CLASS: XI, Important Question and Answer

Subject: Political Science

Q. 1. What is the modern meaning of Politices?

Ans. If the traditional meaning of politics as the study of the state or government or
both is incomplete. The modern meaning of politics is the study of power or the struggle for
power.
Q. 2. In which two respects human beings are unique?
Ans. Human beings are unique in the following two respects:
(i) They passess reasons and the ability to reflect on their actions.
(ii) Human beings have the capacity to use language and communicate with each other.
Q. 3. How does government as an important institution of politics influence our daily life
both ways-useful as well as very harmful ? Briefly answer.
Ans. Government is an important institution of politics. What the government does is
relevant because it affects the lives of the people in different ways.
(i) Governments determine our economic policy, foreign policy and educational
policy. These policies can help improve the lives of the people.
(ii) If the government is inefficient or corrupt it can endanger peoples lives and
security. If the government in power allows any conflicts to become violent,
markets close down and schools are closed down there.

Q. 4. What are the characteristic features of class struggle?

Ans. The following characteristic features can be seen in class struggle:
1. The conflict among the individuals and groups are not natural. They are the result of
the class society.
2. The common interest is nothing more than the interest of the economically dominant
class.
3. Classes originate because of the origin of private ownership of the means of production
4. As these classes stand in opposition to each other they keep fighting. The change in the
actors does not result substantially, in the nature of class war.
5. The future of classes in their virtual abolition as and when the class society moves into
classless society. In the interim period (the socialist society) between capitalism and
communism, the working class would attempt to exploit the capitalists the earlier
expropriators.
Q. 5. Politics is more than what politicians do. Do you agree with this statement? Give
examples. (NCERT T.B.Q-2)
Ans. 1. Different people have different ideas about what politics is: (1) Political
leaders and persons who contest elections and hold political office, may argue that it is a kind
of public service.
(2) Some others associate politics with manipulation and intrigue undertake to pursue
ambitions and satisfy wants.
(3) A few people think of politics as what politicians do. If they see politics politicians
defecting from parties, making false promises and tall claims, manipulating different sections,
pursuing personal or group interests ruthlessly and in wrost cases stooping to crime, they link
with scarns.
 So prevalent in this way of thinking that when we see people in different walks of life
making efforts to promote their self by any means possible people charge them that are playing
politics.
In short we can say that people confront with conflicting images of politics. In fact, it
is infortunate that politics has come to be associated with the pursuit of self-interest by any and
every method. We need to realise that politics is an important and integral part of any society.
(4) Government is directly related with politics. It plays an important part in different
institutions such as family, tribes and economic institutions to emerge and it also helps people
to fulfil their needs and aspirations. How governments are formed and how they function is
thus an important focus on politics.
(5) But politics is not confined to the affairs of government. In fact what governments
do is relevant because it affects the lives of the people in different ways. Therefore, we take a
lively interest on what governments do.
People may be said to engage in political activity whenever they negotiate with each
other and take part in collective activities which are designed to promote social development
and help resolve common problem.
Q. 6. Distinguish between Political Science and Politics.
Ans. Distinguish between Political Science and Politics: (a) Political science (or
political theory) is subject or a scientific study of political ideas and principles.
(b) Stuey of Political science shape constitution, governments and social life in a system
active manner.
(c) Political science clarifies the meaning of concepts such as freedom, equality, justice
democracy, secularism and so on.
(d) Political science proves defecting from parties making promises and tall clears
manipulating different sections, The significance of principles such as rule of law, separation
of powers, judicial reviews etc. this is done by examining the arguments advanced by different
thinkers in defence of these concepts.
(e) Though Rousses (French Philosopher) or Karl Marx or M. K. Gandhi did not
become politicians, their ideas influenced generations of politicians everywhere.
