The correct option is 2 and 3 only.
Explanation
The traditional caste system in India is a form of social stratification characterized by a closed structure where social status is determined by birth (ascribed status). It is defined by strict rules regarding marriage, occupation, and social interaction, functioning on principles of purity and pollution.
Statement 1 is Incorrect:
The traditional caste system was characterized by rigidity rather than fluidity. An individual’s caste was fixed at birth and could not be changed during their lifetime. While sociological concepts like "Sanskritization" describe how entire groups might elevate their status over generations by emulating higher castes, the system did not allow for individual social mobility or the easy changing of caste identities.
Statement 2 is Correct:
Restrictions on feeding and social intercourse (commensality) were integral to the traditional caste system. Detailed rules governed who could accept food or water from whom, primarily to maintain ritual purity. Inter-dining between different caste groups, especially across the hierarchy of purity, was strictly prohibited.
Statement 3 is Correct:
Endogamy-the practice of marrying within one's own caste or sub-caste-is the most essential and defining characteristic of the caste system. While exogamy (marrying outside) was required at the Gotra (clan) level, marriage outside the caste (inter-caste marriage) was strictly forbidden to preserve the purity of the group.
Key Takeaway:
The traditional caste system is defined by segmental division of society, hierarchy, restrictions on commensality (inter-dining), hereditary occupation, and strict endogamy. It stands in contrast to the constitutional values of equality and non-discrimination enshrined in Articles 15 and 17.