POLITICAL SCIENCE
CH-5 DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS
1. What does the constitution specify about the cultural and educational rights of the
minorities?
Ans. The constitution specifies the cultural and educational rights of the minorities in the
following ways:
a) Any section of the citizens with a distinct language or culture has a right to conserve it.
b) Admission to any educational institution maintained by government or receiving
government aid cannot be denied to any citizen on the ground of religion or language.
c) All minorities have the right to establish and administer educational institution of their
choices.
2. What are the main features of 'Right to Equality'?
Ans. The main features of 'Right to Equality' are:
a) The constitution says that the government shall not deny to any person in India equality
before law or the equal protection of the laws. This means that the laws apply in the same
manner to all, regardless of a person's status, i.e., every citizen of India is subjected to the
same law e.g. from the Prime Minister to a villager. This is known as the rule of law.
b) The government shall not discriminate against any citizen on the grounds of religion,
caste, ethnicity, gender, or place of birth. Every citizen shall have equal access to public
places like shops, restaurants, hotels, and cinema halls etc.
c) All citizens get equal opportunity in matters relating to employment or appointment to
any position in the government. No citizen shall be discriminated against or made
ineligible for employment on these grounds.
3. Why has constitution made untouchability a punishable offence?
Ans. Untouchability has been made a punishable offence by the constitution because:
a) The constitution mentions untouchability as an extreme form of social discrimination and
clearly directs the government to put an end to it.
b) It does not only mean refusal to touch a person belonging to certain castes. It is a belief or
social practice which looks down upon certain castes on account of their birth with certain
caste labels.
c) Such a practice denies such people interaction with others or access to public places as
equal citizens. So, constitution has declared untouchability as a punishable offence.
4. Explain briefly the Right to Constitutional remedies. How this right could be enforced?
a) The fundamental rights in the constitution are important because they are enforceable. We
have the right to seek the enforcement of their rights. This is called the Right to Constitutional
Remedies. This itself is a fundamental right. This right was rightly called the heart and soul of
the constitution by Dr BR Ambedkar. It makes other rights effective.
b) Sometimes our rights may be violated by fellow citizens, private bodies or by the
government. When any of our rights is violated, we can seek remedy through the supreme
court or high court of a state.
c) The supreme court and high court have the power to issue directions, orders, or writs for the
enforcement of fundamental rights. They can also award compensation on the victims and
punishment to the violators.
5. Mention any three constitutional provisions that make India a secular state.
Ans. In India, people follow different religions. So, the constitution makers made provisions for India
to be a secular country. The constitutional provisions that make India secular are:
a) The constitution provides to all its citizens the freedom to profess, practice and propagate any
religion of their choice.
b) There is no official religion for India. Unlike Sri Lanka, where Buddhism is state religion and
Pakistan which has Islam as state religion.
c) There shall be no religious instruction in the government educational institutions.
6. Why have new rights been added to fundamental rights from time to time? Give a few
examples.
Ans. New rights been added to fundamental rights because as time moves, societies develop or new
constitution is made. So, to accommodate the needs of the present generation the scope of rights has
been expanded over the years. For example:
(a) Right to education has become a fundamental right for Indian citizens.
(b) Right to property is not a fundamental right but it is a legal or constitutional right.
(c) Right to freedom of press is also another right which is an expansion of the right to
freedom.
