DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS
• Which of the following is prohibited under the Right against
Exploitation?
a) Minimum wages
b) Bonded labour
c) Reservation in jobs
d) Freedom of trade
• Answer: b) Bonded labour
• ‘Begar’ refers to:
a) Voluntary social service
b) Child labour
c) Forced labour without payment
d) Unemployment
• Answer: c) Forced labour without payment
• Child labour is prohibited for children below the age of:
a) 12 years
b) 14 years
c) 16 years
d) 18 years
• Answer: b) 14 years
• Which Fundamental Right allows citizens to profess, practice and
propagate religion?
a) Right to Equality
b) Right to Freedom
c) Right to Freedom of Religion
d) Cultural Rights
• Answer: c) Right to Freedom of Religion
• Which of the following is not allowed under freedom of religion?
a) Practising one’s faith
b) Managing religious affairs
c) Forced religious conversion
d) Changing religion voluntarily
• Answer: c) Forced religious conversion
• Cultural and Educational Rights are mainly provided to protect:
a) Majority communities
b) Minorities
c) Political parties
d) Government institutions
• Answer: b) Minorities
• Which body is known as the “heart and soul” of the Constitution?
a) Supreme Court
b) Parliament
c) Right to Equality
d) Right to Constitutional Remedies
• Answer: d) Right to Constitutional Remedies
• Public Interest Litigation (PIL) allows:
a) Only victims to approach courts
b) Only lawyers to file cases
c) Any citizen to approach courts in public interest
d) Only government to file cases
• Answer: c) Any citizen to approach courts in public interest
• NHRC was established in the year:
a) 1950
b) 1976
c) 1993
d) 2000
• Answer: c) 1993
• Right to Information is derived from which Fundamental Right?
a) Right to Equality
b) Right to Life
c) Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression
d) Right to Religion
• Answer: c) Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression
What is meant by the Right against Exploitation?
• Answer:
The Right against Exploitation protects citizens from all forms of
exploitation by individuals or the state. It ensures that no person is
forced into unfair, unsafe, or inhuman work. This right mainly
safeguards the weaker sections of society from practices like forced
labour, human trafficking, and child labour.
Name and explain the three forms of exploitation
prohibited by the Indian Constitution.
The Constitution prohibits the following three forms of exploitation:
• Traffic in human beings – Buying and selling of people, especially
women and children, for immoral purposes.
• Forced labour (Begar) – Work taken from a person without payment
or for very low wages.
• Child labour – Employment of children below 14 years in factories,
mines, or hazardous occupations.
Why is child labour prohibited under the
Constitution?
• Answer:
Child labour is prohibited because it deprives children of education,
health, and a safe childhood. Children are physically and mentally
vulnerable and hazardous work harms their overall development. The
Constitution ensures that children grow with dignity and equal
opportunities.
What is the Right to Freedom of Religion?
• Answer:
The Right to Freedom of Religion guarantees every individual the
freedom to profess, practice, and propagate any religion of their
choice. It also ensures that the state does not favour or discriminate
against any religion.
What does secularism mean in the Indian context?
• Answer:
Secularism in India means that the state maintains a principled and
equal distance from all religions. The government does not declare
any religion as official and treats all religions impartially, ensuring
religious freedom for all citizens.
What restrictions can be imposed on the freedom
of religion?
• Answer:
Freedom of religion does not allow:
• Forced religious conversions
• Practices that harm public order, morality, or health
• Religious practices that discriminate against women or violate their
dignity
• Thus, religion cannot be used as a justification for injustice or
exploitation.
What are Cultural and Educational Rights?
• Answer:
Cultural and Educational Rights protect the language, culture, and
educational institutions of minorities. These rights help minorities
preserve their distinct identity and prevent domination by the
majority culture.
Why are special rights given to minorities in India?
Answer:
In a democracy, the majority naturally holds power.
• Without special protection, minority cultures, languages, and
religions may be neglected or suppressed.
• Minority rights ensure equality, dignity, and cultural survival.
What is the Right to Constitutional Remedies?
• Answer:
The Right to Constitutional Remedies allows citizens to approach the
Supreme Court or High Courts if their Fundamental Rights are
violated. Courts can issue writs, directions, and orders to protect
these rights.
Why did Dr. B.R. Ambedkar call the Right to
Constitutional Remedies the “heart and soul” of the
Constitution?
• Answer:
Dr. Ambedkar called it the “heart and soul” because without
enforcement, Fundamental Rights would remain meaningless. This
right ensures that citizens can actually protect and enjoy their rights
through the judiciary.
What is the National Human Rights Commission?
• Answer:
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is an independent
body established in 1993 to protect and promote human rights in
India. It investigates cases of human rights violations and makes
recommendations to the government.
Mention any four functions of the NHRC.
• Answer:
The NHRC:
• Inquires into human rights violations
• Intervenes in court cases on behalf of victims
• Inspects prisons and detention centres
• Promotes awareness of human rights
What is meant by the expanding scope of rights?
• Answer:
The expanding scope of rights means that new rights are added over
time as society develops. Courts and laws have expanded rights
beyond Fundamental Rights to include education, information, food,
and environmental protection.
• Give examples of rights that have emerged over time in India.
• Answer:
Examples of expanded rights include:
• Right to Education – Free and compulsory education up to 14 years
• Right to Information – Access to government information
• Right to Food – Derived from the Right to Life
Why are rights essential in a democracy?
•
Rights protect individual freedom, dignity, and equality.
• They limit the power of the government, protect minorities, and
ensure justice.
• Without rights, democracy would lose its true meaning.