WORKING OF INSTITUTIONS

Q1. Why do democratic governments insist on institutions? (OR) Why do we

need
political institutions?
Ans: Governing a country involves various activities like providing facilities of
education, health, collecting taxes, spending more on administration, defence, etc.,
 For this purpose, some people have to take decisions, others have to
implement them and if disputes arise, someone has to settle them.
 So, to attend to all these tasks, several arrangements are made in all
democracies. These arrangements are called institutions.
 Institutions provide an opportunity for a wider set of people to be consulted in
any decision. They also prevent us from rushing into a bad decision.
Q2. “Lok Sabha is more powerful than Rajya Sabha”. Explain which of the two
houses of the Parliament exercise supreme power? In what ways is that
house more powerful? (Or) “Our Constitution gives the Rajya Sabha some
special powers over the state but on most matters, the Lok Sabha exercises
supreme Power”. Justify.
Ans: Although, our constitution has assigned some special powers to Rajya Sabha
but on most of the important matters Lok Sabha is more powerful than Rajya Sabha.
The following aspects prove this point.
 Ordinary Bill: An ordinary law needs to be passed by both houses. But if
there is a difference between the two houses, the final decision is taken in a
joint session in which members of both the houses sit together. Since the Lok
Sabha has maximum strength, the opinion of the Lok Sabha prevails in such a
meeting.
 Money bill: Lok Sabha exercises more powers in money matters. Once the
Lok Sabha passes the budget of the government or any other money related
law, the Rajya Sabha cannot reject it. The Rajya Sabha can only delay it by
14 days or suggest changes in it. The Lok Sabha may or may not accept
these changes.
 Control over political executive: Most importantly the Lok Sabha exercises
excessive control over political executive. Only a person who enjoys the
support of the majority of the members in the Lok Sabha is appointed as the
Prime Minister. If the majority of the Lok Sabha members say they have no
confidence in the council of Ministers, all ministers including the Prime
Minister, have to quit, the Rajya Sabha does not have this power.
Q3. Why do we need a Parliament? (OR) Discuss the powers and functions of the
Parliament. (OR) “Parliament plays a central role in modern democracies”
Explain.
Ans: Parliament is the Supreme political authority of elected representatives.
Modern democracies need a Parliament because:
 It is the final authority for making laws in any country. Parliament can make
new laws, change or abolish existing laws and make new ones in their place.
 Parliaments all over the world exercise some control over those who run the
government. In some countries like India this control is direct and full. Those
who run the government can take decisions only so long as they enjoy
support of the Parliament.
 Parliament controls all the money that governments have. Public money can
be spent only when the Parliament sanctions it.
  Parliament is the highest forum of discussion and debate on public issues and
national policy in any country. It can seek information about any matter.

Q4. Describe the two categories of executives. Why is political executive more
powerful than the permanent executive?
Ans:
 Political leaders who are elected by the people for a specific period are called
political executives whereas civil servants or people who are appointed on a
long-term basis are called permanent executive or civil servants.
 The political executive is more powerful than the permanent executive
because, in a democracy, the will of the people is supreme.
 The minister is elected by the people and thus empowered to exercise the will
of the people on their behalf. He / She is finally answerable to the people for
all the consequences of his/ her decisions which are final.
Q5. “The Prime Minister is the leader of the cabinet in the House”. Justify.
(OR)
Enumerate the powers of the Prime Minister?
Ans: As the head of the Government, the Prime Minister has wide ranging powers.
 He chairs cabinet meetings. He is the leader of the House.
 He coordinates the work of different Departments. His decisions are final in
case disagreements arise between departments.
 All ministers work under his leadership. He exercises general supervision of
different ministries.
 He distributes and redistributes work to ministers. He has the power to
dismiss ministers.
 When the Prime Minister quits, the entire ministry quits.
Q6. What are the powers of the President? Does he/ she enjoy his/her powers
in the true sense?
Ans: The President supervises the overall functioning of all political institutions that
they operate in harmony to achieve the objectives of the state.
 All Government activities take place in the name of the president.
 All laws and major policy decisions of the government are issued in his/her
name.
 All the major appointments are made in the name of the President. These
include the appointment of the Chief Justice of India, the judges of the
Supreme Court and High Courts, Governors of the State, the Election
Commissioners etc.,
 All international treaties and agreements are made in the name of the
President.
 The President is the Supreme commander of the Defence forces of India.
 Although the President enjoys a wide range of powers, he/ she exercises
these powers only on the advice of the Prime Minister and the council of
Ministers, due to this factor; the President of India is only a nominal head.
Q7. How has the Indian Constitution ensured the Independence of the
Judiciary? (OR)How can you say that the judiciary in India is independent?
Ans: Being the final interpreter of law, it is necessary to ensure independence of the
Judiciary. To facilitate this, our constitution provides some specific measure like:
 The Judges of the Supreme Court and the high court are appointed by the
President of India on the advice of the Prime Minister and in consultation with
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
  Once a judge is appointed, it is very difficult to remove him from that position.
He can be removed only by an impeachment motion passed separately by
two –third members of the two houses of the Parliament.
 The salaries and benefits given to them cannot be changed during their
tenure.