Politics: (a) People have different ideas about what politics is. Political leaders and
persons who contest elections and hold political office, may argue that it is a kind of public
service.
(b) Some others associate politics with manipulation and intrigue undertaken to
pressure ambitions and satisfy wants.
(c) A few think of politics as what politicians do if they see politicians. Defecting from
parties making promises and tall claims manipulating different sections, pursuing personal or
group interests ruthlessly and in worst cases stooping to crime, they link politics with, scams.
(d) So prevalent is this away of thinking that when we see people in different walks of
life trying to promote their interest by any means possible, we say they are playing politics.
Q. 7. Who is Nelson Mandela ?
Ans. Nelson Mandela is the greatest leader of South Africa. He fought more than 27
years-human rights, freedom and equality of him countrymen. He opposed racial and colour
discrimination.
Q. 8. What is meant by Apartheid ?
Ans. Apartheid is a state imposed system of institutionalized racial discrimination and
segregation. After Second World War for several years it was widely practised.
Q. 9. What do you understand by legal liberty ?
Ans. In every country, citizens should have the right to run their administrative system
according to their desire. In every country government changes according to circumstances
prevailing there. In Independent India our constitution making assembly prepared a draft giving
the outlines of the new Constitution. It was introduced in 1950. This freedom to prepare their
own Constitution is known as legal freedom.
Q. 10. Distinguish between negative liberty and positive liberty.
Or
What is the difference between the negative and positive conception of liberty ?
Ans. When we think about the negative aspect of liberty, our attitude implies the
absence of restraints and right to do whatever one likes. But this interpretation of liberty the
poor shall then always be at the mercy of the rich Powerful shall dominate the powerless and
everyone shall bow before the most powerful in the society. Liberty shall be enjoyed as long
as the powerful wishes that to be enjoyed. Such a conception of liberty is now neither
acceptable nor desirable. The absolute liberty must be limited by law. And the negative aspect
of liberty suffers from the following drawbacks:
(i) Mills argument that without liberty truth will not come out is not empirically
correct. The truth grows in strict discipline also.
(ii) Liberty is concerned with area of control and not with its source. It is not necessary
to have democracy to enjoy this liberty.
(iii) The state is a necessary evil. The state should control the liberty of an individual
only up to the limit where he interferes in others such liberty.
But there is a positive aspect of liberty as well. According to this interpretation, liberty
lies in the removal of hindrances. According to Green, State should hinder upon hindrances.
We are living in a society which is divided into two great halves. On the one hand are the rich
and on the other the poor. On one side are exploiter and on the other are exploited. In such a
society unless there is an authority to check the actions of those who have grown strong,
existence shall be difficult for those who are weak and poor. Positive liberty, therefore, implies
and is meant to be understood as liberty in which adequate facilities are available for each
section of the society to live and enjoy socially desirable rights. It is the freedom of not only a
few rich people but for many or rather for the common masses. The liberty should be such that
any individual or section of society does not stand in the progress of the others; or it may be
said that liberty implies that the people have freedom to do whatever is permissible under the
laws.
Q. 11. What do you mean by the concept of equality as a political ideal ?
Ans. As a political ideal in concept of equality invokes the idea that all human beings
have an equal worth regardless of their colour, gender, race or nationality.
Q. 12. What is meant by the term or word Feminism ?
Ans. Feminism is a political doctrine of equal rights for women and men.
Q. 13. Write a short note Save trade or Slave institution.
Ans. Slave Trade or Slave Institution: Slave trade began in the 15th Century, when the
Africans of Coastal regions were enslaved by individual traders, sailors and pirates and
transported to work in American plantations of tobacco, sugar, rice, cotton and coffee. By the
16th Century, regular slave trading companies were formed, supported by the governments of
their counties. Slaves were bought and sold, and were treated inhumanly. They lived in pathetic
conditions resulting in large scale deaths.
Q. 14. In ancient India whose duty was to maintain dharma in the society.
Ans. It was considered to be a primary duty of kings in ancient society (to maintain
dharma).

