NCERT 9th Class (CBSE) Social Science: Democratic Rights

Question: Explain the right to equality?

1. The fundamental fights are guaranteed to protect the basic human rights of all citizens of India and are put into effect by the courts, subject to some limitations. One of such fundamental rights is the Right to Equality.
2. Right to Equality refers to the equality in the eyes of law, discarding any unfairness on grounds of caste, race, religion, place of birth sex.
3. It also includes equality of prospects in matters of employment, abolition of untouchability and abolition of titles. Articles 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the Constitution of India highlight the Right to Equality in detail.
4. This fundamental right is the major foundation of all other rights and privileges granted to Indian citizens. It is one of the chief guarantees of the Constitution of India. Thus, it is imperative that every citizen of India has easy access to the courts to exercise his / her Right to Equality.

Question: Write a short note on the following fundamental rights:

1. Right to Freedom of Religion.
2. Cultural and Educational Rights.

Answer:

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 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.
   (i) 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 discrimination.
3. 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.

Question: ‘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.

Answer:

1. It is through this Right that all other Fundamental Rights are safeguarded and arbitrary action of the state is checked.
2. 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.

Question: 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:

1. The Right to Equality: Under this the State can make special provisions for women and children.
2. Right Against Exploitation: Under this traffic in human beings, especially women and children, shall be an offence punishable in accordance with the law.
3. 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.

Question: How or why is the ‘Right to Freedom’ called a cluster of several rights ?

Answer: Under the Indian Constitution, all citizens exercise a number of freedoms which are all covered in the right to freedom. So every citizen has the right to all of the following freedoms:

1. Freedom of speech and expression
2. Freedom of assembly in a peaceful manner
3. Freedom to form associations and unions
4. Freedom to move freely throughout the country
5. Freedom to reside in any part of the country
6. Freedom to practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.