Q8. What are the powers of the Judiciary?

Ans: The Supreme Court and the High Courts have the power to interpret the
constitution of the country.
 They can declare invalid, any law if they find it against the constitution. This is
called Judicial Review.
 The powers and independence of the Indian Judiciary allow it to act as the
guardian of fundamental rights.
 Anyone can approach the courts if public interests are hurt by the actions of
the government. This is called public interest litigation.
 The Courts intervene to prevent the misuse of government’s power to make
decisions. They check malpractices on the part of public officials.
Q9. Discuss the emergency powers of the President of India.
Ans: The President of India enjoys emergency powers to meet abnormal situations.
There are three emergency powers of the President. He can declare emergency-
 In case of external aggression or war.
 When the government machinery of any state fails to work.
 When the financial stability or credit of our country is threatened.
Q10. How is the President of India elected? What does this ensure?
Ans: The President of India is not elected directly by the people.
 All the MPs and MLAs elect him.
 A candidate standing for President’s post has to get a majority of votes to win
the election. This ensures that the President can be seen to represent the
entire nation.
 At the same time the President can never claim the kind of direct popular
mandate that the Prime Minister can.
 This ensures that he/she remains only a nominal executive.
Q11. Write a short note on the council of ministers.
Ans: Council of Ministers is the official name for the body that includes all the
ministers. It usually has 60 to 80 ministers of different ranks.
 Cabinet Ministers are usually top-level leaders of the ruling party or parties
who are in charge of the major ministries. Usually, the cabinet ministers meet
to take decisions in the name of the council of Ministers. Cabinet is thus the
inner ring of the council of ministers. It comprises about 20 ministers.
 Ministers of State with independent charge are usually in charge of smaller
ministries. They participate in the Cabinet meetings only when specially
invited.
 Ministers of state are attached to and required to assist Cabinet ministers.

