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Q70 (IAS/2021) Polity & Governance › Constitutional Basics & Evolution › Separation of powers Official Key

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

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 4: Separation of powers.

In a liberal democracy, the Separation of Powers (Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary) is the most fundamental safeguard for individual liberty. It ensures a system of checks and balances, preventing any single branch from exercising absolute authority or becoming tyrannical.

  • Why Option 4 is correct: By distributing power, it limits the potential for the arbitrary exercise of authority. As Montesquieu argued, when legislative and executive powers are united, there can be no liberty.
  • Why Option 1 is incorrect: A "committed" judiciary often implies commitment to the ruling party's ideology rather than the Constitution, which undermines judicial independence.
  • Why Option 2 is incorrect: Centralization concentrates power at the top, which is the antithesis of liberty and leads to authoritarianism.
  • Why Option 3 is incorrect: While an elected government represents the people, it can still result in a "tyranny of the majority" without structural restraints like the separation of powers.
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Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
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Out of everyone who attempted this question.
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got it right
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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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. Which one of the following factors constitutes the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal democracy? [A] A committed judiciary [B] Cent…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 7.5/10 · 2.5/10

This is a classic 'First Principles' question derived from Political Theory (NCERT Class XI). It tests conceptual clarity, not facts. The trap is Option A ('Committed' implies biased/subservient in Indian political history, not 'dedicated'). It rewards understanding the *function* of institutions (checking power) rather than just their existence.

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 a committed judiciary constitute the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal democracy?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: JUDICIARY > Independence of Judiciary > p. 125
Presence: 5/5
“Simply stated independence of judiciary means that • ± the other organs of the government like the executive and legislature must not restrain the functioning of the judiciary in such a way that it is unable to do justice.• ± the other organs of the government should not interfere with the decision of the judiciary.• ± judges must be able to perform their functions without fear or favour. Independence of the judiciary does not imply arbitrariness or absence of accountability. Judiciary is a part of the democratic political structure of the No fisticuffs please, this is rule of law! READ A CARTOON”
Why this source?
  • Defines judicial independence as freedom from interference so judges can perform without fear or favour — a core condition for safeguarding liberty.
  • Emphasises that other branches must not restrain judicial functioning, implying an independent judiciary can check arbitrary power.
Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: JUDICIARY > JUDICIARY AND RIGHTS > p. 139
Presence: 4/5
“Many people think that this feature enables the judiciary to protect the Constitution effectively and also to protect the rights of citizens. The practice of entertaining PILs has further added to the powers of the judiciary in protecting rights of citizens. 139 I think I'd rather become a judge! Then, I won't have to worry about elections and public support, and can still have really lots of power.”
Why this source?
  • Notes that judiciary protects citizens' rights and that Public Interest Litigation has expanded its ability to protect rights.
  • Links judicial practice (PILs) directly to increased powers in defending liberty and access to justice.
Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive > The Judiciary — Role of Checks and Balances > p. 154
Presence: 4/5
“The Judiciary is the branch of government that is responsible for interpreting and applying the laws of the land, including in specific cases of disputes. The Judiciary functions through a system of courts and plays a pivotal role in maintaining the democratic nature of society and governance. The Judiciary acts as the custodian of the Constitution, ensuring that all branches of the government operate within the principles and parameters enshrined in the Constitution. It keeps a check on the effective functioning of society and institutions of the government by interpreting laws, resolving disputes, and safeguarding fundamental rights. The Constitution not only describes how the Legislature and Executive are given power to govern the country, but it also lists the specific responsibilities of these organs.”
Why this source?
  • Describes the judiciary as custodian of the Constitution, ensuring all branches operate within constitutional principles.
  • Frames the judiciary’s role in checking other organs and resolving disputes as pivotal to maintaining democratic governance and rights.
Statement 2
Does centralization of powers constitute the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal democracy?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"The Court’s confidence that complete presidential control of administration will result in the protection of liberty is insensitive to these kinds of differential liberty impacts. The Justices rely on what Ganesh Sitaraman and Ariel Dobkin aptly describes as the "Safeguard of Liberty Fallacy," which disregards the competing liberty interests that are typically"
Why this source?
  • Directly critiques the idea that complete presidential (centralized) control of administration protects liberty.
  • Identifies a 'Safeguard of Liberty Fallacy' that treats centralization as protective while ignoring competing liberty interests.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"That is an important safeguard of liberty. The executive branch, with its own incentives and traditions, is required to make a separate decision about enforcement. It might decline to proceed at all. In this way, citizens have the protection that comes from the need for concurrence from two layers of government, not just one."
Why this source?
  • Explains how distributing decisionmaking across branches (lawmaking vs. prosecution) functions as an important safeguard of liberty.
  • Shows that requiring concurrence from separate branches (not centralizing power) protects citizens by allowing independent enforcement discretion.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"The three aspects of liberty the Court invokes are discretionary liberty, rational liberty, and political liberty."
Why this source?
  • Highlights that liberty is multi-dimensional (discretionary, rational, political), implying that a single centralized approach may fail to protect all aspects.
  • Provides conceptual grounding for skepticism that centralization alone secures liberty across these different dimensions.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > 2021 TEST PAPER > p. 761
Strength: 4/5
“With reference to India, consider the following statements: • 1. There is only one citizenship and one domicile. • 2. A citizen by birth only can become the Head of State. • 3. A foreigner once granted the citizenship cannot be deprived of it under any circumstances. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? • (a) I only • (b) 2 only • (c) E and 3 • (d) 2 and 3 • 13. Which one of the following factors constitutes the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal democracy? • (a) A committed judiciary • (b) Centralization of powers • (c) Elected government • (d) Separation of powers • 14.”
Why relevant

Shows the question is contested: standard options for 'best safeguard of liberty' include centralization, separation of powers, committed judiciary and elected government — indicating competing principles.