Q. 15. Write the names of three principles of justice.

Ans. The three principles of justice are:
(i) Equal treatment for equals
(ii) Recognition of different efforts and skills while determining rewards and burdens.
(iii) Provision of minimum standard of living and equal opportunities to the needy.
Q. 16. Define a just society in the words of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
Ans. A justice society is that society in which ascending sense of reverence and
descending sense of contempt is dissolved into the creation of a compassionate society.
Q. 17. Distinguish between the Liberalists and Marxists view of justice.
Ans. In the liberalists view of justice state intervention is very nominal. Liberalism lay
emphasis on individual liberty, freedom and its expression. But the Marxists view of justice
say From each according to his ability to each according to his needs. Thus in Marxists view
the emphasis is laid on just distribution of wealth and property.
Q. 18. What measures have been taken by the Indian Government to secure social justice
to its citizens ?
Or
Assess the measure which have been taken in India to secure justice to its citizens.
Ans. Indian Government has tied to establish the social justice to its citizens. At the
time of Independence in 1947 India was a poor country. Due to the economic stagnation under
the British and the growth of many patterns of inequalities based on caste, class and religion.
The Indian Constitution proclaims that the Democratic republic of India stands committed to
securing to all its citizens. Justice-social, economic and political. The Preamble of the Indian
Constitution declare the objectives to ensure the social, economic and political justice.
Since independence various programmes have been started to tackle the problem of
poverty. The Antyodaya schemes for upliftment of the poorest. Farmer Development Agency
Programmes, Five Year Plans and many other programmes have been launched by the
government. Special steps have been taken to improve the social status of the backwards and
their economic condition. To improve the social status of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes,
the Centre and the State Governments have positively discriminated in their favour by giving
them in preferential treatment in schools, colleges and employment posts have been made
reserved in favour of backward classes. The Constitution also abolished untouchability,
prohibits discrimination, ensure equal opportunity, prevents exploitation and assure right
education, to public assistance in case of citizens unemployment and age, sickness or any other
disablement.
Q. 19. Who is a Alien ?
Ans. Alien is a person who temporarily lives in a country other than his own and does
not enjoy political rights like the citizen of that country do.
Q. 20. What do you mean by natural born citizen ?
Ans. A natural born citizen is one who is either born in a country or if his/her parents
are citizens of that country.
Q. 21. Write one method through which a person can acquire citizenship.
 Ans. Marriage: A foreign woman may marry an Indian man and can then acquire Indian
citizenship.
Q. 22. What do you mean by naturalisation ?
Ans. The process of acquiring citizenship is called naturalisation.
Q. 23. What are the different ways for acquiring citizenship?
Ans. The different ways for acquiring citizenship:
(a) Marriage: A foreign woman may marry an Indian man and can then acquire Indian
citizenship. In Japan the citizenship laws are entirely different. If a Japanese woman
marries an Indian or any other nationality man, that man can acquire Japanese
citizenship.
(b) Appointment as Government Official: If a foreigner is appointed to a citizenship
of the country, where he/she can acquire citizenship of the country, where she/he
has became government servant.
(c) Purchase of Immovable Property: In some countries, if a person is allowed to buy
immovable property, for example land or house, then he/she can acquire citizenship
too.
(d) By Acquisition of Territory: If a territory becomes part of another country, then
all the people of that territory acquire citizenship of the country. For example in
1961, when Goa was liberated from Portugal and became a part of India, all the
people living in Goa became Indian citizens.
Q. 24. How can a citizen loose his/her citizenship?
Ans. A person may loose his/her citizenship in the following ways:
(a) Marriage: It is the most common reasons for loss of citizenship. If an Indian
woman marries a foreigner, she can surrender her Indian citizenship and acquire the
citizenship of her husbands country.
(b) Residence: A person may decide to settled down in another country and he/she may
therefore give up or loose the citizenship of his/her original state.
(c) Appointment as a Government official: When persons enter the service of a
foreign government, they can loose their original citizenship.
(d) Service in defence forces: The defence forces are sensitive organs of a country. If
persons take up service of foreign defence forces they can loose his original
citizenship.
(e) Criminal Acts: Peoples citizenship may be taken away from them, if they commit
a serious crime, prove disloyal to the country or have acquired citizenship by fraud.
Q. 25. What is a Nation ?
Or
Define the term or word Nation.
Ans. A nation is to a great extent an imagined community, held together by the
collective beliefs, aspirations and imaginations assumptions which people make about the
collective whole with which they identify.
Q. 26. Write some qualities which make us nationalist.
Ans. 1. A nationalist cast his/her vote.
2. He/she pays his/her taxes.
3. He/she respects the laws of our country.
4. He/ she is also proud to belong to his/her country.
Q. 27. What do you know about Basque ?
Ans. Basque is a hilly and prosperous region in Spain (Europe). This region is
recognised by the Spanish government as an autonomous region within the Spanish
federation. The nationlist leader of Basque Nationlist Movement are not satisfied with
autonomy and they desired to make this region a separate country.
Q. 28. Which quality-patriotism or humanity, was given more preference by
Rabindranath Tagore?
Ans. Rabindranath Tagore preferred humanity than the patriotism. He said: Patriotism
cannot be our final spiritual shelter; My refuge is humanity. He declared that he would not buy
