Social and Political Life - II

The term ‘liberty’ means the absence of restraints on the activities of individuals, and at the same time, providing opportunities for the development of individual personalities.

Liberty, as elaborated in the Preamble, is very essential for the successful functioning of the Indian democratic system. However, liberty does not mean license to do what one likes and has to be enjoyed within the limitations mentioned in the Constitution itself.

In brief, the liberty conceived by the Preamble or fundamental rights is not absolute but qualified. Hence in the above question the most appropriate definition of liberty is to provide opportunity to develop oneself fully.

Source: NCERT: Class 11 Political Theory

The term liberty means absence of restraints on the activities of individuals, and at the same time, providing opportunities for the development of individuals. However, liberty does not mean license to do what one likes, and has to be enjoyed within the limitations mentioned in the Constitution and various laws.

The concept of liberty is not absolute. Absence of laws does not ensure liberty.

Source Attribution:

• Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
• NCERT: Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 2

According to Supreme Court judgment Jyoti Basu vs Debi Ghosal - A right to elect, fundamental though it is to democracy, is, anomalously neither a fundamental right nor a Common Law Right. It is a statutory right. So is the right to be elected, and the right to dispute an election.

NOTE - As per NCERT One of the important decisions of the framers of the Indian Constitution was to guarantee every adult citizen in India, the right to vote i.e. universal adult franchise. The article 326 of the Constitution provides for the right to vote and to be elected in India. What is true of the right to vote is also true of right to contest election. All citizens have the right to stand for election and become the representative of the people.

Source Attribution:

• Union of India vs. Association for Democratic Reforms and Anr. (2002) 5 SCC
• People’s Union for Civil Liberties vs. Union of India (2003)
• Article of the Constitution
• NCERT: 11 Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter

According to Supreme Court judgment Jyoti Basu vs Debi Ghosal - A right to elect, fundamental though it is to democracy, is, anomalously neither a fundamental right nor a Common Law Right. It is a statutory right. So is the right to be elected, and the right to dispute an election.

NOTE - As per NCERT One of the important decisions of the framers of the Indian Constitution was to guarantee every adult citizen in India, the right to vote i.e. universal adult franchise. The article 326 of the Constitution provides for the right to vote and to be elected in India. What is true of the right to vote is also true of right to contest election. All citizens have the right to stand for election and become the representative of the people.

Source Attribution:

• Union of India vs. Association for Democratic Reforms and Anr. (2002) 5 SCC
• People’s Union for Civil Liberties vs. Union of India (2003)
• Article of the Constitution
• NCERT: 11 Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter

Social capital is a sociological concept that refers to the intangible relational assets that emerge from social interactions. These assets are generated through give and take and activate the norm of reciprocity, creating social obligations that connect and bind people and groups. The more social capital is used, the greater the benefits.

The concept of social capital is composed of three distinct but interrelated structural, emotional and behavioral components. They are, respectively:

• Networks
• Trust
• Collaborative cultural norms

In every society, some people have a greater share of valued resources – money, property, education, health, and power – than others. These social resources can be divided into three forms of capital:

1. Economic capital in the form of material assets and income;
2. Cultural capital such as educational qualifications and status;
3. Social capital in the form of networks of contacts and social associations (Bourdieu 1986).

Often, these three forms of capital overlap and one can be converted into the other. For example, a person from a well-off family (economic capital) can afford expensive higher education, and so can acquire cultural or educational capital. Someone with influential relatives and friends (social capital) may – through access to good advice, recommendations or information – manage to get a well-paid job.

Source: NCERT: Class XII Sociology Chapter – Patterns of Social Inequality and Exclusion