1

1) Right: - Reasonable claim of a

person recognised by society

and sanctioned by law is

called right.

2) Claim: - Demand for legal or

moral entitlements (ਹੱਕ) a

person makes on fellow

citizens, society or the

government.

3) Amnesty International: - An

International Human Rights

organization that brings out

independent reports on the

violation of Human Rights all

over the world.

 2

4) Trafficking: - Selling and

buying of men, women or

children for immoral purposes

is called trafficking.

5) Dalit: - A person who belongs

to the castes which were

considered low and not

touchable by others.

6) Ethnic Group: - A human

population whose members

usually identify with each

other on the basis of a

common ancestry.
 3

7) Writ: - A formal document

containing an order of the

court to the government

issued only by High Courts or

the Supreme Courts.

8) Summon: - An order issued

by a court asking a person to

appear before it.

9) Covenant: - A covenant is a

formal written agreement

between two or more people

or groups of people which is

recognized in law.
 4

Q.1. 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.
How were the prisoners treated in Guantanamo Bay? (NCERT Page No. 75& 76) (3)
❖ Answer Key Points: -
1) The treatment of prisoners in
Guantanamo Bay was very
humiliating.
2) There was no trial before any
magistrate in the US. They
were tortured in the ways that
violated the laws.
3) This place was not located in
the US. It was an area near
Cuba controlled by American
Navy, so nobody knew the
location of the prison.
4) Families of prisoners, media or
even the UN representatives
were not allowed to meet the prisoners.

Q.2. Describe the citizen’s Rights in Saudi Arabia. Or

Compare the situation of India and Saudi Arabia in terms of right to freedom in both the countries. Or
“Saudi Arabia is not a democratic country”. Justify. Mention any two rights which are enjoyed by the
Indian citizens but not by citizens of Saudi Arabia. (NCERT Page No. 76) (3)
❖ Answer Key Points: -
1) The country is ruled by a hereditary king and the people: have no role in electing or changing
their rulers.
2) The king selects the legislature
as well as the executive. He
appoints the judges and can
change any of their decisions.
3) Citizens cannot form political
parties or any political
organisations.
4) Media cannot report anything
that the monarch does not
like.
5) Rights enjoyed by Indians but
not by Saudi Arabians-
6) There is no freedom of
religion. Every citizen is
required to be Muslim. Non-Muslim residents can follow their religion in private, but not in public.
7) Women are subjected to many public restrictions. The testimony of one man is considered equal to
that of two women.

Q.3. What was the basic reason for the ethnic massacre in Kosovo? (NCERT Page No. 76 & 77) (3)
 5
❖ Answer Key Points: -
1) Kosovo was a province of Yugoslavia before its split. In this province, the population was
overwhelmingly ethnic Albanian. But, in the entire country, Serbs were in majority.
2) A narrow-minded Serb nationalist Milosevic had won the election. His government was very hostile to
the Kosovo Albanians. He wanted the Serbs to dominate the country.
3) Many Serb leaders thought
that Ethnic minorities like
Albanians should either leave
the country or accept the
dominance of the Serbs.
4) This massacre was being
carried out by the army of
their own country, working
under the direction of a leader
who came to power through
democratic elections.
5) This was one of the worst
instances of killings based on
ethnic prejudices in recent
times. Finally, several other
countries intervened to stop this massacre.
6) Milosevic lost power and was tried by an International Court of Justice for crimes against humanity.

Q.4. What are rights? How are they related to the society? (NCERT Page No. 77) (3)
❖ Answer Key Points: -
1) Rights are claims of a person over other fellow beings, over the society and over the government. The
claims should be reasonable.
2) They should be such that can
be made available to others in
an equal measure. Thus, a
right comes with an obligation
to respect other rights.
3) Every society makes certain
rules to regulate our conduct.
They tell us what is right and
what is wrong. What is
recognised by the society as
rightful becomes the basis of
rights. That is why the notion
of rights changes from time to
time and society to society.
4) When law recognises some claims, they become enforceable. We can then demand their application.
5) So, if we want to call any claim a right, it has to have these three qualities. Rights are reasonable claims
of persons recognised by society and sanctioned by law.

Q.5. Why do we need rights in a democracy? (NCERT Page No. 78) (3)
❖ Answer Key Points: -
 6
1) Fundamental Rights provide
the conditions which are
essential for the development
of the inherent qualities in
man and to secure his all-
round growth.
2) These are necessary to
preserve human dignity and
promote social progress in an
atmosphere of freedom.
3) These provide civil liberties,
without which democracy
cannot be even conceived.
4) These are a significant check
on the arbitrary use of power
by the government.
5) Rights protect minorities from the oppression of majority.

