Political Science: CBSE Sample Question Paper with Solutions - 3 | Sample Papers for Class 11 Humanities - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

General Instructions : 
(i) All questions are compulsory
(ii) The question paper has 34 questions in all. All questions are compulsory.  
(iii) Marks are indicated against each question.  
(iv) Questions from serial number 1 to 20 of 1 mark each. The answers to these questions should not exceed 20 words each.  
(v) Questions from serial number 21 to 23 are of 2 marks each. Answer of these questions should not exceed 50 words each.  
(vi) Questions from serial number 24 to 27 are of 4 marks each. The answers to these questions should not exceed 100 words each.
(vii) Question from serial number 28 to 31 are of 5 marks each. The answers to these questions should not exceed 120 words each.  
(viii) Question number 32 to 34 are of 6 marks each. The answers to these questions should not exceed 170 words each.

Q.1. List the groups into which legal cases can be separated.

There are two main types of cases: Civil Cases and Criminal Cases.

Q.2. Define the concept of local government.

The Local Government refers to the government at the village and district level which handles the everyday issues faced by the citizens.

Q.3. What are some common misconceptions about the country?

There are several widely held misconceptions regarding what constitutes a nation, including the presence of shared history, beliefs, political ideals, identity, and territory.

Q.4. Define the concept of rights.

Rights can be defined as the promises and assurances made to the citizens of a country to enable them to live a dignified and socially acceptable life.

Q.5. What is the philosophy underlying "Long Walk to Freedom"?

The book chronicles the resistance of the Black Majority in South Africa against the segregating policies of the White Minority. It is an autobiographical account of Nelson Mandela's fight against Apartheid.

Q.6. Mention any two natural human rights.

There are three fundamental natural rights, which include the right to life, the right to liberty, and the right to property.

Q.7. What did Rabindranath Tagore value more: humanity or patriotism?

According to Rabindranath Tagore, humanity should be prioritized over patriotism as he believed that patriotism is not the ultimate source of spiritual refuge.

Q.8. Name any two qualifications for a person to be appointed as a High Court Judge.

Two qualifications for a person to be appointed as a Judge of High Court are:
(i) The person should be a citizen of India.
(ii) The person should have served as an advocate or a distinguished jurist for at least ten years.

Q.9. Describe the primary function of the State Finance Commission.

The primary function of the State Finance Commission is to distribute funds among local government bodies operating in rural areas.

Q.10. Which is India's highest court of justice?

In India, the Supreme Court is the ultimate judicial authority and the highest court of justice.

Q.11. In India, who has the authority to amend the Fundamental Rights?

The Parliament of India has the authority to amend the Fundamental Rights enshrined in the Constitution of the country.

Q.12. What exactly do you mean by "Direct Democracy"?

A form of democracy in which citizens actively engage in the daily decision-making process and contribute to the administration of the government.

Q.13. What is the significance of Articles 12 to 32 of the Indian Constitution?

The Fundamental Rights of the Indian Constitution are enshrined in these articles.

Q.14. Describe the Universal Adult Franchise.

A system that guarantees universal suffrage, allowing all citizens above a certain age to vote regardless of their religion, caste, race, education, gender, or income.

Q.15. What happens if a Panchayat is disbanded before the end of its term?

In the event of the dissolution of a Panchayat before the completion of its five-year term, new elections must be conducted within six months of the dissolution.

Q.16. Define the term constitution.

The Constitution comprises a fundamental set of principles and rules that define the structure and governance of a state or an organization.

Q.17. In 1989, which amendment was made to India's Constitution?

In 1989, the 61st Constitutional Amendment was passed, which lowered the minimum voting age from 21 years to 18 years.

Q.18. What was the French Revolution's slogan?

The three core principles of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.

Q.19. In India, how many high courts are there?

In India, there exist a total of 25 High Courts.

Q.20. What is a state.

A community residing in a demarcated geographical region, governed by a structured authority.

Q.21. Explain why India is a secular country.

India is a secular country because it does not have an official state religion, and the government treats all religions equally. The Indian Constitution guarantees its citizens the freedom of religion, the right to profess, practice and propagate any religion, and the right to manage religious affairs.
The Indian government recognizes the importance of religious diversity and aims to protect and promote the rights of individuals to practice their religion of choice. The government does not discriminate against any particular religion, nor does it promote any religion. Moreover, India has a multi-religious society where people from different faiths coexist, which makes it imperative for the country to maintain its secular character.

Q.22. Explain why the Constitution is necessary.

