MAYOOR SCHOOL, NOIDA

HALF YEARLY EXAM (2019-20)

POLITICAL SCIENCE

CLASS-XI

SET A

Marking Scheme

TIME: 3 Hour M.M: 80

Date:
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Who was the President of the constituent assembly of India? 1

Rajender Prasad

2. Name any two types of inequalities identified by Rammanohar Lohia. 1

The eminent socialist thinker Rammanohar Lohia, identified five kinds of

inequalities that need to be fought against simultaneously: inequality between
man and woman, inequality based on skin colour, caste-based inequality,
colonial rule of some countries over others, and, of course, economic
inequality.

3. When was the Fundamental duties incorporated in the Indian constitution? 1

1976

4. Who wrote ‘Hind Swaraj’? 1

Gandhiji

5. What is Direct Democracy? 1

A direct democracy is one where the citizens directly participate in the day-to-
day decision making and in the running of the government.

6. Name the autobiography of Nelson Mandela. 1

Long Walk to Freedom.

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7. How many constitutions did Nepal had? 1

8. ‘I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to death your right to say it’. 1
Which political thinker gave this statement?

Voltaire’s

9. Define ‘Bills of Rights. 1

a list of rights mentioned and protected by the constitution is called the ‘bill of
rights’.

10. When was the 44th amendment of Indian constitution passed? 1

1978

11. What does article 21 of the Indian constitution states? 1

Article 21: Protection of life and personal liberty—No person shall be deprived
of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.

12. What do you understand by the concept of ‘liberalism’? 1

Liberals uphold the principle of competition as the most efficient and fair way
of distributing resources and rewards in society. They believe that while states
may have to intervene to try and ensure a minimum standard of living and
equal opportunities for all, this cannot by itself bring equality and justice to
society. Competition between people in free and fair conditions is the most just
and efficient way of distributing rewards in a society.

13. Which fundamental right is termed as the ‘Heart and Soul of the Indian 1
constitution?

Right to constitutional remedies

14. Define Politics. 1

politics arises from the fact that we have different visions. It involves the
multiple negotiations that go on in society through which collective decisions
are made.

15. What do you understand by the term ‘Universal Adult Franchise’? 1

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 Adult franchise ensures that all citizens are able to participate in the process of
selecting their representative. This is consistent with the principle of equality
and non-discrimination

16. Differentiate between simple and special majority. 1

Two-thirds majority of those present and voting, and Simple majority of the
total membership of the House.

17. What is the full form of NHRC? When was it founded? 0.5+0.5=1

National Human Right commission. 1993

18. What was the reason of inequality according to Karl Marx? 1

Economic disparity

19. From where have we borrowed the concept of ‘Residual Powers’? 1

Canadian constitution

20. What is the reason for the inequalities present between men and women? 1

result of patriarchy

21. Why do we need constraints? 2

22. What do you understand by Natural inequalities? Give one example 2

Natural inequalities that emerge between people as a result of their different

capabilities and talents and choices are often represented as natural
inequalities. Natural inequalities are considered to be the result of the different
characteristics and abilities with which people are born. It is generally
assumed that natural differences cannot be altered.
23. How are Directive Principles different from Fundamental rights? 2

Some guidelines were incorporated in the Constitution

but they were not made legally enforceable: this means that if a
government did not implement a particular guideline, we cannot go
to the court asking the court to instruct the government to implement
that policy. Thus, these guidelines are ‘non-justiciable’ i.e., parts of
the Constitution that cannot be enforced by the judiciary. Those who
framed our Constitution thought that the moral force behind these
guidelines would ensure that the government would take them
seriously.

24. Explain how the rights of an accused is ensured in the constitution. 4

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 Our Constitution ensures that persons accused of various offences
would also get sufficient protection. We often tend to believe that
anyone who is charged with some offence is guilty. However, no one is
guilty unless the court has found that person guilty of an offence. It is
also necessary that a person accused of any crime should get adequate
opportunity to defend herself or himself. To ensure a fair trial in courts,
the Constitution has provided three rights:
􀂓 no person would be punished for the same offence more than
once,
􀂓 no law shall declare any action as illegal from a backdate,
and
􀂓 no person shall be asked to give evidence against himself or
herself.

25. Elaborate the functions of the Election Commission of India. 4

The Election Commission of India has a wide range of functions.

􀂓 It supervises the preparation of up-to-date voters’ list. It makes
every effort to ensure that the voters’ list is free of errors like nonexistence
of names of registered voters or existence of names of
those non-eligible or non-existent.
􀂓 It also determines the timing of elections and prepares the election
schedule. The election schedule includes the notification of
elections, date from which nominations can be filed, last date for
filing nominations, last date of scrutiny, last date of withdrawal,
date of polling and date of counting and declaration of results.
􀂓 During this entire process, the Election Commission has the power
to take decisions to ensure a free and fair poll. It can postpone or
cancel the election in the entire country or a specific State or
constituency on the grounds that the atmosphere is vitiated and
therefore, a free and fair election may not be possible. The
Commission also implements a model code of conduct for parties
and candidates. It can order a re-poll in a specific constituency.
It can also order a recount of votes when it feels that the counting
process has not been fully fair and just.
􀂓 The Election Commission accords recognition to political parties
and allots symbols to each of them.

26. Examine the concept of positive and negative concept of liberty. 4

Positive liberty recognises that one can be free only in society

(not outside it) and hence tries to make that society such that it
enables the development of the individual whereas negative liberty
is only concerned with the inviolable area of non-interference and
not with the conditions in society, outside this area, as such. Of
course negative liberty would like to expand this minimum area as
much as is possible keeping in mind, however, the stability of society.
Generally they both go together and support each other, but it can
happen that tyrants justify their rule by invoking arguments of

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 positive liberty.

