A. 1. b. 2. a. 3. c. 4. d. 5. c.
B. 1. discipline 2. discriminatory
- Public Opinion, media
- Illiteracy
- free, compulsory 6. people
- power 8. 1968
- poor 10. Land
C. 1. F 2. T 3. F 4. T 5. T
D. 1. c. 2. e. 3. b. 4. a. 5. d.
E. 1. India became independent, leaders
who drafted the Constitution wanted
to ensure that there would be no
arbitrary laws in the country. All the
people in independent India would
be equal before the law and would
be subjected to equal laws. - Right to education ensures every
individual has access to quality
education without discrimination. This
right aims to promote equal
opportunities, empower individuals,
and enhance social and economic
development. It encompasses free and
compulsory primary education for all,
as well as access to higher education
based on merit. Governments are
responsible for ensuring the fulfillment
of this right for all citizens. - The government is forced to take
some strong decisions and pass
unpopular or controversial laws,
which might be beneficial for one
section of the society, which might
be essential for preserving peace in
the society. Public protests against
such laws might also be curbed by
strong measures, even by using
police force. - The Rowlatt Act was considered an
ordinary law because it was passed
through the legislative process of the
Imperial Legislative Council in
British India. It aimed to empower
the government to detain individuals
without trial, aiming to curb
revolutionary activities perceived as
threatening during the post-World
War I period. Despite its controversial
nature and widespread opposition, it
followed established legal procedures
for enactment at the time. - By the end of the 19th century, the
Indian legal profession also began
emerging and demanded respect in
colonial courts. They began to use
law to defend the legal rights of
Indians. Indian judges also began to
play a greater role in making
decisions. When India was under
the British rule, people of the
country were subjected to many
discriminatory policies and laws.
For example, through the Doctrine
of Lapse, the British government
could annex any Indian state if the
king of that state died and did not
have a son of his own. The
Vernacular Press Act, 1878 stated
that only newspapers in Indian
languages would face scrutiny and
certain restrictions by the
government. Such restrictions were
not imposed on the English
newspapers. Similarly, the 1919
Rowlatt Act authorised the British
government to imprison any person
suspected of terrorism, without trial.
A peaceful protest meeting against
this Act led to the infamous
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. We
have also studied about the Salt Law
banning the production of salt by
Indians, and Gandhiji’s Dandi
March, to protest against this law.
F. 1. By rule of law we mean absence of
arbitrary laws in the country,
equality before law in the country
and equal treatment by the law of
the land. These principles are a part
of the Indian Constitution. It is
needed in our country because
during the colonial times, people
w e r e s u b j e c t e d t o m a n y
discriminatory laws and though
there were laws, these did not
promote equality among the people.
In order to not repeat this, rule of
law was consciously created in the
country after independence. - While making laws, the following
things are kept in mind-
• Needs of the people who have to
live with those laws
• Changing socio- economic scenario
of the country
• Ability to make new laws and
modify the older ones
• Laws should be based on public
opinion of the people and in the
greater interest of all. - The provisions of the Right to
Education are-
• Adoption and implementation of the
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan aimed at
universalisation of elementary
education
• Free and compulsory education for
children aged 6 to 14 years The
NCERT was set up with the
objective to advise the Union and
the State governments on education
policy. - NPE stands for National Policy on
Education and it was created to
ensure free and compulsory
education for all children up to the
age of 14 years. It also called for
equaisation of educational
opportunity, especially for women,
scheduled tribes and castes. To
achieve this scholarships, adult
education, recruitment for more
teachers from the marginalized
communities, incentives for sending
children to school regularly and new
institutions were developed. - Unpopular and controversial laws
are often opposed by the people
through various means:
PublicProtest:Mass demonstrations,
rallies, and marches are organized to
express dissent and pressure
lawmakers to reconsider or repeal
the law.
Legal Challenges: Individuals or
organizations may challenge the law
in courts, arguing its constitutionality
or violation of rights.
Civil Disobedience: Nonviolent
resistance and refusal to comply
with the law can highlight its
unpopularity and moral objections.
Media and Public Opinion:
Criticism and debates in media
platforms, social media, and public
forums raise awareness and mobilize
public opinion against the law.
