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Q40 (IAS/2018) Polity & Governance › Fundamental Rights, DPSP & Fundamental Duties › Rule of law Official Key

Which one of the following reflects the most appropriate relationship between law and liberty ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

The correct answer is option B because where there is no law there is no freedom[1], as articulated by John Locke. 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.[2] Additionally, legitimate law does not merely restrict but also enables liberty[3]. Without laws to establish order, define rights, and protect individuals from arbitrary actions, true liberty cannot exist—it would descend into chaos where the strong dominate the weak.

Option A is incorrect because an increase in empowering laws may correlate with a decrease in the negative liberty experienced by others[4], showing the relationship is more nuanced than a simple inverse correlation. Option C is too narrow, as liberty can exist under various lawmaking systems, not exclusively popular sovereignty. Option D, while constant changes in the law act to deprive citizens of the ability to predict the requirements imposed by the law[5], addresses stability rather than the fundamental relationship between law and liberty.

Sources
  1. [1] https://journals.library.wustl.edu/jurisprudence/article/2098/galley/18931/view/
  2. [2] 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
  3. [3] https://www.planksip.org/the-principle-of-liberty-in-law-and-liberty-1763616520859/
  4. [4] https://journals.library.wustl.edu/jurisprudence/article/2098/galley/18931/view/
  5. [5] https://journals.library.wustl.edu/jurisprudence/article/2098/galley/18931/view/
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Q. Which one of the following reflects the most appropriate relationship between law and liberty ? [A] If there are more laws, there is les…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 7.5/10

This is a classic Political Theory question derived directly from the philosophy of Liberalism (John Locke) and NCERT Class XI (Political Theory). It tests conceptual clarity over rote memorization of Articles. If you skipped the 'Political Theory' NCERT thinking it's irrelevant for Prelims, you missed this sitter.

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
In the relationship between law and liberty, does an increase in the number of laws necessarily lead to a decrease in liberty?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"The nature of the relationship depends on how one conceives of law and the rule of law. One approach views law as consisting of coercive and empowering laws"
Why this source?
  • States the relationship is not fixed but depends on how one conceives of law and the rule of law.
  • Identifies two views (coercive vs. empowering laws) that determine whether laws diminish or enhance liberty.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Bear in mind, however, that an increase in empowering laws may correlate with a decrease in the negative liberty experienced by others. For example, if a law such as the Statute of Frauds requires certain contracts to be in writing, I am no longer free to enter into merely oral contracts."
Why this source?
  • Makes explicit that an increase in empowering laws may correlate with decreased negative liberty for others, showing effects can vary.
  • Gives a concrete example (Statute of Frauds) where a law limits one form of freedom while serving other purposes, illustrating nuance.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"legitimate law does not merely restrict but also *enables* liberty"
Why this source?
  • Asserts that legitimate law both restricts and enables liberty, implying more laws do not automatically reduce freedom.
  • Frames law as a structured framework that can maximize and protect individual freedom rather than only constrain it.

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: 5/5
“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

States that restrictions imposed by law can be held 'unreasonable' by courts and that law reconciles individual liberty with public welfare.

How to extend

A student could compare jurisdictions with strong judicial review to see if more laws are checked for reasonableness and therefore do not automatically reduce liberty.

Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: RIGHTS IN THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION > RIGHT TO FREEDOM > p. 34
Strength: 4/5
“Equality and freedom or liberty, are the two rights that are most essential to a democracy. It is not possible to think of the one without thinking of the other. Liberty means freedom of thought, expression and action. However it does not mean freedom to do anything that one desires or likes. If that were to be permitted then a large number of people will not be able to enjoy their freedom. Therefore, freedoms are defined in such a manner that every person will enjoy her freedom without threatening freedom of others and without endangering the law and order situation.”
Why relevant

Defines liberty as freedom of thought, expression and action but expressly limits it where it would threaten others or law and order.

