Political Science: CBSE Sample Question Paper with Solutions - 5 | 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.  Write the names of two ceremonial executives?

In a Parliamentary Republic, such as India, the head of state may be a President, while in a Constitutional Monarchy, like the United Kingdom, the head of state could be a Monarch.

Q.2. Describe two aspects of the Right Against Exploitation.

The Right against exploitation encompasses two key features, namely the prevention of human trafficking and forced labor, and the prohibition of hazardous employment of children.

Q.3. Name two Panchayati Raj System organs.

The Panchayati Raj System is composed of three organs, which are the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, and Zila Parishad.

Q.4. Describe the term 'Swaraj'.

Swaraj is a term that combines the words "Swa" (meaning self) and "Raj" (meaning rule). This term encompasses both the concept of self-rule and the idea of governing oneself.

Q.5. Why is liberty so important?

The principle of liberty enables individuals to fully develop their creativity, sensibilities, and capabilities.

Q.6. What exactly is a citizen?

A person who is a member of a state, enjoys civil and political rights, and participates in the governance of a country is known as a citizen.

Q.7. Define the concept of negative liberty.

The concept of "Negative Liberty" aims to establish and protect a realm in which individuals are invulnerable and free to do, be, or achieve anything they desire.

Q.8. Which article of the Indian Constitution prohibits religious discrimination?

Article 15 of the Indian Constitution prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion.

Q.9. In India, how does one obtain citizenship?

Indian citizenship can be obtained through various means, such as birth, descent, registration, naturalization, or incorporation of territory.

Q.10. Mention any two factors that can cause people to be displaced.

Individuals may face displacement due to factors such as wars, persecution, famine, or other causes.

Q.11. When is the government permitted to intervene in religious matters?

The government may intervene in religious affairs in order to eradicate certain social ills.

Q.12. Define the term State Legislature.

It consists of the Governor of the state and the legislative houses.

Q.13. What are the two branches of government established by the Indian Constitution?

The Indian Constitution establishes two distinct levels of government - one at the national level known as the Union or Central Government, and another at the state level for each individual state, known as the State Government.

Q.14. What is the President of India's term?

The tenure of the President of India is five years.

Q.15. Who chooses the Mayor?

The Mayor, who is the formal head, is elected by the Members of the Municipal Corporation.

Q.16. Who chooses India's Vice President?

Members of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha are involved in the election of the Vice-President of India.

Q.17. Why can't secularism and religious tolerance coexist?

Religious tolerance should not be confused with secularism because tolerance can still allow for one religious group to dominate over others.

Q.18. Mention any two ways through which national identity is expressed.

Symbols such as a flag, national anthem, national language, and ceremonial practices are used to express the national identity.

Q.19. Which social evil has the greatest impact on developing countries?

There are several social evils that impact developing nations, such as poverty, corruption, inequality, lack of education, inadequate healthcare, and environmental degradation.

Q.20. In which article of the constitution is the Right to property included?

The Right to property is recognized as a legal right under Article 300-A.

Q.21. What distinguishes the position of head of state in the United States from that of India?

The United States has a presidential form of democratic government, with the President as the actual head of state. In contrast, India has a parliamentary form of democratic government, with the Prime Minister and their Cabinet serving as the real executives, while the President holds a nominal role as head of state.

Q.22. What are the main characteristics of the Indian Constitution?

The Constitution of India possesses several significant characteristics, including being a written document, having flexibility, emphasizing the supremacy of the judiciary, featuring a bicameral legislature, and delineating the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Center and the States.

Q.23. Who elects Legislative Assembly members?

The state is divided into constituencies, each of which can elect only one candidate. Using Universal Adult Franchise, all eligible voters cast their votes to elect a representative from the various candidates standing in their constituency.

Q.24. What is your opinion on whether affirmative action is effective in reducing social inequalities in society, and why?

Affirmative action is an effective approach for minimizing social inequalities, and there are various measures that can be taken to implement it, such as providing special reservation and protection for marginalized groups like SCs, STs, and OBCs, offering specific quotas to enhance the status of women in society, and granting scholarships and other support to disadvantaged members of the community.

Q.25. What are the protections available to rights?

There are several crucial safeguards in place to protect the rights and interests of the people of India, including the provision of the Right to constitutional remedies in fundamental rights to address grievances, a free and honest press to safeguard against despotic government, the distribution of power between the central and state governments, the ability of individuals to challenge dishonest arrangements, and the establishment of the rule of law through the Constitution of India, which guarantees equality before the law and equal protection under the law.