Political Action: Opposition parties
and activists may campaign against
the law, aiming to change it through
legislative processes or elections.
G. 1. The Right to Information (RTI) Act
came into effect from October 2005.
The Act states that any citizen may
seek information from a ‘public
authority’ (a government body) and
is entitled to receive a reply within
30 days.
Act or Right to Education (RTE)
Act, was enacted by the parliament.
Right to education ensures every
individual has access to quality
education without discrimination. - Before elections in a democracy,
citizens engage primarily through
advocacy, protests, and public
discourse to influence policies and
raise awareness. They scrutinize
candidates’ platforms and participate
in campaigns to shape political
agendas. After elections, citizens
continue to play a crucial role by
holding elected officials accountable
through activism, lobbying, and
public pressure. They monitor
government actions, provide
feedback, and participate in policymaking processes through
consultations and community
engagement, ensuring their voices
continue to shape democratic
governance beyond election day.
H 1. People may reject laws passed by
Parliament due to perceived
unfairness or inequality, concerns
about infringement of rights or
freedoms, lack of consultation or
transparency in the legislative
process, and divergence from public
opinion or societal values. Such
laws can provoke public outcry,
legal challenges, civil disobedience,
and calls for reform or repeal,
reflecting a disconnect between
lawmakers and the broader
population. - Laws are basic rules and guidelines
for living in the society. If everyone
starts to live in his own way, they
would turn into something like
animals living in the wild jungle.
This is why any civilized society
frames some laws and then it has to
have its own system to enforce the
laws and bring the defaulters to
book. Once the society frames the
laws they should be applicable to all
irrespective of caste, creed, economic
or political power.
DO AND LEARN
Assertion And Reasoning - a. 2. a.
Application/Competency Based Question
The law applies equally to all. However
there are certain problems that do not
allow the common man to access the
courts. What are they?
Ans – Certain barriers prevent the
common man from accessing courts
equally:
Financial Constraints: Legal fees,
court costs, and expenses associated
with litigation can be prohibitive for
individuals with limited financial
means.
Complex Legal Procedures:
Complicated legal processes and
technicalities may deter individuals
without legal expertise from navigating
the system effectively.
Geographical Access: Limited
availability of courts and legal services
in rural or remote areas can pose
challenges for access to justice.
Language and Literacy: Language
barriers and low literacy levels can
hinder understanding of legal documents
and proceedings.
Hots - Yes, it is true that people’s will is an
essential part of the lawmaking process
in a democratic system. In democratic
societies, laws are ideally crafted to
reflect the needs, values, and aspirations
of the people they govern. Elected
representatives are expected to consider
public opinion, engage with constituents,
and respond to the concerns and
priorities expressed by the electorate.
Public participation through voting,
advocacy, public consultations, and
feedback mechanisms ensures that laws
are more representative and reflective of
the collective will of the people.
Therefore, the legitimacy and
effectiveness of laws often hinge on
their alignment with the public’s consent
and support. - The Right to Information Act is
considered landmark legislation in the
fight against corruption. This act gives
citizens the power to question public
authorities and their work, thereby
promoting transparency and demanding
accountability.
Picture Based Questions - 2009
- Maharajganj
- The motive of MAJDOOR KISAN
SEWA SAMITI is to promote agriculture,
aged/elderly, health and family welfare,
human rights, rural development and
poverty alleviation in Uttar Pradesh.
WORKSHEET
A. 1. equal - citizens, media
- Right to Education Act
- Laws
B. 1. T 2. T 3. F 4. T
C. 1. d 2. c 3. d 4. a
PERIODIC ASSESSMENT 1
A. 1. one hundred 2. Federal - Secularism
- Directive Principles 5. Council
- Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha
- British, trial 8. RTI
B. 1. A republic country is where the head
of a particular state is an elected
person and not someone from a
hereditary monarch. India is known
as a republic country because the
people of India elect the head of the
state government. It is also
incorporated in the Constitution of
India. - The Universal Adult Franchise refers
that all citizens who are 18 years and
above irrespective of their caste or
education, religion, color, race, and
economic conditions are free to vote.