How to extend

One could test whether additional laws target only harmful actions (thus preserving overall liberty) by checking law content against a harm principle in different countries.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 5: Preamble of the Constitution > III Liberty > p. 45
Strength: 4/5
“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. The Preamble secures to all citizens of India liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, through their Fundamental Rights, enforceable in court of law, in case of violation . Liberty as elaborated in the Preamble is very essential for the successful functioning of the Indian democratic system. However, liberty does not mean 'Hence' to do what one Hkes, 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.”
Why relevant

States that liberty is not absolute but qualified within constitutional limits, implying that legal constraints can be compatible with liberty.

How to extend

Compare constitutional texts or indices of ‘qualified’ vs ‘absolute’ rights to judge whether more laws reduce liberty or simply define its limits.

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. 130
Strength: 5/5
“In other words, a law made by the State which seeks to deprive a person of his personal liberty must prescribe a procedure for such deprivation which must not be arbitrary, unfair or unreasonable. (c) Once the least of reasonableness is imported to determine the validity of a law depriving a person of his liberty, it follows that such law shall be invalid if it violates the principles of natural justice. If it provides for the impounding of a passport without giving the person affected an opportunity to be heard or to make a representation against the order proposed. From Gopala 15 to Maneka, thus, the Supreme Court decision oration as was cut from the North to the South Pole.”
Why relevant

Emphasises that deprivation of personal liberty must follow non-arbitrary, reasonable procedures established by law (procedural quality matters).

How to extend

A student might contrast systems where many laws are procedurally fair versus ones with arbitrary laws to see if number alone correlates with liberty loss.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > 2018 TEST PAPER > p. 755
Strength: 3/5
“(a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 on ly (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 11. Which one of the following reflects the nicest, appropriate relationship between law and liberty? (a) If there are more laws, there is less liberty. (b) If there are no laws, there is no liberty. (c) If there is liberty, laws have to be made by the people. (d) If laws are changed too often, liberty is in danger. 12. Which of the following are regarded as the main features of the "Rule of Law"? Select the correct answe r using the code given below: (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 and 4 only (c) 1, 2 and 4 only (d) 1,2,3 and 4 13.”
Why relevant

Contains a multiple-choice item listing 'If there are more laws, there is less liberty' as an option, indicating this is a recognized proposition to be evaluated, not an axiom.

How to extend

Use comparative examples (e.g., countries with numerous statutes but strong rights protections) to test whether that proposition holds generally.

Statement 2
In the relationship between law and liberty, does the absence of laws necessarily result in the absence of liberty?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"states of created beings who are capable of laws, where there is no law there is no freedom. —John Locke"
Why this source?
  • Directly asserts the claim: Locke is quoted as equating absence of law with absence of freedom.
  • Used in a jurisprudence article examining the law-liberty relationship, so it's presented as a foundational viewpoint.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"in the absence of shared acceptance of social norms as minimally just, grossly unequal distributions accompanied by dire poverty result in the multiplication of coercive acts of enforcement against those who trespass to steal or forage to meet their basic needs and desires."
Why this source?
  • Explains that absence of shared legal or social norms leads to coercive enforcement and greater threats, implying loss of liberty without effective law.
  • Provides a practical consequence (more coercion in lawless/poverty-stricken contexts) that supports the idea that absence of law can produce absence of liberty.

Political Theory, Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: Freedom > 2.5 NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE LIBERTY > p. 26
Strength: 4/5
“Earlier in the chapter we had mentioned two dimensions of freedom school— freedom as the absence of external constraints, and freedom as the expansion of opportunities to express one's self. In political theory these have been called negative and positive liberty. 'Negative liberty' seeks to define and defend an area in which the individual would be inviolable, in which he or she could 'do, be or become' whatever he or she wished to 'do, be or become'. This is an area in which no external authority can interfere. It is a minimum area that is sacred and in which whatever the individual does, is not to be interfered with.”
Why relevant

Defines negative liberty as the absence of external constraints—liberty conceptually can be understood as lack of legal/interference barriers.