CLIMATE

IMPORTANT TERMS:
Monsoon trough – It refers to the intense low-pressure area, which develops over
north western parts of the country extending from Thar Desert to Chotanagpur
plateau.
Trade winds: They are the prevailing easterly winds which blow from the sub-
tropical high-pressure belt to the equatorial low-pressure belt.
Range of temperature – It is the difference between the highest and the lowest
temperature.
Q1. What are the factors that control the climate of any place?
Ans: There are six factors which control the climate of any place.
 Latitude - Due to the curvature of the earth, the amount of solar energy received
varies according to latitude.
 Altitude – As one goes from the surface of the earth to higher altitudes, the
atmosphere becomes less dense and temperature decreases. The hills are
therefore cooler during summers.
 Pressure and Winds – The pressure and wind system of any area depend on the
latitude.
and altitude of the place. Thus, it influences the temperature and rainfall pattern.
 Distance from the Sea: As the distance from the sea increases, its moderating
influence decreases and the people experience extreme weather conditions. This
condition is known as continentality (i.e., very hot during summer and very cold
during winters)
 Ocean currents – Ocean currents along with onshore winds affect the climate of
the coastal areas. For example, any coastal area with warm or cold currents
flowing past it, will be warmed or cooled, if the winds are onshore.
 Relief – Relief too plays a major role in determining the climate of a place. High
mountains act as barriers for cold or hot winds. They may also cause
precipitation, if they are high enough and lie in the path of rain bearing winds.
The leeward side of the mountains remains relatively dry.
Q2. Which part of India experiences the highest diurnal range of
temperature?
Ans: In the Thar Desert, the day temperature may rise to 50˚C and drop to 15˚C the
same night.
 This is because the skies are clear during the day and there is maximum
insolation and during the night there is maximum terrestrial radiation.
 Vegetation cover is also less so absorption of heat during night is very little.
Q3. Define Monsoon. What do you understand by break in the Monsoon?
Ans: The word Monsoon is derived from the Arabic word ‘mausim’ which literally
means season. It refers to seasonal reversal in the wind direction during a year.
 Monsoon has wet and dry spells i.e., it takes place only for a few days at a
time. After a few days there is a break in monsoon which is related to the
movement of the monsoon trough.
 For various reasons, the trough and its axis keep on moving northward and
southward, which determines the spatial distribution of rainfall.
 When the axis of the monsoon trough lies over the plains, rainfall is good in
these parts.
 On the other hand, whenever the axis shifts closer to the Himalayas, there are
longer dry spells in the plains and widespread rain occurs in the mountainous
catchment areas of the Himalayan rivers.
Q4. Describe the regional variations in climatic conditions of India with the
help of suitable examples.
 In summer the mercury occasionally touches 50˚C in some parts of Rajasthan desert,
whereas it may be around 20˚C in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. On a winter
 night, the temperature at Drass in Jammu and Kashmir may be as low
as45˚C.Thiruvananthapuram, on the other hand may have a temperature at 22˚C.
 While precipitation is mostly in the form of snowfall in the upper regions of the
Himalayas,it rains over the rest of the country.
 The annual precipitation varies over 400 cm in Meghalaya to less than 10 cm
in
Ladakh and western Rajasthan.
 Most parts of the country receive rainfall from June to September. But some
parts like the Tamil Nadu coast get most of its rain during October and
November.
 Coastal areas experience less contrasts in temperature conditions. Seasonal
contrasts are more in the interior of the country.
 There is a decrease in rainfall generally from east to west in the Northern
Plains.
Q5. Explain:
a. Western cyclonic disturbances
a. Tropical Cyclones
a. Western cyclonic disturbances are weather phenomenon of the winter months
brought in by the westerly flow from the Mediterranean region. They usually
influence the weather of the north and north- western regions of India.
a. Tropical cyclones occur during the advancing monsoon as well as retreating
monsoon season. They are a part of the easterly flow. These disturbances affect
the coastal regions of the country.

Q6. How do monsoon winds act as a unifying bond?

Ans:
 The seasonal alteration of the wind system and the associated weather
conditions
provide a rhythmic cycle of seasons.
 Even the uncertainties of rain and uneven distribution are very much typical of
monsoon.
 The Indian landscape, its animal and plant life, its entire agricultural calendar
and the life of the people, including their festivities revolve around this
phenomenon.
 These monsoon winds bind the whole country by providing water to set the
agricultural activities in motion.
 The river valleys which carry this water also unite as a single river valley unit.
Q7. Give reasons for the following-
a. The Tamil Nadu coast receives the winter rainfall during winter.
 The North East trade winds prevail over the country. As they blow from land to
sea, they don’t give any rainfall and dry conditions prevail. But in Tamil Nadu,
they blow from sea to land bringing rainfall to its coastal regions.
a. The Eastern coast is frequently struck by cyclones.
 The low-pressure conditions over North-West India get transferred to the Bay
of Bengal by early November.
 This shift is associated with cyclonic depressions which originate over the Andaman
Sea.
 These cyclones wash the eastern coast of India and cause heave rainfall
there.
  Deltas of Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri are frequently struck by cyclones, due
to this reason and suffer huge damage.
c. Parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and the leeward side of the Western Ghats are
drought prone.
 When the Arabian Sea branches of monsoon strikes the Western Ghats, it
sheds most of its moisture on the windward side.
 By the time it reaches the leeward side, it has shed all the moisture and hence
this side is drought prone.
 By the time the Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon reaches Gujarat and
Rajasthan the amount of moisture decreases even further. The Aravalli hills
are low and lie parallel to the direction of south-west monsoon winds and
hence these regions are drought prone.
Q8. Differentiate between:
Ans:(a)
Cold weather Season Hot weather Season