The Constitution is necessary for several reasons, including:
Establishing a framework for government: The Constitution provides a framework for how the government should operate and how power should be distributed among different branches and levels of government. It outlines the roles and responsibilities of the President, Congress, and the judiciary, and establishes a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
Protecting individual rights: The Constitution includes the Bill of Rights, which outlines the fundamental rights of citizens, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. It also provides protections against government abuse, such as unreasonable searches and seizures, and ensures due process and equal protection under the law.

Q.23. What exactly do you mean by equality before the law?

Article 14 of the Indian Constitution prohibits discrimination based on various factors such as caste, gender, race, religion, and ensures that all citizens are equal before the law. It guarantees equal protection to every citizen within the country's boundaries.

Q.24. Describe the developmental characteristics.

The characteristics of development can be summarized as follows:
Sustainable: Development should be sustainable, meaning it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It should balance economic growth with environmental protection and social equity.
Inclusive: Development should be inclusive, meaning it benefits all individuals and groups in society. It should reduce inequalities and provide opportunities for marginalized communities to participate in and benefit from development processes.
Participatory: Development should be participatory, meaning it involves active engagement and participation of all stakeholders, including individuals, civil society organizations, and the private sector. It should be transparent and accountable to ensure that the voices and needs of all stakeholders are heard and considered.
Multidimensional: Development should be multidimensional, meaning it goes beyond economic growth and includes social, cultural, and political dimensions. It should aim to improve overall well-being, including health, education, and governance.
Development should be sustainable, inclusive, participatory, and multidimensional to ensure that it benefits all individuals and promotes long-term well-being for all members of society.

Q.25. Please provide the full names of the NPT and CTBT.

The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), signed in 1968 by the USA, USSR, UK, and other countries, was not signed by India due to its discriminatory nature. Similarly, India also refused to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) because it discriminated between nuclear and non-nuclear weapon states.

Q.26. Which of Parliament's two Houses is known as the Permanent House, and why?

The Rajya Sabha is known as the Permanent House of Parliament because it is not subject to dissolution. Members of Rajya Sabha hold their position for a term of six years, with one-third of the members retiring every two years.

Q.27. Why is Article 21 of the Indian Constitution so significant?

Article 21 of the Indian Constitution guarantees the Right to Life and Personal Liberty for all citizens of India, which cannot be taken away except through a specific procedure established in the interest of the welfare of the state.

Q.28. Read the passage and answer the questions that follows:
‘Equal protection by the State to all religions’. This is how Nehru responded when a student asked him to spell out what secularism meant in independent India. He wanted a secular state to be one that “protects all religions, but  does  not  favour  one  at  the  expense  of  others  and  does  not  itself  adopt  any  religion  as  the  state  religion”.  Nehru was the philosopher of Indian secularism. Nehru did not practise any religion, nor did he believe in God. But for him secularism did not mean hostility to religion. In that sense, Nehru was very different from Ataturk in Turkey. At the same time, Nehru was not in favour of a complete separation between religion and state. A secular state can interfere in matters of religion to bring about social reform. Nehru himself played a key role in enacting laws  abolishing  caste  discrimination,  dowry  and  sati,  and  extending  legal  rights  and  social  freedom  to  Indian  women. While Nehru was prepared to be flexible on many counts, there was one thing on which he was always firm and uncompromising. Secularism for him meant a complete opposition to communalism of all kinds. Nehru was particularly severe in his criticism of the communalism of the majority community, which posed a threat to national unity. Secularism for him was not only a matter of principles, it was also the only guarantee of the unity and integrity of India.

(i) State the position of Pt. Nehru as a religious man.
(a) Philosopher
(b) Lawyer
(c) Communist
(d) Socialist

Correct Answer is option a.

(ii) Nehru was not in favour of a complete separation between:
(a) rights and freedom
(b) men and women
(c) minority and majority
(d) religion and state

Correct Answer is option d.

(iii) Who stated that a secular state is one that protects all religions?
(a) Ambedkar
(b) Nehru
(c) Ataturk
(d) Gandhi

Correct Answer is option b.

(iv) As per Nehru _________  guarantees of the unity and integrity of India.
(a) Discrimination
(b) Criticism
(c) Communalism
(d) Secularism

Correct Answer is option a.

