Freedom is a situation that limits the constraints on individuals and allows them to expand their ability and reach their potential.
Freedom allows the full development of an individual’s creativity, sensibility, capabilities and the autonomy to make choices.
It permits the individuals to exercise their power of reason and judgement.
Yes, there is a relationship between freedom for the individual and freedom for the nation.
A free nation allows the full development of individual’s talent and ability by making fewer constraints on individuals.
An individual is said to be free only if s/he resides in a free nation.
A nation is said to be free if it has freedom as one of its principles and only if it has provided this to its people. In this way, individual freedom and national freedom are closely linked together.

Question - 2 : -
What is the difference between the negative and positive conception of liberty?

Answer - 2 : -

	Negative liberty		Positive liberty
1.	It defines and defends the area of an individual’s life where no external authority can interfere.	i.	It defines the area of society where an individual can be free with some constraints made by the society and the government.
2.	It is not concerned with the conditions of the society.	ii.	It is concerned with the enabling conditions of the society.
3.	It is concerned with explaining the idea of ‘freedom from’.	iii.	It is concerned with explaining the idea of ‘freedom to’.
4.	This area comes into personal domain of the individual.	iv.	This area comes into social domain of the individual.
5.	More negative liberty leads to more freedom.	v.	More positive liberty checks excess of freedom to an individual, which could be an obstruction for social stability.

Question - 3 : -
What is meant by social constraints? Are constraints of any kind necessary for enjoying freedom?

Answer - 3 : -

Social constraints are the external controls on individual freedom maintained by the society.
The government, as a part of the society, controls individual freedom through laws that embodies the power of the government and are legitimatised.
Constraints on freedom are also a result of social inequality.
Yes, constraints are essential to enjoy freedom.
Constraints are necessary to develop respect for views and beliefs of others.
It is necessary for the creation of a society.
Absence of constraint would lead to imposition of beliefs and ideas of stronger groups eventually leading to conflict.
Constraints are required to control violence and settle disputes.

Question - 4 : -
What is the role of the state in upholding freedom of its citizens?

Answer - 4 : -

The state upholds the freedom of its citizens by providing certain rights to them.
The state maintains ‘justifiable constraints’ or reasonable restrictions on people so that they cannot harm others and their freedom.
It provides positive liberty to its citizens to enable them to expand their ability and talent.
It defines and checks ‘other regarding’ actions of its people in order to maintain social stability.

Question - 5 : -
What is meant by freedom of expression? What in your view would be a reasonable restriction on this freedom? Give examples.

Answer - 5 : -

Freedom of expression means the freedom to express one’s views through speech, writing etc.
It is considered to belong to the minimum area of ‘non-interference’, that is, negative liberty.
According to the provisions of the Indian Constitution, this is a fundamental right.
Society bears some inconvenience caused by freedom of speech to protect it from people who want to restrict it.
Society cannot restrict people from expressing themselves freely whether it agrees with their views or not.
A reasonable restriction of freedom of expression is one that allows society to function smoothly and curbs interference in privacy.
These restrictions are reasonable as they are necessary to run the society smoothly.

Following are some reasonable restrictions on freedom of speech.

Freedom of speech cannot interfere in someone’s privacy. Employees of Royal household of England are constrained by contract from disclosing any inner affairs of the royal household.
Another example of putting restriction on freedom of speech is of film censor board. Censor board of films ban some portion of film to prevent adverse effect on society or disturbance of peace.

Question - 6 : -
Some people argue that inequality is natural while others maintain that it is equality which is natural and the inequalities which we notice around us are created by the society. Which view do you support? Give reasons.

Answer - 6 : -

Natural inequalities:

These inequalities emerge due to differences in personal traits either physical, or mental or emotional.
These inequalities are the result of different characteristics and abilities of inborn qualities of a man.
These natural differences cannot be changed also.

Social inequalities:

Socially produced inequalities are emerged as a result of inequal opportunities, i.e. family background, educational factors, etc.
Social differences reflect the values of society, which may appear to be unjust.

