Second Term Assignment 2025-26 Class IX Subject: Social Science

CIVICS CHAP.5: DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS

I Objectives:

1. The 'Rule of Law' in the Indian Constitution implies that:

A. Laws are applied differently based on social status
B. No one is above the law, including government officials
C. Only elected representatives are bound by law
D. Laws can be changed without parliamentary approval

2. Choose the incorrect option:

A. Right to Constitutional Remedies is a legal right and not a Fundamental Right.

B. All the minorities have the right to establish and administer educational institutions
of their choice.
C. A person who is arrested and detained shall be produced before the nearest
magistrate within a period of 24 hours of arrest.
D. Freedom of speech and expression is one of the essential features of any democracy.

3. Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the
statements and choose the correct option:

i) Assertion (A): Constitution says that reservation are not a violation of Right to Equality.

Reason (R): Sometimes it is necessary to give special treatment to someone to ensure equal
opportunity. (Ans: A)

ii) Assertion (A): The Right to Constitutional Remedies allows citizens to approach the
Supreme Court directly.

Reason (R): This right is not considered as a Fundamental Right in the Indian Constitution.
(Ans: C)

Options:

A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

B. Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true

4. Match the Fundamental Rights given in Column A with Column B. Choose the correct
answer from the options given below.

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COLUMN A COLUMN B

A. Right to Freedom 1. Freedom to propagate one’s

own religion
B. Right to Freedom of 2. Right to Life
Religion
C. Right against exploitation 3. Abolition of untouchability
D. Right to Equality 4. Ban on bonded labour

Options:

a) A A-(iv), B-(iii), C-(ii) D-(i)

b) B A-(iii), B-(iv), C-(ii) D-(i)
c) C A-(ii), B-(i), C-(iv) D-(iii)
d) D A-(i), B-(ii), C-(iii) D-(iv)

5. Which Fundamental Right is known as the ‘heart and soul’ of the Indian Constitution?
A. Right to freedom
B. Right to Equality
C. Right to Constitutional Remedies
D. Right to Education.

6. Read the text given below and answer the question that follows:
A police officer arrests Raju at 10 PM for protesting outside a factory. Raju is kept in
custody till 11 AM the next day without being given a reason. He was also not produced
before a magistrate.
Identify one specific violation of Raju’s Fundamental Right and state the correct legal
timeline that should have been followed.
Answer Key:
 Violation: Right to Life and Personal Liberty (no reason given for arrest)
 Timeline: Must be produced before nearest magistrate within 24 hours of arrest.

7. Which one of the following options best signifies this image?

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Second Term Assignment 2025-26 Class IX Subject: Social Science

A. Power of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to issue directives

to various institutions and government in case of violation of human rights.
B. Power of the Central Bureau of Investigation to question the government.
C. Power of the Central Government to question the acts of any state government for
the violation of human rights.
D. Power of the government to question the police authorities in case of custodial
deaths.

8. a) Read the statement given below and choose the correct Fundamental Right that supports
tribals from the options given:
A tribal community wants to protect its language from extinction.
Options:
A. Cultural and Educational Rights
B. Right Against Exploitation
C. Freedom of Speech and Expression
D. Right to Constitutional Remedies

b) What step must the government take to protect the rights of the tribals?
Ans: Allow them to establish and administer schools in their language.

9. Which of the following freedoms is NOT included under the Right to Freedom (Article 19)?
A. Freedom to form associations
B. Freedom to practice any religion
C. Freedom to move freely throughout India
D. Freedom of speech and expression

10. Amnesty International is:

A. An American human rights organization
B. A national human rights organization
C. An international human rights organization
D. A state human rights organization

11. What legal procedure has to be followed regarding the detention of any person by the police?
Choose the correct options.

i. Detained person will have to be informed about the reasons for arrest or detention.
ii. No person can be deprived of his life or personal liberty.
iii. Detained person shall be produced before the nearest magistrate within a period of 24
hours of arrest.
iv. Detained person has the right to consult a lawyer or engage a lawyer for his defence.

A. (i), (ii) and (iv)

B. (i), (iii) and (iv)
C. (ii), (iii) and (iv)
D. (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)

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Second Term Assignment 2025-26 Class IX Subject: Social Science
12. A private school denies admission to a child from a Scheduled Caste.
a) Name the Fundamental Right being violated. – Right to Equality
b) State one constitutional provision the school is ignoring- No discrimination on grounds
of caste; equal access to government-aided institutions.

13. Which of the following rights is explicitly guaranteed in the South African Constitution but
not as a fundamental right in India?
a) Right to education
b) Right to form associations
c) Right to privacy
d) Right to move freely
14. Consider the statements given below and choose the correct answer.

Statement-I: Some rights need to be placed higher than the government, so that the
government cannot violate them.

Statement-II: Freedom is not an unlimited license to do what one wants.

Options:

A. Statement I and II are correct

B. Statement I and II are incorrect
C. Statement II is correct and I is incorrect
D. Statement I is correct and II is incorrect

15. Against whose actions are the Fundamental Rights guaranteed in India?
A. Only the Parliament
B. The Legislature, the Executive and the other government authorities
C. The citizens of India
D. Private organisations and individuals

II. Answer the following Questions:

Q1. Why are rights considered essential for the survival and functioning of a democratic
system?
Ans:
 In a democracy, every citizen has to have the right to vote and the right to be elected to
government.
 For democratic elections to take place, it is necessary that citizens should have the right
to express their opinion, form political parties and take part in political activities.
 Rights also perform a very special role in a democracy. Rights protect minorities from
the oppression of the majority.
 Rights are guarantees which can be used when things go wrong. Things may go wrong
when some citizens take away others’ rights. This usually happens when those in the
majority dominate those in the minority.
 The government should protect the rights of citizens. But sometimes elected
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government may not protect or may even attack their rights. That is why some rights
are placed above the government so that it cannot violate.