Begins from mid- November and

Begins from March and lasts till early June.
lasts till February

Temperatures decrease from

Temperatures increase from south to north.
south to north.

A feeble high-pressure area An elongated low-pressure area develops in

develops in the northern part of the region extending from the Thar Desert to
the country, with light winds Patna and Chota Nagpur Plateau. Circulation
moving outwards from this area. of air begins to set in around this time.

There is inflow of cyclonic

disturbances from the west and Strong, dusty, hot, dry winds called ‘loo’ blow
the northwest which cause rains during the day over north and north-western
over the plains and snowfall in the India.
mountains

Shorter days and longer nights. Longer days and shorter nights.
(b)
Advancing Monsoon Retreating Monsoons

They blow from June to

They blow from October to November.
September.

They blow from sea to land. They blow from land to sea.

The blow in a south westerly

They blow in a north easterly direction.
direction.

They bring abundant rainfall to They are dry but while crossing the Bay of
the subcontinent as they are Bengal, they gather moisture and cause some
moisture laden. rainfall on the Tamil Nadu coast.

These winds blow because the These winds blow because the low-pressure
low-pressure conditions over the trough over the northern plains becomes
northern plains intensify. weaker and is gradually replaced by a high-
pressure system.

Q9. ‘The Monsoon is known for its uncertainties’. Explain.

Ans:
 Spatial distribution of rainfall depends on the movement of the monsoon
trough. When the axis of the trough lies over the plains, rainfall is good in
these parts. When the axis shifts closer to the Himalayas, there are longer
dry spells in the plains and rains occur in the Himalayan region.
 The frequency and intensity of tropical depression, which forms at the head
of the Bay of Bengal, determine the amount and duration of Monsoon
rains. These depressions follow the axis of the monsoon trough.
 Therefore, the monsoons are uncertain, and rainfall varies in intensity,
frequency and duration.

FOREST SOCIETY & COLONIALISM

Q1. What were the causes of deforestation in colonial India?
Ans. Agricultural expansion to meet the increasing demand for food grains and raw
materials.
▪ Expansion of railways as the timber was used to make sleepers.

▪ For fulfilling the demand of timber for building ships for the Royal Navy of

England.
▪ For the production of tea, coffee & rubber in plantations.

Q2. How had improvement of land for farming become a reason for
deforestation in India during colonial rule?
Ans. In the colonial period, cultivation expanded rapidly for a variety of reasons:
▪ The British encouraged the production of commercial crops like jute, sugar,

wheat and cotton, to fulfill the growing demand for food grains and raw materials for
industries, in Europe.
▪ In the early 19th century, the colonial rulers thought that forests were

unproductive. They should be brought under cultivation so that the land could yield
higher agricultural products and enhance the income of the state.
Q3. How was the spread of railways responsible for deforestation?
Ans. Railways were essential for colonial trade and for the movement of imperial
troops. So, the spread of railways from the 1850s created new demands.
▪ To run locomotives, wood was needed as fuel.
 ▪ Sleepers were essential to hold the tracks together.

▪ As the railway tracks spread through India, a large number of trees were felled.

▪ The government gave out contracts to individuals to supply the required

quantities of sleepers. These contractors began cutting trees indiscriminately.

Forests around the railway tracks, fast started disappearing.