Conclusion:

The discrimination’s based on gender, colour, race, etc. have been made by society rather than based on inborn characteristics.
Some natural differences have become alterable also, i.e. progress in medical sciences and technology has helped to several disabled persons to work more efficiently.
Certain inequalities have been existing for centuries seem justified, and based on natural inequalities, i.e. women are considered weaker than man in every aspect, hence to deny them equal rights is considered the justifiable.

Question - 7 : -
There is a view that absolute economic equality is neither possible nor desirable. It is argued that the most a society can do is to try and reduce the gaps between the richest and the poorest members of society. Do you agree?

Answer - 7 : -

Economic equality: It refers to availability of equal opportunities to one and all present in the society, without any discrimination:

Absolute economic equality of income has never existed in society. But democratic set up provides equal opportunities to at least those who are capable and possess potential with equal opportunities, inequalities may exist between individuals, but one’s position may be improved with the sincere efforts in the society.

Economic inequalities:

Economic inequality exists if there are differences in wealth, property or income between different sections of society.
It enhances the gap between the upper, middle, poor-rich and persons living below poverty line.

Measurement of economic inequalities:

To estimate the number of people who are living below poverty line.
To find out the differences between the rich and poor.

Importance of economic equality:

Economic equality guarantees each and everybody equal opportunities to improve one’s potential and capabilities.
Economic equality reduces the gap between the rich and the poor or high or middle class, etc.
Economic disparities can make society more violent because the reforms cannot take place in such a society.

Question - 8 : - Match the following concepts with appropriate instances:

(a) Affirmative action

(i) Every adult citizen has a right to vote.

(b) Equality of opportunity

(ii) Banks offer higher rate of interest to senior citizen

(c) Equal Rights.

(iii) Every child should get free education.

Answer - 8 : -

(a) Affirmative action: Banks offer higher rate of interest to senior citizen.

Appropriate instances:

Senior citizens have contributed to the development and service of society throughout their age.
Their age increases but their income decreases due to medical needs and social needs.

(b) Equality of opportunity: Every child should get free education

Appropriate instances:

Every child should get an equal opportunity to get education, i.e. no one should be discriminated on any ground.
This type of inequalities is against the principle of equality.

Appropriate instances:

This principle is based on one person one vote one value, i.e. every adult citizen enjoys the right to vote.
No citizen should be discriminated on any ground to exempt from enjoying right to vote.

Question - 9 : -
A government report on farmers’ problems says that small and marginal farmers cannot get good prices from the market. It recommends that the government should intervene to ensure a better price but only for small and marginal farmers. Is this recommendation consistent with the principle of equality?

Answer - 9 : -

Yes, this recommendation is consistent on the basis of the principle of equality:

A democratic country should have the provisions to protect the interests of small and marginal farmers.
The small and the marginal farmers can get assistance from government for their betterment.
The farmers (medium and small) can get social, economic and political justice due to this arrangements.

Question - 10 : -
Which of the following violates the principles of equality? And why?
(a) Every child in the class will read the text of the play by turn.
(b) The Government of Canada encouraged white Europeans to migrate to Canada from the end of the Second World War till 1960.
(c) There is a separate railway reservation counter for the senior citizens.
(d) Access to some forest areas is reserved for certain tribal communities.

Answer - 10 : -

This does not violate the principle of equality because every child is asked to perform the same activity without any discrimination.
This violates the principle of equality due to discrimination on the basis of colour.
It is not violating the principle of equality because senior citizens should be honoured and every individual one day can enjoy the same privileges.
This violates the principle of equality because all tribal people should be treated equally, no one should be discriminated by reserving forest areas for some only.

Free - Previous Years Question Papers

(a) Affirmative action	(i) Every adult citizen has a right to vote.
(b) Equality of opportunity	(ii) Banks offer higher rate of interest to senior citizen
(c) Equal Rights.	(iii) Every child should get free education.

Chapter 2 Freedom Solutions

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