How to extend

A student could combine this with empirical knowledge (e.g., places with few formal laws) to ask whether non‑state constraints (custom, violence) replace legal constraints and thus affect liberty.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 5: Preamble of the Constitution > III Liberty > p. 45
Strength: 4/5
“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. The Preamble secures to all citizens of India liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, through their Fundamental Rights, enforceable in court of law, in case of violation . Liberty as elaborated in the Preamble is very essential for the successful functioning of the Indian democratic system. However, liberty does not mean 'Hence' to do what one Hkes, 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.”
Why relevant

States the Preamble secures liberty through enforceable Fundamental Rights—linking liberty to legal guarantees and judicial enforcement.

How to extend

One could check whether societies lacking enforceable legal rights still have practical freedom (via social norms or power structures) to evaluate if absence of law removes liberty.

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: 4/5
“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

Argues absolute, uncontrolled liberty (no restraints) would lead to anarchy and disorder—suggesting laws (or restraints) are needed to secure collective liberty.

How to extend

A student might compare historical examples of legal collapse to see whether disorder curtailed individual freedoms, testing if lack of law reduced liberty in practice.

Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 8: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES > INTRODUCTION TO THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA > p. 128
Strength: 5/5
“Protection of life and A. Article 21 of our Constitution provides that personal liberty. No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to the procedure established by law. This Article reminds us of one of the famous clauses of the Magna Carta: No man shall be taken or imprisoned, disseized or outlawed, or exiled, or in any way destroyed save . . . by the law of the land. It means that no member of the Executive shall be entitled to interfere with the liberty of a citizen unless he can support his action by some provision of law.”
Why relevant

Article 21 phrasing—'no person shall be deprived... except according to procedure established by law'—implies protection of liberty is mediated by legal procedures, linking liberty to legal forms.

How to extend

One could examine situations where lawful procedure is absent (e.g., failed states) to assess whether liberty protections vanish without legal procedure.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > T BRITISH CONSTITUTION > p. 678
Strength: 4/5
“In other words, there is no system of judicial review in Great Britain. 6. Rule of Law The doctrine of rule of law is one of the fundamental characteristics of the British constitutional system. It lays down that the law is supreme and hence the Government must act according to law and within the limits of the law. A.V. Dicey in his book The Law of the Constitution (1885), has given the following three implications of the doctrine of rule of law: (i) Absence of arbitrary power, that is no man can be punished except for a breach of law. (ii) Equality before the law, that is, equal subjection of all citizens (rich or poor, high or low, official or non-official) to the ordinary law of the land administered by the ordinary law courts.”
Why relevant

Dicey's rule of law emphasis: absence of arbitrary power and punishment only for breach of law ties liberty to supremacy of law rather than rulers' discretion.

How to extend

Compare jurisdictions with strong rule‑of‑law norms versus those with no legal restraint on rulers to infer whether lack of law correlates with diminished liberty.