Q2. a) What do you understand by Right to Equality?

Ans:
 The constitution says that the government shall not deny to any person in India right
to equality before law.
 It means that laws apply in the same manner to all, regardless of a person’s status.
This is called rule of law.
 It means that no person is above the law. There cannot be any distinction between
any ordinary citizen of India.

b) Briefly discuss its implications.

A. NO DISCRIMINATION
 The government shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds of religion,
race, caste, sex or place of birth.
 Every citizen shall have access to public places like shops, restaurant, hotels etc.
 There shall be no restriction with regard to use of wells, road, public resorts
maintained by government or dedicated to the use of general public.

B. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
 All citizens have equality of opportunity in matters relating to employment or
appointment to any position in the government. No one can be discriminated against
or made ineligible for employment.

C. BAN ON UNTOUCHABILITY
 The constitution mentions one extreme form of social discrimination, untouchability
and directs the government to put an end to it. This practice has been forbidden in
any form. The constitution made untouchability a punishable offence.

Q3 “Citizens have the freedom to hold meetings, processions, rallies and demonstrations on any
issue” Justify.

 People may want to discuss a problem, exchange ideas, mobilize public support to a
cause, or seek votes for a candidate or party in an election. But such meetings have to be
peaceful.
 They should not lead to public disorder and breach of peace in society. People should
not carry weapons with them.

Q4. Despite the Right to Equality, the Indian Constitution allow reservations for certain
communities. Support the statement by giving two relevant points.
 The government of India has provided reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled
Tribes and Other Backward Classes.
 Various governments have different schemes for giving preference to women, poor or
physically handicapped in some kinds of jobs.

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Q5. How does the Right to Freedom enable social and economic mobility in India? Give
examples.
 We are free to reside or settle in any part of the country.
 A person can start his/her business in any part of the country.
 This right allows lakhs of people to migrate from villages to towns and from poorer
regions to prosperous regions or big cities.
 The same freedoms extend to choice of occupations. No one can force you to do or not
to do a certain job. Women cannot be told that some kinds of job are not for them
 People of deprived castes cannot be kept to their traditional occupations.

Q6. ‘While Fundamental Rights are the source of all rights, our Constitution and law offers a
wider range of rights. Over the years the scope of rights has expanded.’ Justify the
statement.

Ans.
 Certain rights like the right to freedom of press, right to information and right to
education are derived from the Fundamental Rights. Now, school education has
become a right for Indian citizens. The governments are responsible for providing
free and compulsory education to all children up to the age of 14 years.
 Parliament has enacted a law giving the right to information to the citizens. This act
was made under the Fundamental Right to freedom of thought and expression. We
have a right to seek information from government officers.
 Recently the Supreme Court has expanded the meaning of Right to life to include
right to food.
 (a)Sometimes, the expansion takes place in what is called human rights. These are
universal moral claims that may or may not have been recognized by law
(b) With the expansion of democracy all over the world, there is greater pressure on
governments to accept these claims.
 Some international covenants have also contributed to the expansion of rights.

Q7. Elucidate the constitutional provisions that make India a secular state.
Ans.
 As a secular state, India does not establish any one religion as official religion.
 The State is neutral and impartial in dealing with all religions.
 Every person has a right to profess, practice and propogate the religion he/she
believes in.
 A person is free to change religion on his or her own will.
 As a secular state, India does not confer any privilege or favour on any particular
religion. Nor does it punish or discriminate against people on the basis of religion
they follow.

Q8. Explain the following terms:

a) Rights- Rights are claims of a person over other fellow beings, over the society and
over the government. Rights are reasonable claims of persons recognized by the
society and sanctioned by law.

b) Summon- An order issued by the court asking a person to appear before it.
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III. Case based Questions

Read the given source and answer the questions that follow:

The Supreme Court and High Courts have the power to issue directions, orders or writs for
the enforcement of the Fundamental Rights. They can also award compensation to the
victims and punishment to the violators. The judiciary in our country is independent of the
government and the parliament. Our judiciary is very powerful and can do whatever is
needed to protect the rights of the citizens. In case of any violation of a Fundamental Right
the aggrieved person can go to a court for remedy. But now, any person can go to court
against the violation of the Fundamental Right, if it is of social or public interest. It is called
Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

Q1. What is meant by independent Judiciary? (1)

Ans: Independence of judiciary means that it is not under the control of the legislature or
executive. The Judges do not act on the direction of the government or according to the
wishes of the party in power.

Q2. Define the term writ. (1)

Ans: A formal document containing an order of the court to the government issued only by
High Court or the Supreme Court.

Q3. Briefly explain Public Interest Litigation. (2)

Ans: 1. Any person can go to court against the violation of the Fundamental Right, if it is of
social or public interest. It is called Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

2. Under the PIL any citizen or group of citizens can approach the Supreme Court or a High
Court for the protection of public interest against a particular law or action of the
government.

3. The court will take up the matter if the judges find it in public interest.

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