Name : ___________ Roll No.

-____ Date :
Class : IX Div : __ Subject : Social Science (DEMOCRATIC POLITICS)
Chapter 5 - Democratic Rights
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Exercises :

1. Which of the following is not an instance of an exercise of a fundamental right?

(a) Workers from Bihar go to the Punjab to work on the farms
(b) Christian missions set up a chain of missionary schools
(c) Men and women government employees get the same salary
(d) Parents’ property is inherited by their children
Answer: (d) Parents’ property is inherited by their children

2. Which of the following freedoms is not available to an Indian citizen?

(a) Freedom to criticise the government
(b) Freedom to participate in armed revolution
(c) Freedom to start a movement to change the government
(d) Freedom to oppose the central values of the Constitution
Answer: (b) Freedom to participate in armed revolution

3. Which of the following rights is available under the Indian Constitution?

(a) Right to work
(b) Right to adequate livelihood
(c) Right to protect one’s culture
(d) Right to privacy
Answer: (c) Right to protect one’s culture

4. Name the Fundamental Right under which each of the following rights falls:
a) Freedom to propagate one’s religion
Answer: Right to freedom of religion

b) Right to life
Answer: Right to freedom

c) Abolition of untouchability
Answer: Right to equality

d) Ban on bonded labour

Answer: Right against exploitation

5. Which of these statements about the relationship between democracy and rights is
more valid? Give reasons for your preference.
(a) Every country that is a democracy gives rights to its citizens.
(b) Every country that gives rights to its citizens is a democracy.
(c) Giving rights is good, but it is not necessary for a democracy.
Answer: The most valid statement is (a).
This is because every country that is democratic is a system wherein the government is
elected by the people. Therefore, it is essential for it to provide rights to its citizens.

6. Are these restrictions on the right to freedom justified? Give reasons for your answer.
a) Indian citizens need permission to visit some border areas of the country for
reasons of security.
Answer: This statement is justified as the citizens are protected from loss of life or
property.

b) Outsiders are not allowed to buy property in some areas to protect the interest of
the local population.
Answer: This statement is not justified as it infringes on the right to freedom of citizens
from other parts of the country.

c) The government bans the publication of a book that can go against the ruling party
in the next elections.
Answer: This statement is not justified as it violates the right to freedom of speech and
expression.

8. When Madhurima went to the property registration office, the Registrar told her. “You
can’t write your name as Madhurima Banerjee d/o A. K. Banerjee. You are married, so
you must give your husband’s name. Your husband’s surname is Rao. So your name
should be changed to Madhurima Rao.” She did not agree. She said “If my husband’s
name has not changed after marriage, why should mine?” In your opinion who is right in
this dispute? And why?
Answer: In this dispute, Madhurima’s opinion is correct as Madhurima has got all the
right to retain her maiden name to ensure gender equality. In a democratic country like
India, every citizen enjoys the right to equality. Therefore, whether it is the marital status
or unmarried a girl has all the right to retain her father’s name.

10. Draw a web interconnecting different rights discussed in this chapter. For example
right to freedom of movement is connected to the freedom of occupation. One reason for
this is that freedom of movement enables a person to go to place of work within one's
village or city or to another village, city or state. Similarly this right can be used for
pilgrimage, connected with freedom to follow one's religion. Draw a circle for each right
and mark arrows that show connection between or among different rights. For each
arrow, give an example that shows the linkage.
Answer:

The arrow labels details are given below:

1. In case somebody is not allowed to work in a particular job even though selected, he
can approach the court for restoring this right.
2. If somebody is not allowed access to a public place because of his caste, he can
approach the court for restoring this right.
3. If a person is accused for a crime, he can engage a lawyer to defend him.
4. Freedom to work anywhere in the country.
5. Establishing an educational institution for a minority community.
6. Somebody going for a pilgrimage.
7. We can conduct a peaceful demonstration in a group against some government policies
which affect us adversely.
Extra Questions :

1. Write any four features of the Right to Equality as a Fundamental Right.

Answer: According to this law, the government shall not deny to any person in India
equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws.
The government shall not discriminate against any citizen on the grounds of religion,
caste, ethnicity, sex or place of birth.
All citizens shall have equality of opportunity in matters relating to any position in the
government.
The principle of non-discrimination extends to social life as well.

