AHSEC Class 11 Political Science Chapter 2 Answer 2025 | HS First Year Political Science Chapter 2 Question Answer | HS 1st Year Question Answer Bank | 2025 ||English Medium||

 Chapter 2

Rights in the Indian Constitution

Exercise Answers 

1. Write true or false against each of these statements:

a) A Bill of Rights lays down the rights enjoyed by the people of a country.

Ans: True

b) A Bill of Rights protects the liberties of an individual.

Ans: True

c) Every country of the world has a Bill of Rights.

Ans: False

d) The Constitution guarantees remedy against violation of Rights.

Ans: True

2. Which of the following is the best description of Fundamental Rights?

a) All the rights an individual should have.

b) All the rights given to citizens by law.

c) The rights given and protected by the Constitution.

d) The rights given by the Constitution that cannot ever be restricted.

Ans: c) The rights given and protected by the Constitution.

3. Read the following situations. Which Fundamental Right is being used or violated in each case and how?

a) Overweight male cabin crew are allowed to get promotion in the national airlines but their women colleagues who gain weight are penalised.

Ans: Violation of Right to Equality (Article 14) and Protection against discrimination (Article 15) because men and women are being treated unequally without reasonable grounds.

b) A director makes a documentary film that criticises the policies of the government.

Ans: Exercise of Freedom of Speech and Expression (Article 19(1)(a)) — right being used.

c) People displaced by a big dam take out a rally demanding rehabilitation.

Ans: Exercise of Right to Freedom of Assembly and Right to Protest (Article 19(1)(b)) — right being used.

d) Andhra society runs Telugu medium schools outside Andhra Pradesh.

Ans: Cultural and Educational Rights (Article 29 and 30) — right being used to preserve language and culture.

4. Which of the following is a correct interpretation of the Cultural and Educational Rights?

a) Only children belonging to the minority group that has opened educational institution can study there.

b) Government schools must ensure that children of the minority group will be introduced to their belief and culture.

c) Linguistic and religious minorities can open schools for their children and keep it reserved for them.

d) Linguistic and religious minorities can demand that their children must not study in any educational institution except those managed by their own community.

Ans: c) Linguistic and religious minorities can open schools for their children and keep it reserved for them.

5. Which of the following is a violation of Fundamental Rights and why?

a) Not paying minimum wages

b) Banning of a book

c) Banning of loudspeakers after 9 pm.

d) Making a speech

Ans: a) Not paying minimum wages — violation of Right to Equality and Right against exploitation (Articles 14, 23, 24).

(Banning of a book or loudspeakers may be reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2), and making a speech is an exercise of rights.)

6. An activist working among the poor says that the poor don’t need Fundamental Rights. What they need are Directive Principles to be made legally binding. Do you agree with this? Give your reasons.

Ans: I do not fully agree. Directive Principles guide the government for welfare but are not enforceable. Fundamental Rights protect individual freedoms and ensure justice. Both are important to improve the lives of the poor.

7. Several reports show that caste groups previously associated with scavenging are forced to continue in this job. Those in positions of authority refuse to give them any other job. Their children are discouraged from pursuing education. Which of their Fundamental Rights are being violated in this instance?

Ans: Violation of Right to Equality (Articles 14, 15), Right against Untouchability (Article 17), and Right to Education (Article 21A).

8. A petition by a human rights group drew attention of the court to the condition of starvation and hunger in the country. Over five crore tonnes of food grains was stored in the godowns of the Food Corporation of India. Research shows that a large number of ration cardholders do not know about the quantity of food grains they can purchase from fair price shops. It requested the court to order the government to improve its public distribution system.

a. Which different rights does this case involve? How are these rights interlinked?

Ans: Right to Life (Article 21) which includes the right to food, Right to Equality (Article 14) as food should be distributed fairly, and Right to Information (Article 19(1)(a)) as people need knowledge of their entitlements. These rights support and reinforce each other.

b. Should these rights form part of the right to life?

Ans: Yes, because without food and basic necessities, life cannot be sustained, hence these rights are essential to the right to life.

9. Read the statement by Somnath Lahiri in the Constituent Assembly quoted in this chapter. Do you agree with him? If yes, give instances to prove it. If not, give arguments against his position.

Ans: (Answer depends on the statement given. If the statement supports the importance of Fundamental Rights or Constitution, answer in agreement with examples such as protection of rights and democracy. If not, provide reasoned disagreement.)

10. Which of the Fundamental Rights is in your opinion the most important right? Summarise its provisions and give arguments to show why it is most important.

Ans: The Right to Equality (Articles 14-18) is the most important because it ensures equal treatment under law, abolishes discrimination, untouchability, and titles. Equality is fundamental for justice, freedom, and democracy to flourish. Without it, other rights cannot be enjoyed fully.