27. ‘Policies of affirmative action are supported for making the society more equal.’ 4
Comment

Affirmative action is based on the idea that it is not sufficient to

establish formal equality by law. When we wish to eliminate
inequalities that are deeply rooted, it is necessary to take some
more positive measures to minimise and eliminate entrenched forms
of social inequalities. Most policies of affirmative action are thus
designed to correct the cumulative effect of past inequalities.
Affirmative action can however take many forms, from
preferential spending on facilities for disadvantaged communities,
such as, scholarships and hostels to special consideration for
admissions to educational institutions and jobs. In our country we
have adopted a policy of quotas or reserved seats in education and
jobs to provide equality of opportunity to deprived groups, and this
has been the subject of considerable debate and disagreement. The
policy has been defended on the ground that certain groups have
been victims of social prejudice and discrimination in the form of
exclusion and segregation. These communities who have suffered
in the past and been denied equal opportunities cannot be
immediately expected to compete with others on equal terms.
Therefore, in the interest of creating an egalitarian and just society
they need to be given special protection and help.

28. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given below: 2+2+1=5

‘Since the actions of the government affect us deeply we take a lively interest in
what governments do. We form associations and organize campaigns to
articulate our demands. We negotiate with others and try to shape the goals
that governments pursue. When we disagree with the policies of the
government, we protest and organize demonstration to persuade our
governments to change the existing laws. We passionately debate the actions of
our representatives and discuss whether corruption has increased or
decreased. We ask whether corruption can be rooted out; whether
reservations for specific groups are just or not. We try to understand why
some parties and leaders win elections. In this way we look for the rationale
underlying the prevalent chaos and decay, and aspire to create a better world.’

a) Why do we take lively interest in government activities and how?

b) What can citizens do when they disagree with the policies of the
government?
c) Identify any two values shown by the citizens in the above para.

29. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given below: 1+2+2=5

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 ‘Some years ago Deepa Mehta, film maker, wanted to make a film about
widows in Varanasi. It sought to explore the plight of widows but there was a
strong protest from a section of the polity who felt that it would show India in
a very bad light, who felt it was being made to cater to foreign audiences, who
felt it would bring a bad name to the ancient town. They refused to allow it to
be made and as a result it could not be made in Varanasi. It was subsequently
made elsewhere. Similarly the book Ramayana Retold by Aubrey Menon and
‘The Satanic Verses’ by Salman Rushdie were banned after protest from some
sections of society. The film The Last Temptation of Christ and the play ‘Me
Nathuram Boltey’ were also banned after protests.
a) Which freedom of an individual was violated here by banning these
movies, plays and books?
Freedom of expression
b) What reasons are given by the government whilst banning them?
Public order and it showed Indian culture in bad light
c) Why do you think it is against the concept of liberty?

30. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follows: 1+2+2=5

a) Why do you think that that above picture doesn’t represent the idea of
equality?
b) How can be the idea of equality be ensured to the diversified groups?
Give example for the same.
c) List out some inequalities present in our country.

31. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follows: 2+1+2=5

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 a) Identify any two leaders from the cartoon shown above. Why are they
leaning forward?
Nehru,Patel .Rajender Prasad
b) What does the tiny person in the cartoon signifies?
Opposition Parties
c) Highlight upon the drawback of the Indian electoral system pointed out
in the cartoon.

32. Discuss the main functions of the constitution. 6

Constitution allows coordination and

Assurance

Specification of decision making powers

Limitations on the
powers of government
Aspirations and goals of a society

Or

Describe why we should study political theory.

First of all, political theory is relevant for all the above target
groups. As high school students, we may choose one of the above
professions in the future and so indirectly it is relevant for us even
now.

Secondly, we are all going to be citizens entitled to vote and

decide other issues. To act responsibly, it is helpful to have a basic
knowledge of the political ideas and institutions that shape the

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 world we live in.

Thirdly, freedom, equality and secularism are not abstract issues

in our lives. We daily encounter discrimination of various sorts in
families, schools, colleges, shopping malls and so on. We ourselves
have prejudices against people who are different from us, be they
of a different caste or religion or gender or class. If we feel oppressed,
we want it redressed and if that is delayed, we feel violent revolution
is justified.

Finally, as students we enjoy debates and elocution competitions.

We have opinions about what is right or wrong, just or unjust but do
not know whether they are reasonable or not. Only when we argue
with others, we realize the need to defend them and seek out reasons
and arguments. Political theory exposes us to systematic thinking
on justice or equality so that we can polish our opinions and argue in
an informed manner and for the sake of common interests. Such
skills of debating rationally and communicating effectively are likely
to be great assets in the global informational order.

33. Elaborate the Harm principle given by J.S Mill. 6

The principle is that the sole end for which mankind

are warranted individually or collectively in
interfering with the liberty of action of any of that
number is self-protection that the only purpose for
which power can be rightfully exercised over any
member of a civilized community against his will
is to prevent harm to others.
Mill introduces here an important distinction. He
distinguishes between ‘self-regarding’ actions, i.e., those
actions that have consequences only for the individual
actor and nobody else, and ‘other regarding’ actions,

Or

Examine how right to Freedom is guaranteed to Indian citizens and what are
the necessary restrictions imposed by the government?

34. Elucidate the differences between Proportional Representation and FPTP 6

system of elections.

Or

What are three dimensions of equality? Explain with suitable examples.

Political; Social and economic equality

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