2. Write a short note on the following fundamental rights:

(а) Right to Freedom of Religion.
(b) Cultural and Educational Rights.
Answer: (a) Right to Freedom of Religion: Right to freedom of religion provides
religious freedom to all the citizens of India. All religions are equal before the state and
no religion will be given preference over the other. Citizens are free to practise their
respective religions. Foremost objective of this right is to sustain the principle of
secularism in the country. No state-run institution can give religious education. Religious
communities can set up charitable institutions of their own.

(b) Cultural and Educational Rights: India is multi-religious, multi-lingual and multi-
cultural, each having its own identity and characteristics. To preserve these diversities, it
is natural to grant the following Cultural and Educational Rights to the minorities and
other communities.
Right to Conserve the Language, Script and Culture Under this Right minorities have the
right to conserve their distinct language, script or culture and to join state-owned or state-
aided institutions without discriminations.
Right to Establish Educational Institutions: Under this each minority group has a right to
establish and administer educational institutions of its choice. The State shall not
discriminate between minorities, while granting aid to their educational institutions.

3. “Right to Constitutional Remedies is a very special right”. What is so special

about this right?
Or
Dr. Ambedkar called the Right to Constitutional Remedies, “the heart and soul of our
constitution”. Give a reason.
Answer: It is through this Right that all other Fundamental Rights are safeguarded and
arbitrary action of the state is checked.
1. Under this Right, a citizen is entitled to move the Supreme Court or any High
Court or any other courts so authorised, if his/ her Fundamental Right (or Rights)
 is encroached upon, abridged or snatched away by the State, an individual or a
body of persons.
2. The courts are empowered to issue orders, directions and writs to the concerned to
protect the rights of the complainant.

4. Mention three major Constitutional provisions for the protection of women and
children in India.
Or
Write three Constitutional provisions for the protection of women and children in India.
Answer: a) The Right to Equality: Under this the State can make special provisions for
women and children.
b) Right Against Exploitation: Under this traffic in human beings, especially women
and children, shall be an offence punishable in accordance with the law.
c) Right Against Exploitation: Under this no child below the age of 14 years shall be
employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in any other hazardous employment.

5. ‘The Right to Freedom is actually a cluster of several rights.’ Discuss.

Answer: a) Freedom to live in any part of India: All citizens are free to live in any part
of India but the State can put restrictions keeping in mind the welfare of local people.
b) Freedom to practice any profession or occupation: All citizens have the right to
practice any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.
c) Right to Free Movement: Every citizen of India has been granted freedom to move
throughout the Indian territory.
d) Freedom to Assemble Peacefully: Indian citizens have been given the right to
assemble without arms.
e) Freedom of Speech and Expression: Democracy is a government by citizens.
Freedom of speech and expression works as a barometer of public opinion.
f) Right to Form Associations or Unions: The Constitution guarantees the right to form
associations and unions to every citizen of India.

6. What was the Amnesty International’s report regarding the prisoners in Guantanamo
Bay? State the condition of prisoners according to the report of Amnesty International in
Guantanamo Bay.
Answer: Amnesty International which is an international human rights organisation,
collected information in Guantanamo Bay and reported:
a) Families of prisoners, media or even UN representatives were not allowed to meet
these prisoners. The US army arrested them, interrogated them and decided
whether to keep them there or not.
b) There was no trial before any magistrate in the US. Nor could these prisoners
approach courts in their own country.
c) The prisoners were being tortured in ways that violated United States Laws.
d) They were being denied the treatment that even prisoners of war must get as per
international treaties.
e) Prisoners were not released even after they were officially declared not guilty.

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