NAZISM & THE RISE OF HITLER

1. How was the Weimar Republic constituted?
▪ The national assembly met at Weimar and established a democratic
constitution with a federal structure.
▪ Deputies / Members were elected to the German Parliament called the
Reichstag.
▪ Members were elected on the basis on Universal Adult Franchise including
women.
2. What were main provisions of Treaty of Versailles? What was its
significance?
▪ The Treaty of Versailles was the treaty signed between the Allies and
Germany under Weimar Republic.
▪ The main provisions (terms) under this treaty were:
i) Germany had to forego all its overseas colonies and 13% of its territories.
ii) It lost 75% of its iron and 26% of its coal to France, Poland, Denmark and
Lithuania.
iii) It was completely demilitarized.
iv) It had to pay £ 6 billion as compensation on war damages.
v) The resource rich Rhineland was occupied by the Allies. The treaty of
Versailles was the most humiliating treaty and its significance lay in the
fact that it became one of the major factors responsible for the Second
World War.
3. Who were the ‘November criminals?
▪ The Socialists, Catholics and Democrats, who supported the unpopular
Weimar Republic, were called the ‘November criminals.
▪ The Weimar republic was unpopular because the Germans felt that it was
responsible for the defeat of Germany in the First World War and the disgrace at
Versailles.
4. Write a note on Spartacist League.
Ans. The Spartacist League was one which was started on the pattern of the
Bolshevik Revolution of Russia.
▪ They established soviets of workers and sailors in many cities.
▪ They demanded for a soviet style governance.
▪ They were opposed by the Weimar Republic and so were put down. They
later founded Communist Party of Germany.
5. What is hyperinflation?
▪ Germany had to pay the war damages with their gold reserves which led to its
depletion.
▪ In 1923, Germany refused to pay the compensation which resulted in the
French occupation of Ruhr, its leading industrial area.
 ▪ Angered by this, Germany retaliated by printing currency recklessly, which led
to a fall in the value of the German mark.
▪ As the value of money decreased, prices of goods increased tremendously.
▪ This situation was known as hyperinflation (when prices of goods rise
phenomenally high).
6. What was the effect of the great economic crisis on the political situation
of Germany?
▪ The Weimar Republic became very weak.
▪ People lost confidence in democratic parliamentary system as it could do
nothing to manage crisis in a proper way.
▪ The defects within the constitution made it unstable and vulnerable to
dictatorship. This political instability along with social and economic crisis helped in
the rise of Hitler.
7. How was the German economy affected by the Great Economic Depression?
The economic crisis affected Germany in following ways:
▪ By 1932, industrial production was reduced to 40% of the1929 level.
▪ Workers lost jobs or were paid reduced wages. The number of unemployed
touched around 6 million.
▪ This factor was responsible for the youth to take up criminal activities and total
despair became common.
8. What factors led to the rise of dictatorship in Germany?
▪ The war had a devastating impact on Germany socially, economically and
politically.
▪ The democratically constituted Weimar Republic was weak as people blamed
it for accepting the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.
▪ The Republic was unstable which made it vulnerable to dictatorship.
▪ The nation was crippled financially as a result of paying compensation, which
resulted in the Great Economic Crisis and hyperinflation.
▪ Society was giving importance to soldiers and trench life. This led to giving
popular support to conservative dictatorship.
9. “Hitler rose gradually from a Corporal in the army to dictator of Germany”.
Explain.
▪ Hitler who was born in a poor family, joined the First World War as a corporal
and was known for his bravery. He was furious with the Treaty of Versailles.
▪ In 1919, he joined German Workers’ Party which was later renamed as the
NationalSocialist German Workers’ Party or ‘Nazi Party’.
▪ In 1923, he planned to seize control of Bavaria, march to Berlin & capture
power. He failed, was arrested, tried for treason and was later released.
▪ Hitler was a powerful speaker and a shrewd person. He took advantage of
the shattered economy and frustrated youth during years of depression to rise to
power.
▪ The famous Enabling Act that was passed on 3rd March 1933, established
dictatorship in Germany.