Statement 3
In the relationship between law and liberty, does the existence of liberty require that laws be made by the people?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
India and the Contemporary World - I. History-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: The French Revolution > The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen > p. 11
Presence: 5/5
“1. Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. 2. The aim of every political association is the preservation of the natural and inalienable rights of man; these are liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression. 3. The source of all sovereignty resides in the nation; no group or individual may exercise authority that does not come from the people. 4. Liberty consists of the power to do whatever is not injurious to others. 5. The law has the right to forbid only actions that are injurious to society. 6. Law is the expression of the general will.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states the source of sovereignty resides in the nation and that 'law is the expression of the general will', linking law-making to the people.
  • Presents liberty as a right protected by laws that reflect the people's will, thereby supporting the claim that laws ought to originate from the people.
Political Theory, Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Rights > 5.3 LEGAL RIGHTS AND THE STATE > p. 73
Presence: 3/5
“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 this source?
  • Emphasises that the state and its laws exist for the sake of the individual and that rights constrain state action, implying laws should serve/reflect the people's welfare.
  • Notes that the state must give legal reasons when curtailing liberty, connecting legitimacy of laws to accountability to the people.
Statement 4
In the relationship between law and liberty, do frequent changes to laws pose a danger to liberty?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"relatively stable over time, without too many or too frequent changes. Constant changes in the law act to deprive citizens of the ability to predict the requirements imposed by the law from day to day, and if frequent enough, this causes the people to not know the most current version of the law at all."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states that laws should be relatively stable and warns against too many or too frequent changes.
  • Identifies unpredictability from constant legal change as depriving citizens of the ability to know and predict legal requirements, which undermines liberty.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Without knowing what behaviors the laws prohibit, people will likely reduce all of their behaviors to only the safest ones—those which they have learned in the past will not result in a sanction by the government."
Why this source?
  • Explains how lack of knowledge of current prohibitions leads people to restrict their behavior to only the safest actions, reducing positive and negative liberty.
  • Links poor promulgation/uncertainty about the law to coercive effects that constrain individual freedom.
Web source
Presence: 3/5
"Mingardi discusses Freedom and the Law as a critique of “legal certainty” and a shift towards bottom-up spontaneous law."
Why this source?
  • Frames the discussion around 'legal certainty' and critiques of its erosion, implying that loss of legal certainty (e.g., through unstable or ad hoc lawmaking) threatens freedom.
  • References concerns about modern trends (executive law-making, complexity) that undermine legal certainty and thus freedom.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > 2018 TEST PAPER > p. 755
Strength: 5/5
“(a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 on ly (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 11. Which one of the following reflects the nicest, appropriate relationship between law and liberty? (a) If there are more laws, there is less liberty. (b) If there are no laws, there is no liberty. (c) If there is liberty, laws have to be made by the people. (d) If laws are changed too often, liberty is in danger. 12. Which of the following are regarded as the main features of the "Rule of Law"? Select the correct answe r using the code given below: (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 and 4 only (c) 1, 2 and 4 only (d) 1,2,3 and 4 13.”
Why relevant

This source explicitly lists as an option the proposition that 'If laws are changed too often, liberty is in danger' — showing the idea exists as a recognized possible relationship between law and liberty.

How to extend

A student could treat this as a hypothesis and compare jurisdictions with frequent legislative change to measures of civil liberty to see if the pattern holds.

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. 130
Strength: 4/5
“In other words, a law made by the State which seeks to deprive a person of his personal liberty must prescribe a procedure for such deprivation which must not be arbitrary, unfair or unreasonable. (c) Once the least of reasonableness is imported to determine the validity of a law depriving a person of his liberty, it follows that such law shall be invalid if it violates the principles of natural justice. If it provides for the impounding of a passport without giving the person affected an opportunity to be heard or to make a representation against the order proposed. From Gopala 15 to Maneka, thus, the Supreme Court decision oration as was cut from the North to the South Pole.”
Why relevant

Explains that deprivation of personal liberty must follow a non‑arbitrary, reasonable procedure established by law, implying stability and predictability of legal procedure are important safeguards for liberty.

How to extend

One could investigate whether rapid or frequent legal changes undermine procedural predictability and thereby increase arbitrary deprivations of liberty.

Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 8: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES > INTRODUCTION TO THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA > p. 128
Strength: 4/5
“Protection of life and A. Article 21 of our Constitution provides that personal liberty. No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to the procedure established by law. This Article reminds us of one of the famous clauses of the Magna Carta: No man shall be taken or imprisoned, disseized or outlawed, or exiled, or in any way destroyed save . . . by the law of the land. It means that no member of the Executive shall be entitled to interfere with the liberty of a citizen unless he can support his action by some provision of law.”
Why relevant

Article 21 is cited: no person shall be deprived of life or personal liberty except according to 'procedure established by law' — linking the protection of liberty to the existence and content of law.

How to extend

A student might assess whether frequently changing the 'procedure established by law' effectively weakens the protection Article 21 provides in practice (e.g., by reducing clarity or oversight).

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. 129
Strength: 4/5
“AI though our Constitution has imposed some limitations on the legislative authorities yet subject to and outside such limitations our Constitution has left our Parliament and the State legislatures supreme in their respective fields. In the main ... our Constitution has preferred the. supremacy of the legislature to that of the judiciary •. 250 It was also held that there is no safeguard for personal liberty under our Constitution besides Article 21, 'such as natural law or common law. In the result, when personal liberty is taken away by a competent legislation, the person affected can have no remedy. II.”
Why relevant

Notes the supremacy of legislature within limits and that competent legislation can take away personal liberty — suggesting legislative activity (including frequent changes) has direct power to affect liberty.

