attempts compared to earlier ones? Answer: The 19th-century attempts were unique due to their modern context and a creative combination of modern ideas from western liberalism and a new interpretation of traditional literature.
- According to the text, what is 'social structure'? Answer: Social structure is defined as a 'continuing arrangement of persons in relationships defined or controlled by institutions'.
- What is 'culture' as understood by sociologists? Answer: Culture is understood as 'socially established norms or patterns of behaviour'.
Practice MCQs
Q1. Which of the following was NOT explicitly mentioned as a social evil addressed by 19th-century reform movements?
Explanation: The text explicitly mentions sati, child marriage, ban on widow remarriage, and caste discrimination. The dowry system, while a social issue, is not specifically listed in this section.
Q2. The chapter discusses cultural changes that can be broadly understood as processes of:
Explanation: The text clearly states that the cultural changes can be understood as sanskritisation, modernisation, secularisation, and westernisation.
Q3. Who is mentioned as a key figure associated with 19th-century social reform movements?
Explanation: The text includes a picture and mentions Raja Ram Mohun Roy as one of the key figures of the 19th-century social reform movements.
Q4. According to the chapter, sanskritisation:
Explanation: The chapter explicitly states that 'Sanskritisation pre-dates the coming of colonial rule.'
Q5. The 'modern context and mix of ideas' for 19th-century social reform attempts involved:
Explanation: The text highlights that what marked these attempts was 'a creative combination of modern ideas of western liberalism and a new look on traditional literature.'
Frequently asked questions
What is the main focus of the NCERT Class 12 Sociology Chapter 1?
The chapter focuses on social and cultural changes in India, particularly those influenced by colonial rule, including social reform movements and processes like sanskritisation and modernisation.
What were the key social issues addressed by 19th-century Indian social reformers?
They addressed issues such as sati, child marriage, the ban on widow remarriage, and caste discrimination.
How did colonialism influence social change in India, according to the chapter?
Colonialism brought about significant structural changes (like industrialisation and urbanisation) and influenced cultural changes, prompting reform movements and new cultural processes.
What is sanskritisation, and when did it originate?
Sanskritisation is a process of cultural change where lower castes adopt customs of higher castes. It predates colonial rule.
Besides sanskritisation, what other cultural changes are discussed as responses to colonialism?
The other processes discussed are modernisation, secularisation, and westernisation.
What distinguishes 19th-century social reform movements from earlier ones?
The 19th-century movements operated in a modern context, blending western liberal ideas with new interpretations of traditional texts.
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NCERT Class 12 Sociology — Social Change and Development in India — Chapter 2 — Cultural Change. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.