In a democracy, a universal adult
franchise is important, as it is based
on the idea of equality. - It is important to separate state from
religion to prevent domination of the
majority religious group and violation
of Fundamental Rights. Every
individual has the freedom to
embrace other religions and has the
freedom to interpret other religions
differently. - In a secular society, ideals include the
neutrality of the state in matters of
religion, ensuring equal rights and
freedoms for individuals of all faiths
and beliefs, and promoting tolerance
and respect for diverse religious and
non-religious viewpoints. - In India, laws are made by the
Parliament at the central level and by
the State Legislatures at the state
level. The Parliament consists of the
President and two houses: the Lok
Sabha (House of the People) and the
Rajya Sabha (Council of States). - In India, people adopt various
methods to demand new laws or
change existing laws:
Petitions and Representations: Citizens
and organizations can submit
p e t i t i o n s , m e m o r a n d a , o r
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s t o e l e c t e d
representatives, government bodies,
or legislative committees advocating
for legislative changes.
Protests and Demonstrations: Mass
movements, rallies, protests, and
demonstrations are organized to raise
awareness and pressure lawmakers to
enact new laws or amend existing
ones.
Legal Challenges: Individuals or
groups can challenge laws in courts
through public interest litigation
(PIL) or judicial review, seeking
judicial intervention to declare laws
unconstitutional or to interpret laws
in a manner that aligns with public
interest.
Lobbying and Advocacy: Interest
groups, industry associations, and
civil society organizations engage in
lobbying efforts to influence
lawmakers and policymakers in favor
of specific legislative changes.
Media and Public Campaigns: Media
campaigns, social media activism,
and public awareness initiatives are
used to mobilize public opinion,
garner support, and generate
momentum for legislative reforms.
These methods contribute to the
democratic process by empowering
citizens to participate actively in
shaping laws and policies that affect
their lives and communities. - Members of the Lok Sabha are
elected by an adult universal suffrage
and a first-past-the-post system to
r e p r e s e n t t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e
constituencies, and they hold their
seats for five years or until the body
is dissolved by the President on the
advice of the council of ministers. - The President is indirectly elected by
an electoral college comprising both
houses of the Parliament of India and
the legislative assemblies of each of
India’s states and territories, who
themselves are all directly elected by
the citizens.
C. 1. The Fundamental Duties enshrined in
the Constitution of India include:
• To abide by the Constitution and
respect its ideals and institutions.
• To cherish and follow the noble ideals
that inspired the national struggle for
freedom.
• To uphold and protect the sovereignty,
unity, and integrity of India.
• To defend the country and render
national service when called upon.
• To promote harmony and the spirit of
common brotherhood among all the
people of India transcending religious,
linguistic, and regional or sectional
diversities. - The Right to Equality, enshrined in
Articles 14 to 18 of the Indian
Constitution, ensures that all citizens
are treated equally before the law and
prohibits discrimination based on
religion, race, caste, sex, or place of
birth. It guarantees equal opportunity
in public employment, prohibits titles
of nobility, and ensures equality in
access to public places. This
fundamental right aims to promote
social justice, prevent discrimination,
and create a more equitable society
in India. - The Parliament of India, consisting of
the President and two houses, the Lok
Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, performs
several crucial functions. It enacts
laws on subjects within its jurisdiction,
discusses and debates important
national issues, and scrutinizes the
functioning of the government
through parliamentary committees.
The Parliament also approves the
budget, passes financial bills, and
exercises control over finances. It
plays a pivotal role in shaping
policies, representing diverse interests
of the people, and ensuring
accountability and transparency in
governance through parliamentary
sessions and proceedings. - Laws are amended or framed at
regular intervals to ensure they
remain relevant and effective in
addressing evolving societal needs,
challenges, and aspirations.
Amendments help incorporate new
k n o w l e d g e , t e c h n o l o g i c a l
advancements, and changing
circumstances that may impact legal
frameworks. Regular updates also
enable laws to reflect shifts in public
opinion, address emerging issues,
close loopholes, and enhance clarity
and enforceability. This process
ensures that legal systems adapt to
societal progress, uphold justice, and
maintain credibility and legitimacy in
governance.