NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS
Questions within the Lesson
Q.1. Chapter one: Chile under Pinochet and Poland under Jaruzelsky were not democratic because ......
Chapter Two: A comprehensive definition of democracy includes ....
Chapter Three: Our constitution makers believed that fundamental rights were quite central to the constitution because ....
Chapter Four: Every adult citizen of India has the right to ... and to be ....
Chapter Five: If a law is against the Constitution, every citizen has the right to approach .....
Ans. Chapter One : Chile under Pinochet and Poland under Jaruzelsky were not democratic because they did not grant freedom of speech and expression to its people and did not hold free and fair elections regularly.
Chapter Two : A comprehensive definition of democracy includes a government of the people, elected periodically by universal adult franchise through free and fair elections. The will of the people is supreme in a democracy.
Chapter Three : Our Constitution makers believed that fundamental rights were quite central to the constitution because they were committed to universal adult franchise, right to freedom and equality and to protecting the rights of the minorities.
Chapter Four : Every adult citizen of India has the right to vote and to be elected.
Chapter Five : If a law is against the constitution, every citizen has the right to approach the courts.
Q.2. If you were a Serb, would you support what Milosevic did in Kosovo? Do you think this project of establishing Serb dominance was good for the Serbs?
Ans. I would oppose it. This kind of eminence would recoil on the Serbs themselves as it would
make them very unpopular. It did. The Albanians overthrew Milosevic and he died in a prison.
He would always be remembered for his brutality and terror.
Q.3. What are the examples of elected governments not protecting or even attacking the rights of their own citizens? Why do they do that?
Ans. Examples of Pinochet in Chile; Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Milosevic in Kosovo, Saddam Hussein in Iraq. They do that so that they can remain in power by terrorising the minorities and their
Q.4. Everyone knows that the rich can have better lawyers in the courts. What is the point in talking about equality before law?
Ans. The lawyers, however brilliant, do not decide the case. It is the judge who does so, and so far judiciary has shown that it is impartial and gives fair justice.
Q.5. Should the freedom of expression be extended to those who are spreading wrong and narrow-minded ideas? Should they be allowed to confuse the public?
Ans. No. They should be warned or punished. Freedom of expression does not allow one to encroach on other people’s freedom or hurt their feelings, create confusion or conflict.
Q.6. The constitution does not give people their religion. Then how can it give people the right own people to practice their religion?
Ans. Our constitution does not favour any religion. It is secular. The constitution is not concerned with the relation between human beings and God. It is only concerned with relations among human beings, so it has given the people the right to practice, profess, propagate their religion.
It only safeguards that this freedom is not misused.
Q.7. Can the President of India stop you from approaching the Supreme Court to secure your fundamental rights?
Ans. No. It is the fundamental right granted by the constitution. The President has to abide by the laws of the constitution.
Q.8. Are these rights only for adults? Which of these rights are available to children?
Ans. (i) Compulsory education given free to every child till the age of 14. That is school education is compulsory.
(ii) Child labour is not allowed by the constitution. Children under the age of 14 cannot be employed in dangerous occupations. Example, mines, factories, etc.