Final answer:
The statement that accurately describes the social effect of the caste system in India is that Varnas determine the type of jobs people could have. This hierarchical system was rooted in Hindu religious beliefs and enforced a rigid social structure with limited social mobility, primarily through reincarnation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The social effect of the caste system in India is best described by option (a): Varnas determine the type of jobs people could have. This system was deeply intertwined with Hindu religious beliefs and societal structure. It was predicated on the idea that a person's role in life, including their occupation, was determined by their birth into a particular caste.
In the traditional caste system, social mobility was highly restricted as individuals were expected to adhere to the occupations and social roles prescribed by their caste. This system was maintained through religious sanctions, and while there was some belief in mobility through reincarnation, such changes in caste status would not occur within a single lifetime.
Each caste, or Varna, was associated with specific functions, responsibilities, and occupations. The Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants and farmers), and Shudras (servants) were the four major varnas. There were also sub-castes within these varnas, creating a complex and rigid hierarchy that dictated many aspects of social life in India.