Q.29. Read the passage and answer the questions that follows:
The Indian bureaucracy today is an enormously complex system. It consists of the All-India Services, State Services, employees  of  the  local  governments,  and  technical  and  managerial  staff  running  public  sector  undertakings.  Makers of our Constitution were aware of the importance of the non-partisan and professional bureaucracy.They  also  wanted  the  members  of  the  civil  services  or  bureaucracy  to  be  impartially  selected  on  the  basis  of  merit. So, the Union Public Service Commission has been entrusted with the task of conducting the process of recruitment  of  the  civil  servants  for  the  government  of  India.  Similar  public  service  commissions  are  provided  for the States also. Members of the Public Service Commissions are appointed for a fixed term. Their removal or suspension is subject to a thorough enquiry made by a judge of the Supreme Court.

(i) How does bureaucracy get rid of itself?

Members of the bureaucracy are appointed for a specific duration and can only be removed through an inquiry initiated by a Supreme Court Judge in India.

(ii) Explain bureaucracy.

The definition of bureaucracy pertains to the most high-ranking personnel within the government.

(iii) How is bureaucracy appointed?

The appointments of individuals to the bureaucracy are made by the Union Public Service Commission and relevant State Service Commissions through the conduction of examinations.

(iv) What is the composition of the Indian bureaucracy?

The structure of the Indian bureaucracy comprises victorious candidates of All-India Services and State Services, local government personnel, and technical and managerial employees of public sector organizations.

Q.30. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follows:

(i) Who do you think won this balancing act?

Eventually, Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana were both approved and acknowledged as the National Song and National Anthem, respectively. Both songs are held in the same high regard by all citizens of the country. The acceptance of these songs by Indians illustrates that the people of India embrace the diversity within the nation.

(ii) Can you tell me what each of these groups stands for?

The depicted groups in this scenario depict various segments of society classified according to religion, culture, caste, and region. These groups possessed differing preferences and were representative of two opposing factions of nationalists, namely the liberals and radicals.

Q.31. Read the passage and answer the questions that follows:
Broadly,  two  types  of  disputes  keep  recurring.  One  is  the  border  dispute  and  other  is  river  dispute.  States  have certain claims over territories belonging to neighbouring States. Though language is the basis of defining boundaries of the States, often border areas would have populations speaking more than one language. So, it is not easy to resolve this dispute merely on the basis of linguistic majority. One of the long standing border disputes is the dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka over the city of Belgaum. Manipur and Nagaland too, have a long-standing border dispute. The carving out of Haryana from the erstwhile State of Punjab has led to dispute between the two States not only over border areas, but over the capital city of Chandigarh. This city today houses the capital of both these States. In 1985, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi reached an understanding with the leadership of Punjab. According to this understanding, Chandigarh was to be handed over to Punjab, but this has not happened yet.
(i) Which city is the source of contention between Maharashtra and Karnataka?

There is a contention between Maharashtra and Karnataka regarding the city of Belgaum.

(ii) What was the solution proposed?

The suggested resolution was to transfer Chandigarh to the state of Punjab.

(iii) What are the two most frequent points of contention between the states?

The prevalent areas of conflict typically involve border disputes and allocation of river water.

(iv) Which leader tried to resolve matter of dispute between Punjab and Haryana?

Mr. Rajiv Gandhi.

(v) What is the reason, in your opinion, for the delay in the handover?

The transfer did not take place as there was a change in government prior to its execution, and the matter subsequently became postponed due to political upheaval in the country following the tragic assassination of Mr. Rajiv Gandhi.

Q.32. What are the characteristics of a good citizen?

A good citizen is characterized by the following traits:
(i) Being aware of their responsibilities towards the State and their fellow citizens.
(ii) Casting their vote in the best interest of the country.
(iii) Exercising their right to vote without being influenced by religious or caste loyalties.
(iv) Investing in social welfare activities within the community.
(v) Protecting and preserving public property.
(vi) Possessing a strong moral character.
(vii) Obeying the laws of the State.
(viii) Protesting peacefully.
(ix) Demonstrating self-discipline.
(x) Showing respect for their nation in any national or international forum.
(xi) Refraining from spreading harmful rumors or news.
(xii) Honoring the national ideals.

OR

Discuss briefly some of the new rights claims being made in our country today, such as tribal peoples' rights to protect their habitat and way of life, or children's rights to be free from bonded labour.