10. What method did Hitler use to gain support of people?
▪ Hitler devised a new style of politics to mobilize support for himself.
▪ Nazis held massive rallies and public meetings.
▪ They used red banners with Swastika, the Nazi salute, ritualized rounds of
applause after speeches and all that which showed superiority of the Aryan race.
11. What steps did Hitler take to dismantle structures of democratic rule?
▪ A mysterious fire broke out in the German Parliament building in February.
 ▪ The Fire Decree of 28 February 1933 indefinitely suspended civic rights like
freedom of speech, press and assembly that had been guaranteed by the Weimar
constitution.
▪ Then Hitler turned on his archenemies, the Communists, most of who were
hurriedly packed off to the newly established concentration camps.
12. What were the provisions of the Enabling Act of 1933?
▪ This act established Dictatorship in Germany. It gave Hitler all powers to
sideline Parliament and rule by decree.
▪ All political parties and trade unions were banned except for Nazi Party and its
affiliates.
▪ The state established complete control over the economy, media, army and
judiciary.
13. ‘In foreign policy also, Hitler acquired quick success’. Explain.
Ans. He pulled out of the League of Nations in 1933, reoccupied the Rhineland in
1936, and integrated Austria and Germany in 1938 under the slogan, “One
people, One empire and One leader”. He then went on to wrest German
speaking Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia and gobbled up the entire country.
14. How did the Nazis establish a state where only Germans/ Aryans would
live?
The Nazis began to implement their dream by:
▪ Physically eliminating all those who were seen as ‘undesirable’ in their
empire.
▪ Under the Euthanasia Programme, many Germans who were considered
mentally or physically unfit were condemned to death.
▪ Jews were widely persecuted. Many Gypsies and blacks, Russians and
Poles were also killed.
▪ Many captured civilians from Poland and parts of Russia were forced to work
as slavelabour. They died simply through hard work and starvation.
15. ‘Jews remained the worst sufferers in Nazi Germany’. Why?
▪ Nazi hatred of Jews had a precursor in the traditional Christian hostility
towards Jews.
▪ They had been stereotyped as killers of Christ and usurers. Jews were
barred from owning land.
▪ They survived mainly through trade and money lending.
▪ They lived in separately marked areas called ghettos.
▪ They were often persecuted through periodic organised violence and
expulsion from land.
16. How was schooling system affected by Nazi ideology?
Ans. The Nazi ideology affected the schooling system in the following manner:
▪ Teachers who were Jews or seen as ‘politically unreliable’ were dismissed.
▪ Children were first segregated. Germans and Jews could not sit together or
play together.
▪ The undesirable children - Jews, physically handicapped, Gypsies – were
thrown out of schools.
▪ And finally, in 1940’s, they were taken to gas chambers.
▪ ‘Good German’ children were subjected to a process of Nazi schooling, a
prolonged period of ideological training.
▪ School textbooks were rewritten.
▪ Racial science was introduced to justify Nazi ideas of race.
▪ Stereotypes about Jews were popularized even through math classes.
17. ‘In my state, the mother is the most important citizen’. Was Hitler true to
his
words?
Ans. No, in Nazi Germany, all mothers were not treated equally.
▪ Women who bore racially undesirable children were punished and those who
produced racially desirable children were awarded.
▪ All ‘Aryan’ women who deviated from the prescribed code of conduct were
publicly condemned and severely punished.
▪ Those who maintained contact with Jews, Poles and Russians were also
punished.
▪ Many received jail sentences and lost civic honour as well as their husbands
and families for this ‘criminal offence’.
18. Name the countries which formed the Allied and the Axis Powers during
the
2nd World War.
Ans. The U.K., France, the USSR and the USA formed the Allied Powers. Germany,
Italy and Japan formed the Axis Powers.
19. What were the four things Hitler’s followers introduced which made him
very popular?
▪ The Red banners with Swastika.
▪ The Nazi salutes.
▪ The ritualized rounds of applause after speeches.
▪ Mass demonstrations and public meetings.
20. What was the basis of Nazi ideology?
▪ The theory of Evolution by Charles Darwin.
▪ Survival of the fittest by Herbert Spencer.
▪ Lebensraum or acquiring of new territories for settlements.

DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS
Q1. What are rights? Why do we need rights?
Ans: Rights are reasonable claims of persons recognized by society and sanctioned
by law.
 Rights are necessary for the sustenance of democracy.
 Rights protect minorities from the oppression of the majority.
 They protect people from the excesses of the legislature and executive.
Q2. What are Fundamental rights? List the fundamental rights provided in the
constitution.
Ans: Every democratic country grants its citizens some special rights (facilities) for
their progress and development. Some rights which are fundamental to our life are
called Fundamental rights. List of the Fundamental Rights:
 Right to equality.
 Right to freedom
 Right against exploitation.
 Right to freedom of religion.
 Cultural and educational rights.
 Right to Constitutional remedies.
Q3. What are the implications of the `Right to Equality’?
Ans: No person is above the law. The government shall not deny to any person in
India equality before law or the equal protection of the laws.
  The government shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds of
religion, caste, ethnicity, gender or place of birth.
 Every citizen shall have access to public places like shops, restaurants, hotels
and cinema halls or any place maintained by the government or dedicated to
the use of the general public.
 All citizens have equality of opportunity in matters relating to employment or
appointment to any position in the government.
 The practice of untouchability has been forbidden in any form.
Q4. “The right to freedom is a cluster of six freedoms”. Explain (or) Discuss
the
different freedoms granted under the right to freedom in the
constitution.
Ans: Freedom is the very essence of democracy. That is why our constitution has
guaranteed various kinds of individual and collective freedoms to the citizens of India. The
right to freedom is in fact a cluster comprising the following six freedoms.
 Freedom of speech and expression.
 To assemble peacefully and without arms.
 To form associations or unions.
 To move freely throughout the country.
 To reside and settle in any part of the country.
 To practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.
Q5. When and why was the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) set
up? What is its composition? Mention its powers.
Ans: NHRC was set up in 1993. It makes independent and credible inquiry into any
case of violation of human rights. It also enquires into any case of abetment of such
violation or negligence in controlling it by any government officer and takes other
general steps to promote human rights in the county. It includes retired officers,
judges and eminent citizens appointed by the President.
Its powers are –
 It presents its findings and recommendations to the government or intervenes
in the court on behalf of the victims.
 It has wide ranging powers to carry out its inquiry.
 Like any court it can summon witnesses, questions any governmental
officials, demand
any official paper, visit any prison for inspection or send its own team for ‘on
the spot’ inquiry.
Q6. Are reservations against the right to equality?
Ans: They are not. For equality does not mean giving everyone the same treatment,
no matter what they need. Equality means giving everyone an equal opportunity to
achieve whatever one is capable of. Sometimes it is necessary to give special
treatment to someone in order to ensure equal opportunity. This is what job
reservations do.
Reservations of this kind are not a violation of the Right to Equality.
Q7. What are the procedures to be followed when a person is arrested or
detained?
Ans: A person who is arrested and detained in custody will have to be informed of
the reasons for such an arrest and detention.
 A person who is arrested and detained shall be produced before the nearest
magistrate within a period of 24 hours of arrest.
  Such a person has the right to consult a lawyer or engage a lawyer for his
defence.
Q8. What are the three evils declared illegal in our Constitution? Which right
prevents these?
Ans: The constitution prohibits “trafficking of human beings.” Traffic here means
selling and buying of human beings, usually women, for immoral purposes.
 Second, our constitution also prohibits forced labour or begar in any form.
 Finally, the constitution also prohibits child labour. No one can employ a child
below the age of fourteen to work in a factory or mine or in any other
hazardous work, such as railways and ports.
 The right that prevents these is the right against exploitation.
Q9. “Freedom is not an unlimited licence to do what one wants”. Explain.
Ans: It means that you cannot exercise your freedom in such a manner that violates
others’ right to freedom.
 Your freedom should not cause public nuisance or disorder.
 You are free to do everything which injures no one.
Q10. Freedom of speech and expression is one of the essential features of
any democracy. Explain.
Ans: Our ideas and personality develop only when we are able to freely
communicate with others.
 You may disagree with a policy of the government or activities of an
association. You are free to criticise the government or the activities of the
association in your conversation with parents, friends and relatives.
