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Q85 (IAS/2019) Polity & Governance › Preamble, Union & Territory, Citizenship › Concept of liberty Official Key

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

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

The correct answer is option D because liberty means the absence of restraints on the activities of individuals, and at the same time, providing opportunities for the development of individual personalities[1]. This comprehensive definition goes beyond mere negative liberty (absence of constraints) to include the positive dimension of freedom. Freedom allows the full development of the individual's creativity, sensibilities and capabilities in various fields, and a free society is one that enables one to pursue one's interests with a minimum of constraints[2].

Option A is too narrow as it focuses only on protection from political tyranny. Option B represents only the negative aspect of liberty without the positive dimension of self-development. Option C is incorrect because liberty does not mean license to do what one likes, and has to be enjoyed within the limitations mentioned in the Constitution itself - the liberty conceived is not absolute but qualified[1]. Therefore, option D most appropriately captures the holistic understanding of liberty in political theory.

Sources
  1. [1] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 5: Preamble of the Constitution > III Liberty > p. 45
  2. [2] Political Theory, Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: Freedom > p. 21
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Q. In the context of polity, which one of the following would you accept as the most appropriate definition of liberty? [A] Protection agai…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 7.5/10 · 2.5/10
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This is a classic 'Philosophy of Constitution' question, moving beyond mere articles to political theory. While Laxmikanth covers the Preamble, the specific conceptual distinction between Negative Liberty (Option B) and Positive Liberty (Option D) is a direct lift from NCERT Class XI Political Theory, Chapter 2.

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 context of polity, is liberty appropriately defined as protection against the tyranny of political rulers?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Political Theory, Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: Freedom > 2.5 NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE LIBERTY > p. 26
Presence: 5/5
“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 this source?
  • Defines 'negative liberty' as absence of external constraints and an area where no external authority can interfere.
  • Frames liberty specifically in terms of freedom from interference by authorities, matching the idea of protection from rulers.
Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 8: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES > p. 91
Presence: 5/5
“The position in foundation of individual rights in England may be said to be negative, in the sense that an individual has the right and freedom to take whatever action he likes, so long as he does not violate any rule of the ordinary law of the land. Individual liberty is secured by judicial decisions determining the rights of individuals in particular cases brought before the courts. The Judiciary is the guardian of individual rights in England as elsewhere; but there is a fundamental difference. While in England, the courts have the fullest power to protect the individual against executive tyranny, the courts are powerless as against legislative aggression upon individual rights.”
Why this source?
  • States that courts have the fullest power to protect the individual against executive tyranny in England.
  • Links individual liberty directly to protection from executive (political ruler) overreach.
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
Presence: 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 this source?
  • Article 21 ensures personal liberty cannot be deprived except according to law, restricting arbitrary executive action.
  • Specifies a constitutional safeguard that prevents members of the Executive from interfering with citizens' liberty without legal basis.
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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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