Q.6. What are the Fundamental Rights? How many Fundamental Rights are given in our Constitution?
(NCERT Page No. 78) (3)
❖ Answer Key Points: -
In India, like most other democracies in the world, the rights are mentioned in the
Constitution. Some rights which are fundamental to our life are given a special status. They are
called Fundamental Rights. They are an important basic feature of India’s Constitution.
➢ Our Constitution
provides us six
Fundamental Rights.
These are: -

1) Right to Equality
2) Flight to Freedom
3) Right against Exploitation
4) Right to Freedom of Religion
5) Cultural and Educational
Rights
6) Right to Constitutional
Remedies

Q.7. Write any four features of the Right to Equality as a Fundamental Right. (NCERT Page No. 79) (3)
❖ Answer Key Points: -
1) 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.
 7
2) The government shall not discriminate against any citizen on the grounds of religion, caste, ethnicity,
sex or place of birth.
3) All citizens shall have equality
of opportunity in matters
relating to any position in the
government.
4) The principle of non-
discrimination extends to
social life as well.
5) Every citizen shall have the
access to public places like
shops, restaurants, hotels,
and cinema halls.
6) There shall be no restriction
with regard to the use of
wells, tanks, bathing ghats,
roads, playgrounds and places of public resorts maintained by the government or dedicated to the use
of public. All citizens shall have equal opportunity in matters of employme
 8

1) Freedom to Live in Any Part

of India: - All citizens are free

to live in any part of India but

State can put restrictions

keeping in mind the welfare of

local people.

2) 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.

3) Right to Free Movement: -

Every citizen of India has been

granted freedom to move

throughout the Indian

territory.
 9

4) Freedom to Assemble

Peacefully: - Indian citizens

have been given the right to

assemble without arms.

5) Freedom of Speech and

Expression: - Democracy is a

government by citizens.

Freedom of speech and

expression works as a

barometer of public opinion.

6) Right to Form Associations

or Unions: - The Constitution

guarantees the right to form

associations and unions to

every citizen of India.

 10

Q.8. Mention the restrictions that can be imposed on various forms of freedoms granted by the
Constitution. (NCERT Page No. 81 & 82) (3)
❖ Answer Key Points: -
1) Freedom of speech and
expression reasonable
restrictions can be imposed on
this freedom.
2) Restriction on freedom to hold
meetings, processions, rallies
and demonstrations and
reasonable restriction in the
interest of public order.
3) Restrictions on freedom to
form associations and unions
in the interest of public order,
morality of sovereignty or
integrity of India.

Q.9. Mention any three rights of a detained person. Or

If the government or Police arrest anybody on the basis of the prevailing laws, what rules do they have
to follow? (NCERT Page No. 82) (3)
❖ Answer Key Points: -
The Constitution says that no person can be deprived of his life or personal liberty except
according to procedure established by law. It means that no person can be killed unless the court
 11
has ordered a death sentence. A government or police officer can arrest or detain any citizen
unless he has proper legal justification. Even when they do, they have to follow some
procedures: -

1) A person who is arrested and

detained in custody will have
to be informed of the reasons
for such arrest and detention.
2) A person who is arrested and
detained shall be produced
before the nearest magistrate
within a period of 24 hours of
arrest.
3) Such a person has the right to
consult a lawyer or engage a lawyer for his defense.
Q.10. Explain the Right against Exploitation. Or
According to our Constitution, what are the three evils? Or
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. Or
Mention the provisions of Fundamental Right against exploitation. (NCERT Page No. 83) (3)
❖ Answer Key Points: -
Every citizen has a right not to be exploited. There are clear provisions in the constitution
that prevent exploitation of the weaker sections of the society. The constitution mentions three
specific evils and declares these illegal.

1) Prohibition of Traffic in

Human Beings: - The

Constitution prohibits ‘traffic

in human beings’. Traffic here

means selling and buying of

human beings, usually women,

for immoral purposes.

 12

2) Ban on Forced Labour: - Our

Constitution also prohibits
forced labour or begar in any
form. ‘Begar’ is a practice
where the worker is forced to
render service to the ‘master’
free of charge or at a nominal
remuneration. When this
practice takes place on a life-
long basis, it is called the
practice of bonded labour.

3) Prohibition of Employment

of Children in Factories: - No
child below the age of 14
years shall be employed in a
factory or mine and in other
hazardous work. According to
this, many laws have been
made to prohibit children
from working in industries
such as beedi-making,
firecrackers and matches,
printing and dyeing.

Q.11. Why does the Constitution specify the cultural and educational rights of the minorities? Or
Explain the ‘Right to Freedom of Religion’. Or
How can you say that India is a secular state? Or
Write a short note on the following fundamental rights: (а) Right to Freedom of Religion (b) Cultural and
Educational Rights. (NCERT Page No. 84 & 85) (3/5)
❖ Answer Key Points: - India is a secular state. A secular state is one that does not establish
any one religion as official religion.
1) 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
 13
the other. Citizens are free to
practice 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.