 You may publish your views through pamphlets, magazines, newspapers,
paintings, poetry or songs.
Q11. Right to freedom of religion has certain limitations. Why?
Ans: * No person can do whatever he wants in the name of religion.
 For example, one cannot sacrifice animals or human beings as offering to
gods.
 Religious practices which treat women as inferior or those that infringe
women’s freedom are not allowed.
 No government educational institutions can give religious instruction.
 In educational institutions, managed by private bodies, no person shall be
compelled to take part in any religious instruction or to attend any religious
worship.
Q12. Why did Dr. Ambedkar refer to the Right to Constitutional Remedies, as
‘The Heart and Soul’ of our constitution?
Ans: He said so because this right is the guardian of other rights and makes other
rights effective.
 When any of our rights are violated, we can seek remedy through courts. If it
is a Fundamental Right, we can directly approach the High Courts or the
Supreme Court.
 There can be no law or action that violates the Fundamental Rights. If any
act of the Legislature or the Executive takes away or limits any of the
Fundamental Rights, it will be invalid.
Q13. What do you understand about the Rule of Law?
 The Rule of Law is the foundation of any democracy. No person is above the
law.
 This means that all the laws apply in the same manner to all, regardless of a
person’s status.
  There cannot be any distinction between a political leader, government official
and an ordinary citizen.
Q14. ‘The scope of rights is expanding’. Explain with examples.
Ans; Fundamental rights are the source of all rights. Our constitution and law offer a
wide range of rights. Over the years, the scope of rights has expanded.
 The Parliament has enacted a law giving Right to Information to the citizens.
This act was made under the fundamental right to freedom of thought and
expression. We have the right to seek information from government offices.
 The Constitution provides many more rights, which may not be Fundamental
Rights. For example, the Right to Property is not a Fundamental Right but it
is a constitutional right. Right to vote in elections is an important constitutional
right.
 Sometimes the expansion takes place in what is called human rights. These
are universal moral claims that may or may not have been recognized by
law.
 From time to time, the courts gave judgments to expand the scope of rights.
Certain rights like right to freedom of press, right to education etc. are derived
from fundamental rights. The right to life now includes the right to food.
 With the expansion of democracy all over the world, there is greater pressure
on governments to accept these claims.
Q15.List the limitations of the freedom of speech and expression.
 You cannot use this freedom to instigate violence against others.
 You cannot use it to incite people to rebel against the government.
 Neither can you use it to defame others by saying false and mean things that
cause damage to a person’s reputation.
Q16. Why are some rights called fundamental rights?
Ans: Some rights which are fundamental to our life are given a special status and are
known as fundamental rights. They are so called because:
 They are the basic rights guaranteed by the constitution.
 These rights protect and safeguard the citizens basic freedom and human
rights.
 They help people to grow as balanced and responsible citizens.
Q17. Explain the following:
a. Right to Freedom of Religion:
 Every person has the right to profess, practice and propagate the religion
he/she believes in.
 Every religious group is free to manage its religious affairs.
 The right to propagate one’s religion, however, does not mean that a person
has the right to compel another person to convert into his religion by means of
force, fraud, inducement or allurement.
 A person is free to change religion on his or her own will.
 We cannot do whatever we want in the name of religion. For example, one
cannot sacrifice animals or human beings as offerings to supernatural forces
or gods.
 Religious practices which treat women as inferior or those that infringe
women`s freedom are not allowed. For example, one cannot force a widowed
woman to shave head or wear white clothes.
b. Cultural and Educational Rights:
  The language, culture and religion of minorities needs special protection.
That is why the constitution specifies the cultural and educational rights of the
minorities.
 Any section of citizens with a distinct language or culture has the right to
conserve it.
 Admission to any educational institution maintained by government or
receiving
government-aid cannot be denied to any citizen on the grounds of
religion or language.
 All minorities have the right to establish and administer educational institutions
of their choice.
Q18. Mention the new rights given to the citizens under the South African
Constitution.
 Right to privacy, so that the citizens or their home cannot be searched, their
phones cannot be tapped, their communication cannot be opened.
 Right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing.
 Right to have access to adequate housing.
 Right to have access to health care services, sufficient food and water; no one
may be refused emergency medical treatment.