Q.26. What exactly are Fundamental Rights?

The Fundamental Rights in India differ from the American Bill of Rights in that they are not absolute in nature. The Indian Constitution has placed restrictions on these rights, and Parliament has the power to impose further limitations as necessary to maintain law and order or promote the public interest. However, the state cannot take away these rights except in cases of national emergencies. While some rights, such as the Right to life and security, are available to all residents of India, others, such as the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression, are only available to Indian citizens.

Q.27. What is economic justice? List some characteristics of economic justice.

Economic justice aims to offer every citizen an equal opportunity to obtain their basic needs or means of subsistence.
(i) This means that all citizens of the society should receive the minimum basic necessities, and there should be no economic exploitation of anyone.
(ii) Workers and clerks who perform the same work should receive the same wages in factories and offices, respectively.
(iii) It implies that every individual should work according to their potential and earn enough income to fulfill their essential requirements.

Q.28. Read the passage and answer the questions that follows:
Federalism does not consist of a set of fixed principles, which are applied, to different historical situations. Rather, federalism as a principle of government has evolved differently in different situations. American federalism – one of the first major attempts to build a federal polity – is different from German or Indian federalism. But there are also a few key ideas and concepts associated with federalism.
(i) Explain three key ideas and concepts related to federalism.

(a) Federalism is an institutional mechanism that accommodates two sets of polities, one at the regional and one at the national levels.
(b) People, too, have two sets of identities and loyalties.
(c) The specifics of this dual system of government are usually spelled out in a written constitution, which is considered supreme and serves as the source of power for both sets of government.

(ii) What factors have contributed to the evolution of federalism?

The evolution of federalism has been shaped by various factors, including historical, political, and social factors, as well as the changing needs and demands of society.

(iii) What were the first significant attempts to establish a federal polity?

The first major attempt to build a federal polity was the creation of the United States of America in 1787, through the adoption of the United States Constitution.

Q.29. Examine the image below and respond to the questions that follow:

(i) What is the cartoon's significance?

The cartoon implies that in India, even if the opposition is small, the ruling party still values their opinions and makes decisions that benefit democracy and the lawful governance of the country.

(ii) These ruling party members are attempting to listen to the 'tiny' opposition. Was this the result of our political system?

For a long time in India, even when there was only one dominant political party in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, the electoral system still valued the opinions of the few opposition representatives and nominated members in the Rajya Sabha. Although the opposition was small in number, their cumulative effect was still present in influencing the decisions of the ruling party.

Q.30. Read the passage and answer the questions that follows:
Besides, as we saw in the section on jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, in the case of federal relations too, the Supreme Court can use the review powers if a law is inconsistent with the distribution of powers laid down by the  Constitution.  Suppose,  the  central  government  makes  a  law,  which  according  to  some  States,  concerns  a  subject from the State list. Then the States can go to the Supreme Court and if the court agrees with them, it would declare that the law is unconstitutional. In this sense, the review power of the Supreme Court includes power to review legislations on the ground that they violate fundamental rights or on the ground that they violate the federal distribution of powers. The review power extends to the laws passed by State legislatures also.
(i) What are the powers of the Supreme Court of India during a judicial review?
(a) Review the legislation
(b) Accept the legislation
(c) Decline the legislation
(d) Promote the legislation

Correct Answer is option a.

(ii) The  Supreme  Court  can  use  the  review  powers  if  a  law  is  ____________with  the  distribution  of  powers  laid  down by the Constitution.
(a) distorted
(b) favourable
(c) in accordance
(d) inconsistent

Correct Answer is option d.

(iii) The judicial review empowers the _____________ of India to examine whether the provisions of the legislation passed by the legislature are in line with the provisions of the Constitution of India or not.
(a) Supreme Court
(b) President
(c) Prime Minister
(d) District Court

Correct Answer is option a.

Q.31. Read the passage and answer the questions that follows:
Though  freedom  is  guaranteed  in  our  Constitution,  we  encounter  new  interpretations  all  the  time.  This  is  a  bit  like  playing  a  game;  as  we  play  chess  or  cricket,  we  learn  how  to  interpret  the  rules.  In  the  process,  we  discover  new  and  broader  meanings  of  the  game  itself.  Similarly,  the  fundamental  rights  guaranteed  by  our  Constitution  are  continually  being  reinterpreted  in  response  to  new  circumstances.  For  instance,  the  right  to  life  has  been  interpreted  by  the  Courts  to  include  the  right  to  a  livelihood.  The  right  to  information  has  been  granted through a new law. Societies frequently encounter new challenges which generate new interpretations. The fundamental rights guaranteed by our Constitution have been amended and expanded over time through judicial interpretations and government policies which are designed to address new problems.
(i) How has the right to freedom been designed to deal with new issues?