2) 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.

3) 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.
 14

4) 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.

Q.12. “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
reason. Or
According to Dr. Ambedkar—‘The Right to Constitutional Remedies is called the heart and soul of our
Constitution’. Explain. (NCERT Page No. 85 & 87) (3)
❖ Answer Key Points: -
This ‘Right’ makes other ‘Rights’ effective. It is through this Right that all other Fundamental Rights are
safeguarded and arbitrary
action of the state is checked.
Under this Right, a citizen is
entitled to move the Supreme
Court or any High Court or any
other courts so authorized, if
his/ her Fundamental Right (or
Rights) is encroached upon,
abridged or snatched away by
the State, an individual or a
body of persons. The courts are
empowered to issue orders,
directions and writs to the concerned to protect the rights of the complainant. That is why Dr.
Ambedkar called it “the heart and soul” of our Constitution.
Q.13. How are the Fundamental Rights guaranteed? (NCERT Page No. 86) (3)
❖ Answer Key Points: - The Fundamental Rights are guaranteed by the following ways: -
1) The Fundamental Rights are guaranteed against the actions of the Legislature, the Executive, and any
other authorities instituted by the government. There can be no law or action that violates the
Fundamental Rights.
 15
2) If any act of the Legislature or
the Executive takes away or
limits any of the Fundamental
Rights, it will be invalid. We
can challenge such laws of the
central and state
governments, the policies and
actions of the government or
the governmental
organisations like the
nationalized banks or
electricity boards.
3) Courts also enforce the
Fundamental Rights against
private individuals and private bodies. 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 violator-
 16
1) The National Human Rights
Commission is an independent
commission set up by law in
1993. The Commission is
appointed by the President
and includes retired judges,
officers and eminent citizens.
2) The National Human Rights
Commission (NHRC) focuses
on helping the victims in
securing their human rights.
These include all the rights
granted to the citizens by the
Constitution.
3) For NHRC, human rights also
include the rights mentioned in the UN-sponsored international treaties that India has signed.
4) The NHRC cannot by itself punish the guilty. It is the responsibility of the courts. The NHRC makes an
independent and credible inquiry into any case of violation of human rights.
5) The Commission presents its findings and recommendations to the government or intervenes in the
court on behalf of the victims.
6) Like any court, it can summon witnesses, question any government official, demand any official paper,
visit any prison for inspection or send its own team for on-the-spot inquiry.

Q.14. Which types of issues are raised through Public Interest Litigation (PIL)? (NCERT Page No. 87) (3)
❖ Answer Key Points: -
1) Any person can go to the court
against the violation of the
Fundamental flight, 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) One can write to the judges
even on a postcard. The court
will take up the matter if the judges find it in public interest.

Q.15. Explain the expanding scope of rights. (NCERT Page No. 87) (3)
❖ Answer Key Points: -
1) From time to time, the courts gave judgments to expand the scope of rights. Certain rights like right to
freedom of press, Right to information, and Right to education are derived from the Fundamental
Rights.
 17
2) 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.
3) 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 offices.
4) Recently, the Supreme Court
has expanded the meaning of
the right to life to include the right to food. Also, rights are not limited only to Fundamental Rights as
enumerated in the Constitution.
5) Constitution provides many more rights, which may not be Fundamental Rights. For example, the right
to property is not a Fundamental Right, but it is a constitutional right. Right to vote in elections is an
important constitutional right. Sometimes, the expansion takes place in what is called human rights.
6) These are universal moral claims that may or may not have been recognized by law. In that sense,
these claims are not rights. With the expansion of democracy all over the world, there a greater
pressure on governments to accept these claims.

Q.16. List the rights subjected to International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
(NCERT Page No. 88) (3)
❖ Answer Key Points: -
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognises many rights that are
not directly a part of the Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution. This has not yet become
an international treaty. But, human right activists all over the world see this as a standard of
human rights. These include: -

1) Right to Work: - This

provides an opportunity to

everyone to earn livelihood by

working.
 18

2) Right to Safe and Healthy

Working Conditions: - This

right ensures right to safe and

healthy working conditions

and fair wages that can

provide decent standard of

living for the workers and

their families.

3) Right to Adequate

Standard of Living: - This

provides adequate standard

of living including adequate

food, clothing and housing.

4) Right to Social Security and

Insurance: - This right

ensures social security and

insurance to the citizens.

 19

5) Right to Health: - Medical

care during illness, special

care for women during

childbirth and prevention of

epidemics etc. are added in

this right.

6) Right to Education: - Tis

includes free and compulsory
primary education, equal
access to higher education to
the citizens.