glass in the price of diamonds, and he would never allow patriotism to triumph over humanity
as long as he lived.
Q. 29. What is peace ?
Ans. Peace is a situation of non-violence. That means without violence. To live in a
society and to work smoothly that is called peace.
Q. 30. How do the terrorists value human rights and democratic means ?
Ans. Terrorists has no faith in democratic means and has utter disregard for human
value. They believe in the cult of the bombs and guns. All their activities are anti-democratic.
They kidnap men and women, commit murder and destroy property.
Q. 31. What is the meaning of Non-alignment with reference to Indias foreign policy ?
Ans. Non-alignment primarily means a policy of not belonging to any block. India is
not obliged to take the side of any of the big powers. It can take independent position on
international issues.
Q. 32. Mention the names of any five developments/events due to which the people of
twentieth century have experienced horror of large scale violence.
Ans. 1. The people have experienced horrors of violence during the First World War
(1914-1918).
2. The people have experienced the horrors of violence alive to rise of Fascism in Italy
(1920-1944).
3. The people have experience the great horros and adverse effects of violence due to
rise of Nazism in German (1930s-1945).
4. The people of the subcontinent the horrors of partion of India in August, 1947.
Q. 33. Why India has not signed Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty. (CTBT)
Ans. India has refused to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was formulated in 1968 and
signed by U.K., U.S.A., USSR and 50 other countries but India refused to sign it on the ground
that it was discriminatory in nature. After many years debate finally in 1996 there emerged a
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). This treaty was full of controversics particularly in
view of discriminatory treatment of nuclear weapon state and non-nuclear weapon states.
Because of this India which had been actively advocating for a comprehensive test ban since
1954, could not agree to sign the CTBT.
Q. 34. Describe the various measures adopted in India for implementation of Human
Rights.
Ans. (1) India is a great supporter of human rights. She want, United Nations take
effective steps for the protection of human rights in the world. India has guaranteed to it citizens
almost all the rights included in the UN Declaration of Human Rights.
 (2) India has always opposed the violation of human rights by any country and raises
her voice against it. India is the biggest democracy in the world and has declared Fundamental
Rights constitutionally. Many of the Fundamental Rights are best owed upon all the persons
living in India.
(3) India has taken active steps for their enforcement in the spirit. India has provided
for National Human Rights Commission at the central level and State Human Rights
Commissions at the state level. These commissions look into complaints and even on their own
initiative, incidents of violation of human rights and see that instive is done to the attended
person.
(4) As for as implementation of commitment to Human Rights is concerned, compared
to many other developing countries Indias record is much better. Various laws passed out by
the governments both central and states curbing the freedoms and liberties of people are
criticized by the observes. They also point out cases of torture by police, state managed
encounters and custodial deaths in violation of norms of universal Declaration and
Constitutional Provisions.
Q. 35. Examine aims and the role of U.N. in maintaining world peace.
Ans. United Nations is a world organisation. It has formed to control the wars and to
establish and maintain peace in the world. At present about 191 countries are its members. This
organisation came into existence and was formally inaugurated on October 24, 1945. The
headquarters of United Nations is situated in New York (America).
I ITS Aims or Objectives:
(i) To maintain international peace and security.
(ii) To establish friendly relations among the nations.
(iii) To make efforts to solve economic, social and humanitarian problems.
(iv) To being all the nations on the one stage to achieve the above mentioned
ends and to bring co-ordination among their efforts.
The methods suggested for the realisation of these objectives are:
(1) To practice tolerance.
(2) To unite in maintaining international peace and security.
(3) To ensure that armed forces shall not be used except in common interest.
(4) To employ international machinery for the promotions social and economic
advancement of people.
II Role of the U. N. in maintaining world peace:
The United Nations has been trying its level best for maintaining peace in the world.
This has been successful in ending the cold war as well as courtaining the Third World War.
The achievements of the United Nations for the maintenance of world peace are given below:
1. Korean Problem: In 1950, the North Korea attacked the South Korea. The United
Nations sent the armies of sixteen nations to control the war. Indian soldiers also
took part in it. The United Nations was successful in stopping the war.
2. Problem concerned with Suez Canal: In July 1956, the Egypt declared the
nationalization of Suez Canal. Due to this declaration England and France was very
much annoyed, therefore both of these countries attacked Egypt through Israel. The
United Nations tried its best to end this war. India also helped in its efforts.
3. Indo-Pak War: In 1965 when Pakistan attacked India and there was fierce between
the two countries, the United Nations played an important role to end this war. This
war ended with a treaty known as Tashkent Treaty in January 1966.
4. The Gulf War: In 1991, there was Gulf War. On one side America and some other
European countries and on the other side Iraq.
The Security Council of the United Nations called its meeting and passed a
resolution to end this war. In this way the United Nations played an important role
to stop this war.
5. Efforts for the Disarmament: The United Nations has always been trying for
Disarmament form the very beginning. The U. N. has called for many summits and
passes many resolutions for the disarmament. In these efforts India has always
helped the United Nations.

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