How to extend

Compare periods or systems of high legislative activity with instances where new laws curtailed personal liberties to see if there is correlation.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 5: Preamble of the Constitution > III Liberty > p. 45
Strength: 3/5
“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. The Preamble secures to all citizens of India liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, through their Fundamental Rights, enforceable in court of law, in case of violation . Liberty as elaborated in the Preamble is very essential for the successful functioning of the Indian democratic system. However, liberty does not mean 'Hence' to do what one Hkes, 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.”
Why relevant

Defines liberty as not absolute but qualified within constitutional limitations, indicating liberty depends on the content and stability of those legal limitations.

How to extend

A student could examine whether frequent alteration of constitutional/legal limits changes how much 'qualified' liberty individuals actually enjoy.

Pattern takeaway: UPSC has shifted from asking 'Which Article?' to 'What does it imply?'. Questions on Liberty, Equality, and Justice are now recurring (e.g., 2019 question on Liberty as 'opportunity to develop oneself'). The pattern rewards reading the 'Introduction' and 'Philosophy' chapters of NCERTs.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Conceptual Sitter. Source: NCERT Class XI Political Theory, Chapter 2 'Freedom' (specifically the section on 'Why do we need constraints?').
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The syllabus theme of 'Political Theory'—specifically the interplay between State Authority (Law) and Individual Rights (Liberty).
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize these core theorists/concepts: 1) J.S. Mill's 'Harm Principle' (liberty can only be restricted to prevent harm to others). 2) Isaiah Berlin's 'Two Concepts of Liberty' (Negative vs. Positive). 3) John Rawls' 'Veil of Ignorance' (Justice). 4) The difference between 'Rule of Law' (Supremacy of Law) vs 'Rule by Law' (Tool of oppression).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Stop treating Polity merely as a list of Articles (Laxmikanth style). UPSC now demands you understand the *philosophy* of the Constitution. Ask: 'Does law restrict freedom or create the conditions for it?' The answer defines modern democracy.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Liberty is qualified, not absolute
💡 The insight

Several references state liberty is limited by law and the Constitution—liberty must be enjoyed within constitutional/reasonable limits rather than being absolute.

High-yield for UPSC essays and polity answers: explains the constitutional balance between individual freedom and social order, connects to Preamble and Fundamental Rights, and helps answer questions about limits on rights and permissible state action. Useful across questions on fundamental rights, Preamble interpretation, and law vs freedom debates.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 5: Preamble of the Constitution > III Liberty > p. 45
  • 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
🔗 Anchor: "In the relationship between law and liberty, does an increase in the number of l..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Reasonable restrictions and procedural safeguards (Article 21)
💡 The insight

Evidence stresses that laws can validly restrict liberty only by established, non-arbitrary procedure and that courts assess ‘reasonableness’ to protect liberty.

Core concept for constitutional law: vital for answering questions on Article 21, judicial review, and the limits of legislative/executive power. Mastery allows candidates to analyse when laws legitimately restrict liberty versus when they arbitrarily curtail rights; links to landmark jurisprudence and writ remedies.

📚 Reading List :
  • Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 8: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES > INTRODUCTION TO THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA > p. 128
  • 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. 130
  • 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
🔗 Anchor: "In the relationship between law and liberty, does an increase in the number of l..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Positive vs Negative liberty
💡 The insight

The distinction clarifies two meanings of freedom—non-interference (negative) and enabling conditions (positive)—which shape whether laws are seen as restrictive or enabling.

Conceptual toolkit for UPSC: helps evaluate normative claims (e.g., 'more laws reduce liberty') by framing whether laws limit non-interference or enhance enabling conditions. Useful in polity, political theory, and essay-type questions comparing state intervention and individual freedoms.

