Features of Constitution

Indian Polity UPSC Civil Services Examination (General Studies)

Title

45:30

8 of 24 completed

5 of 15 completed

38 of 100 completed

8 of 20 completed

Indian Economy - Understanding the basics of Indian economic system

With reference to Indian polity, a ‘liberal constitution’ ensures

1. Individual rights

2. Social justice

3. Individual rights are always prioritised over social justice

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only

1 and 2 only

1, 2 and 3

3 only

Indian Constitution differs from classical liberalism in two ways.
First, it guarantees fundamental rights to individuals, including freedom of speech, expression, religion, and the right to equality.
These rights are considered essential to individual dignity and are protected from encroachment by the government.
Option 2 is correct: Second, Liberalism was always linked to social justice.Ex.provision for reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Constitution.
Option 3 is incorrect: Classical liberalism always privileges the rights of individuals over demands for social justice and community values.
While Indian liberalism creates a balance between the Social Justice and Fundamental rights.
Thus, the doctrine of basic structure envisages harmony between the Fundamental rights and DPSP (Directive principles of State policy).
Indian liberalism has two streams.
The first stream began with Rammohan Roy.
He emphasized individual rights, particularly the rights of women.
The second stream included thinkers like K.C.Sen, Justice Ranade and Swami Vivekananda.
They introduced the spirit of social justice within orthodox Hinduism.
For Vivekananda, such a reordering of Hindu society could not have been possible without liberal principles -K.M.Panikkar, In Defence of Liberalism, Bombay, Asia publishing house, 1962