The right to freedom has been created to tackle new issues, which can be addressed through government policies or judicial interpretations.

(ii) What is the right that includes the right to earn a living?

The right to life.

Q.32. Distinguish between the major approaches to establishing global peace.

There are three main approaches to achieving global peace:
The first approach prioritizes sovereignty and advocates for fair competition and a balance of power between states to prevent conflicts. This approach acknowledges the importance of state sovereignty and competition among them as a reality in promoting peace.
The second approach focuses on economic integration and interdependence, leading to political unification. This approach believes that economic and social cooperation between states can promote international understanding and peace.
The third approach envisions the state system as temporary, with the emergence of a global community surpassing the state system to maintain world peace. The rise of people's movements and multinational corporations is seen as a step towards this direction, and the process of globalization has contributed to reducing the influence of the state and diluting the concept of sovereignty.

OR

What are the key points concerning the environmental cost of development?

The following are the ecological consequences of development:
(i) The current development model relies heavily on energy consumption, leading to environmental degradation.
(ii) Fossil fuel consumption to meet energy needs results in pollution and depletion of natural resources.
(iii) Emission of pollutant gases from industries has contributed to global warming.
(iv) The melting of polar icebergs due to global warming could cause flooding and submerge low-lying areas like Bangladesh and Maldives.
(v) Developmental projects have caused deforestation, leading to the greenhouse effect, scarcity of firewood, medicinal herbs, and food, particularly impacting poor communities.
(vi) Rivers and ponds are drying up, and the groundwater level is decreasing.

Q.33. Describe Objective Resolution?

The Objective Resolution was a set of guiding principles proposed to the Constituent Assembly in 1946 by the Nationalist Movement. It outlined important points such as India's sovereignty as a republic, the formation of a union between British Territories in India, princely states, and other regions willing to join, and the administrative independence of states except where the Constitution mandated central interference. The Resolution also emphasized equality for all citizens, social welfare, the upliftment of minorities and socio-economically disadvantaged classes, and the ultimate power of the people. Additionally, it stressed the need for laws to protect the territorial integrity of the country's land, sea, and air.

OR

Why is it necessary for a country's constitution to clearly define powers and responsibilities?

It is crucial for a nation to establish a demarcation that serves the following purposes:
(i) Preventing the concentration of power in one entity.
(ii) Providing a framework for the establishment of a government.
(iii) Regulating the unauthorized expansion of institutions.
(iv) Assigning decision-making authority to the appropriate entity.
(v) Acknowledging the autonomy of the judiciary.
(vi) Defining the relationship between various branches of government.

Q.34. Explain the benefits and drawbacks of nationalism.

Advantages of nationalism include:
(i) Encouraging individual independence and autonomy among citizens.
(ii) Providing opportunities for cultural development and fostering a sense of pride in one's heritage.
(iii) Creating healthy competition on the international stage, leading to improvements in quality of life and social well-being.
(iv) Instilling a belief that the nation is of utmost importance.
(v) Promoting self-sufficiency in times of crisis.
(vi) Fostering a desire to free the country from colonial or external rule.

Disadvantages of nationalism include:
(i) Exaggeration of facts and information.
(ii) Misuse of authority, which exacerbates the gap between the rich and poor.
(iii) Leading to international conflicts and wars due to a desire to expand nationalistic goals beyond the nation's borders.

OR

Mention a provision of the Indian Constitution that demonstrates the secular nature of the Indian state.

The Constitution of India includes several provisions related to religious freedom and equality, such as:
(i) The Preamble to the Constitution declares India as a secular state.
(ii) Article 14 ensures that everyone is equal before the law, regardless of their religion.
(iii) Article 15 prohibits discrimination based on religion in any public places.
(iv) Article 16 prohibits discrimination based on religion in admission to educational institutions.
(v) Article 17 declares Untouchability as a punishable offense.
(vi) Article 25 grants freedom to practice any religion.
(vii) Article 26 allows for the opening and running of educational institutions pertaining to religion by the community.
(viii) Article 27 states that followers of one religion cannot be forced to pay taxes for the pursuit of another religion.
(ix) Article 28 prohibits religious instruction in state-managed schools.