📚 Reading List :
  • Political Theory, Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: Freedom > p. 27
  • Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: RIGHTS IN THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION > RIGHT TO FREEDOM > p. 34
🔗 Anchor: "In the relationship between law and liberty, does an increase in the number of l..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Rule of Law as a safeguard of liberty
💡 The insight

References (Dicey; Article 21; Basu) treat law and legal procedure as the mechanism that prevents arbitrary power and protects personal liberty.

High-yield for UPSC polity: explains why law matters for individual rights, links to Article 21, judicial review and doctrines like rule of law. Mastering this helps answer questions on limits of state power, protection of civil liberties and constitutional guarantees.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > T BRITISH CONSTITUTION > p. 678
  • Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 8: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES > INTRODUCTION TO THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA > p. 128
  • 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
🔗 Anchor: "In the relationship between law and liberty, does the absence of laws necessaril..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Negative vs Positive Liberty
💡 The insight

The materials distinguish 'absence of external constraints' (negative liberty) from liberty as opportunities to develop (positive liberty), directly relevant to whether fewer laws increase or decrease liberty.

Conceptually crucial for essays and theory questions: allows nuanced answers (liberty isn't univocal). Connects political theory to constitutional practice (fundamental rights vs reasonable restrictions) and helps frame balanced arguments.

📚 Reading List :
  • Political Theory, Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: Freedom > 2.5 NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE LIBERTY > p. 26
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 5: Preamble of the Constitution > III Liberty > p. 45
🔗 Anchor: "In the relationship between law and liberty, does the absence of laws necessaril..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Qualified liberty — limits and public welfare
💡 The insight

Preamble and constitutional commentary stress liberty is not absolute but qualified to protect others and public order, showing law defines permissible bounds of liberty.

Directly applicable to questions on fundamental rights, reasonable restrictions and state authority. Helps write balanced answers on why laws limit freedoms and when such limits are justified; links to case-law and Article 21 jurisprudence.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 5: Preamble of the Constitution > III Liberty > p. 45
  • Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: RIGHTS IN THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION > RIGHT TO FREEDOM > p. 34
  • 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
🔗 Anchor: "In the relationship between law and liberty, does the absence of laws necessaril..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Popular sovereignty & law as expression of the general will
💡 The insight

Directly addresses whether laws must originate from the people — the Declaration reference links sovereignty and lawmaking to the nation/the people.

High-yield for polity: explains foundations of democratic legitimacy, links to constitutional principles and historical documents (e.g., French Declaration). Useful for questions on sovereignty, legitimacy of legislation, and debates on representative vs. direct lawmaking.

📚 Reading List :
  • India and the Contemporary World - I. History-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: The French Revolution > The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen > p. 11
🔗 Anchor: "In the relationship between law and liberty, does the existence of liberty requi..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The 'Harm Principle' by J.S. Mill. Since they asked about the general relationship (Law vs Liberty), the next logical question is about the *limit* of that relationship: 'On what grounds can the State validly restrict your liberty?' Answer: Only to prevent harm to others (Self-regarding vs Other-regarding actions).

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Use the 'Jungle Test'. If Option B were false (i.e., No laws = Liberty), we would be in a 'State of Nature' (Law of the Jungle) where the strong crush the weak. In such chaos, no one is actually free. Therefore, Law is the *enabler* of Liberty. Option A is an anarchist view; Option C is a democratic process view; Option D is a stability view. Only B addresses the fundamental *existence* of liberty.

🔗 Mains Connection

Mains GS-2 (Polity) & GS-4 (Ethics): This concept underpins the debate on 'Reasonable Restrictions' (Article 19). When writing answers on Sedition or UAPA, use this logic: 'Law is not the antithesis of Liberty, but its prerequisite; however, vague laws (Option D) chill liberty.'

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2019 · Q85 Relevance score: 1.29

In the context of polity, which one of the following would you accept as the most appropriate definition of liberty?

IAS · 2021 · Q70 Relevance score: -1.64

Which one of the following factors constitutes the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal democracy?

CDS-I · 2021 · Q84 Relevance score: -1.97

Which one among the following is not a feature of centralization ?

IAS · 2017 · Q47 Relevance score: -1.99

In the context of India, which one of the following is the correct relationship between Rights and Duties ?