(i) The recognition of the rights of indigenous people to protect their way of life and habitat has emerged with the concept of ensuring individuals' security and dignity while preserving their traditional culture and access to resources.
(ii) This change in societal beliefs has resulted in providing special provisions or rights to protect indigenous cultures.
(iii) Indigenous people are granted the right to own a portion of the forest land to which they belong.
(iv) They are provided with special opportunities in education, employment, and healthcare to ensure they have an equal footing with the rest of society.
(v) Protecting the rights of children against bonded labour is crucial in preventing their exploitation and ensuring a safe and secure childhood.
(vi) The right to education is a recently granted constitutional right in India.
(vii) This right helps to prevent the violation of children's fundamental right to education.
(viii) The right to information is a newly established right that empowers citizens to access information about the status or procedures for the services they are entitled to receive.

Q.33. Is it true that politics serves the public good?

It is accurate to state that politics serves the common good, which evolves as democracy grows. The common good is both a goal and a means to achieve that goal, and it is essential for any welfare state. In developed economies, the state is responsible for pursuing the common good, while in developing economies, it is seen as a way to reach the path of a welfare state. Politics serves the common good by bridging class divides rather than exacerbating them. Therefore, it seeks to find a common good that benefits all and promotes the common good. Politics begins by establishing social order and ends by creating a state that serves the good of everyone in society.

OR

What are the different aspects of liberty?

The concept of liberty is complex and multifaceted, and there are several different elements that contribute to it. Some of the key elements of liberty are:
Individual autonomy: The ability of individuals to make their own choices and decisions without undue interference or coercion.
Personal freedom: The right to pursue one's own interests and preferences, including freedom of speech, religion, and association.
Equality before the law: The principle that all individuals should be treated equally under the law, regardless of their background, social status, or beliefs.
Limited government: The idea that government power should be restrained and that individuals should be protected from government overreach.
Rule of law: The principle that the law should apply equally to everyone, including government officials, and that no one is above the law.
Property rights: The right to own and control one's property, including physical possessions, intellectual property, and land.
Economic freedom: The ability of individuals to pursue economic opportunities and engage in trade and commerce without undue government intervention.
These elements of liberty are closely interconnected and mutually reinforcing, and they form the foundation of a free and democratic society.

Q.34. Examine the statement, "Political liberty cannot be imagined in the absence of economic liberty."

The statement, "Political liberty cannot be imagined without economic liberty," highlights the interdependence between political and economic freedoms. Political liberty refers to the ability of individuals to participate in the political process, express their opinions, and hold their government accountable. Economic liberty, on the other hand, refers to the freedom of individuals to engage in economic activities, such as trade, investment, and entrepreneurship.
The argument is that political liberty cannot exist without economic liberty because economic freedom provides the necessary conditions for individuals to exercise their political rights. Without economic liberty, individuals may not have the resources or opportunities to participate in the political process or hold their government accountable. For example, if a government restricts economic freedom, such as limiting access to markets or imposing high taxes, it may limit the ability of individuals to finance political campaigns or engage in political activities.
Furthermore, economic liberty is essential for promoting individual autonomy and self-determination, which are key components of political freedom. If individuals are not able to pursue their economic interests or support themselves and their families, they may be less likely to engage in political activities or challenge their government.
In conclusion, the statement "Political liberty cannot be imagined without economic liberty" suggests that political and economic freedoms are intertwined and mutually reinforcing. Without economic liberty, political freedom may be compromised, and without political liberty, economic freedom may be restricted. Therefore, the protection of both political and economic freedoms is crucial for creating a free and democratic society.

OR

Discuss the three justice principles briefly. Give examples for each.

The three principles of justice are:
Distributive justice: This principle refers to the fair distribution of resources and benefits in society. It suggests that individuals should receive a fair share of goods and services based on their needs, contributions, and abilities. For example, a progressive tax system, in which those who earn more pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes, is an example of distributive justice.
Retributive justice: This principle focuses on punishment for wrongdoing and the restoration of the social order. It suggests that individuals who have violated the law or harmed others should be punished in proportion to their offense. For example, a person who commits a crime may be sentenced to a term in prison or required to pay restitution to their victim.
Corrective justice: This principle emphasizes the restoration of relationships between individuals who have been harmed and those who have caused harm. It suggests that individuals should take responsibility for their actions, seek to repair the harm they have caused, and work to prevent future harm. For example, a restorative justice program may bring together a victim and their offender to have a conversation and work towards repairing the harm that was done.
Each of these principles of justice is essential for creating a fair and just society. Distributive justice ensures that resources and benefits are distributed fairly, retributive justice provides a system of punishment for wrongdoing, and corrective justice emphasizes the importance of repairing harm and restoring relationships. By upholding these principles, societies can work towards creating a more just and equitable world for all individuals.