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Q59 (IAS/2014) Polity & Governance › Constitutional Basics & Evolution › Constitutionalism and government Official Key

Consider the following statements : A Constitutional Government is one which 1. places effective restrictions on individual liberty in the interest of State Authority 2. places effective restrictions on the Authority of the State in the interest of individual liberty Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

The correct answer is option B - statement 2 only is correct.

Constitutional government provides a system of effective restraints upon governmental action and ensures fairplay, rendering the government responsible[1]. Constitutionalism means essentially limited government, which is the antithesis of government by the unrestrained will of rulers, and assumes limitations on government as opposed to arbitrary government[1].

One reason for having constitutions is the need to restrict the exercise of power[2], particularly because modern states are excessively powerful and have a monopoly over force and coercion[2]. Rights place certain constraints upon state actions and ensure that the authority of the state is exercised without violating the sanctity of individual life and liberty[3].

Statement 1 is incorrect as it reverses the fundamental principle of constitutional government - the constitution restricts state authority to protect individual liberty, not the other way around. Constitutional government is about limiting state power, not maximizing it at the expense of individual freedom.

Sources
  1. [1] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 3: Concept of the Constitution > II Definition > p. 25
  2. [2] Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 10: THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE CONSTITUTION > Constitution as Means of Democratic Transformation > p. 223
  3. [3] Political Theory, Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Rights > 5.3 LEGAL RIGHTS AND THE STATE > p. 73
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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest preview
Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Consider the following statements : A Constitutional Government is one which 1. places effective restrictions on individual liberty in th…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 5/10 · 5/10
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This is a classic 'Political Theory' question that tests your understanding of the philosophy behind the Constitution rather than specific articles. It is a direct lift from NCERT Class XI (Political Theory) and the introductory definitions in standard texts. If you only memorized articles but ignored the 'Why', you would struggle here.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Does the concept of "constitutional government" mean placing effective restrictions on individual liberty in the interest of state authority?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"However under Article 19(6), the state is not prevented from making a law imposing reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the fundamental right in the interest of the general public."
Why this source?
  • Explains that fundamental rights cannot justify unlawful acts and that legislation can restrict private activity for public purposes.
  • Explicitly states under Article 19(6) the state may make laws imposing reasonable restrictions on fundamental rights in the interest of the general public.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"in the interest of:-a) Sovereignty and Integrity of India. b) The Security of the State. ... d) Public order. e) Decency or Morality."
Why this source?
  • Lists state and public interests (sovereignty, security, public order, morality, etc.) that justify restrictions on rights.
  • Notes that constitutional rights like freedom to assemble are enabled yet procedurally restricted to allow state regulation in those interests.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Clause (4) of Article 19 empowers the State to impose reasonable restrictions on the right of freedom of association and union in the interest of "public order" or "morality" or "sovereignty or integrity" of India."
Why this source?
  • States Clause (4) of Article 19 empowers the State to impose reasonable restrictions on freedom of association in the interest of public order, morality, or sovereignty.
  • Shows constitutional text explicitly permits limiting individual freedoms for specified state/public interests.

Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 3: Concept of the Constitution > II Definition > p. 25
Strength: 5/5
“!II Definition The concepts of constitutionalism and constitutional government have been defined in the following way: Friedrich: "Constitutionalism provides a system of effective restraints upon governmental action. It is a body of rules ensuring fairplay, thus rendering the government responsible". Roucek: "Con stitutionalism means essentially limited government. It is the antithesis of government by the unrestrained will be of rulers. Regardless of the actual form of effectiveness of restraints, it assumes limitations on government as opposed to arbitrary government,,13. Wheare : "Constitutional government means something more than a government according to the terms of a constitution.”
Why relevant

Gives explicit definitions of 'constitutionalism' and 'constitutional government' as imposing effective restraints upon governmental action and meaning limited government.

How to extend

A student can use this rule to infer that constitutional government prima facie emphasizes restraining state power rather than empowering state restrictions on individuals.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > 2014 TEST PAPER > p. 748
Strength: 4/5
“Consider the following statements: A Constitutional Government is one which 1. places effective restrictions on individual liberty in the interest of State Authority 2. places effective restrictions on the Authority of the State in the interest of individual liberty Which of the statements given above is/ are correct? • (a) 1 only • (b) 2 only • (c) Both 1 and 2 • (d) Neither 1 nor 2 9. Which of the following are the discretionary powers given to the Governor of a State? • 1. Sending a report to the President of India for imposing the President's rule • 2.”
Why relevant

Presents the exact pair of contrasting statements (restrictions on individual liberty for state authority vs. restrictions on state authority for individual liberty) as a test item, highlighting the conceptual tension.

How to extend

A student could use this framing to compare which alternative matches textbook definitions or real constitutions on a world map (e.g., democracies vs. authoritarian regimes).

Political Theory, Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Rights > 5.3 LEGAL RIGHTS AND THE STATE > p. 73
Strength: 4/5
“Rights Rights it must give reasons for curtailing my liberty before a judicial court. This is why the police are required to produce an arrest warrant before taking me away. My rights thus place certain constraints upon state actions. To put it another way, our rights ensure that the authority of the state is exercised without violating the sanctity of individual life and liberty. The state may be the sovereign authority; the laws it makes may be enforced with force, but the sovereign state exists not for its own sake but for the sake of the individual. It is people who matter more and it is their well-being that must be pursued by the government in power.”
Why relevant

Explains that rights constrain state actions and require the state to justify curtailing liberty (e.g., arrest warrants), portraying rights as protections against arbitrary state power.

How to extend

Combine this with knowledge of constitutions that enshrine enforceable rights to judge whether constitutional government aims to limit state authority rather than expand it.

Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 10: THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE CONSTITUTION > Constitution as Means of Democratic Transformation > p. 223
Strength: 4/5
“In the first chapter we have studied the meaning of the term constitution and the need to have a constitution. It is widely agreed that one reason for having constitutions is the need to restrict the exercise of power. Modern states are excessively powerful. They are believed to have a monopoly over force and coercion. What if institutions of such states fall into wrong hands who abuse this power? Even if these institutions were created for our safety and well-being, they can easily turn against us. Experience of state power the world over shows that most states are prone to harming the interests of at least some individuals and groups.”
Why relevant

States a general purpose of constitutions is to restrict the exercise of state power because modern states are powerful and can abuse force.

How to extend

A student can apply this principle to infer that constitutional government is designed to check state authority, making the offered statement less likely.

Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 8: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES > Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties IJl > p. 121
Strength: 3/5
“restrictions imposed by the law can be held to be "unreasonable" by a court of law. That is how the competing interests of individual liberty and of public welfare have been sought to be reconciled by the framers of our Constitution. As Mukheljee, J explained in the leading case of A K Gopalan v State of Madras 189_. There cannot be any such thing as absolute or uncontrolled liberty, wholly freed from restraint for that would lead to anarchy and disorder. The possession and enjoyment of all rights ... are subject to such reasonable conditions as may be deemed by the governing authority of the country to be essential to the safety, health, peace, general order and morals of the community.”
Why relevant

Notes the constitutional reconciliation between individual liberty and public welfare and that liberty is not absolute but subject to reasonable restrictions for public order.

How to extend

Use this to balance the earlier clues: while constitutions limit state power, they also accept reasonable limits on individual liberty for public welfare—so test the statement by distinguishing 'effective restrictions' intended for the state versus those permitted on individuals.

Statement analysis

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