How to extend

A student could treat this as a taxonomy of plausible safeguards and compare historical examples (e.g., centralized regimes vs. separation-of-powers systems) to evaluate which better protected liberties.

Democratic Politics-II. Political Science-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: Power-sharing > Overview > p. 1
Strength: 5/5
“With this chapter, we resume the tour of democracy that we started last year. We noted last year that in a democracy all power does not rest with any one organ of the government. An intelligent sharing of power among legislature, executive and judiciary is very important to the design of a democracy. In this and the next two chapters, we carry this idea of power-sharing forward. We start with two stories from Belgium and Sri Lanka. Both these stories are about how democracies handle demands for power-sharing. The stories yield some general conclusions about the need for power-sharing in democracy.”
Why relevant

States a general rule: in a democracy not all power should rest in one organ; intelligent sharing among legislature, executive and judiciary is important.

How to extend

Extend by comparing countries with strong separation of powers versus highly centralized systems to see correlation with protection of civil liberties.

Democratic Politics-II. Political Science-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: Power-sharing > Forms of power-sharing > p. 9
Strength: 5/5
“This method is used to give minority communities a fair share in power. In Unit II, we shall look at various ways of accommodating social diversities. 4 Power sharing arrangements can also be seen in the way political parties, pressure groups and movements control or influence those in power. In a democracy, the citizens must have freedom to choose among various contenders for power. In contemporary democracies, this takes the form of competition among different parties. Such competition ensures that power does not remain in one hand. In the long run, power is shared among different political parties that represent different ideologies and social groups.”
Why relevant

Explains that power-sharing and political competition ensure power does not remain in one hand and that long-term power is distributed among parties and groups.

How to extend

A student could use this to predict that decentralized/competitive systems reduce risk of abuses and then check empirical cases (electoral competitiveness, party systems) against liberty outcomes.

Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: FEDERALISM > FEDERALISM WITH A STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT > p. 161
Strength: 4/5
“• ± The very existence of a State including its territorial integrity is in the hands of Parliament. The Parliament is empowered to 'form a new State by separation of territory from any State or by uniting two or more States…'. It can also alter the boundary of any State or even its name. The Constitution provides for some safeguards by way of securing the view of the concerned State legislature.• ± The Constitution has certain very powerful emergency provisions, which can turn our federal polity into a highly centralised system once emergency is declared. During an emergency, power becomes lawfully centralised.”
Why relevant

Gives an example of how constitutional emergency provisions can lawfully centralize power and turn federal polity into a highly centralised system, implying centralization can be triggered and may affect liberties.

How to extend

Use this to examine instances where emergency centralization coincided with suspension or curtailment of rights (compare timelines of emergencies and rights restrictions).

Democratic Politics-II. Political Science-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Federalism > Centre-State relations > p. 21
Strength: 4/5
“The States Plead for More Powers This led to a new culture of power sharing and respect for the autonomy of State Governments. This trend was supported by a major judgement of the Supreme Court that made it difficult for the Central Government to dismiss state governments in an arbitrary manner. Thus, federal power sharing is more effective today than it was in the early years after the Constitution came into force. Are you suggesting that regionalism is good for our democracy? Are you serious?”
Why relevant

Describes a trend toward greater state autonomy and judicial rulings limiting arbitrary dismissal of state governments — an example where decentralisation and judicial checks strengthened democratic safeguards.

How to extend

A student could compare periods/places with stronger regional autonomy and effective courts to assess whether liberties were better protected than under tighter central control.

Statement 3
Does an elected government constitute the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal democracy?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 9: From the Rulers to the Ruled: Types of Governments > p. 206
Presence: 5/5
“They can choose what to speak, what to wear, what beliefs to follow, and how to express themselves. All of this can be done in a democracy until and unless it harms someone else's rights. In a democratic government, the people choose their government. The government is accountable for protecting the rights of its people and is responsible for providing basic needs to its citizens. If the government does not perform its functions properly, the people can change their representatives through elections. This ensures that there is a constant check of what the government does. Thus, the values and ideals of the government in a democracy should focus on the well-being of all its people.”
Why this source?
  • Describes how in a democracy people choose the government and can replace representatives via elections.
  • Links electoral replacement to continuous accountability and a check on government performance.
  • Connects the idea of government responsibility to protection of citizens' rights and basic needs.
India and the Contemporary World – II. History-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: The Rise of Nationalism in Europe > 2.2 What did Liberal Nationalism Stand for? > p. 9
Presence: 4/5
“Ideas of national unity in early-nineteenth-century Europe were closely allied to the ideology of liberalism. The term 'liberalism' derives from the Latin root liber, meaning free. For the new middle classes liberalism stood for freedom for the individual and equality of all before the law. Politically, it emphasised the concept of government by consent. Since the French Revolution, liberalism had stood for the end of autocracy and clerical privileges, a constitution and representative government through parliament. Nineteenth-century liberals also stressed the inviolability of private property. Yet, equality before the law did not necessarily stand for universal suffrage. You will recall that in revolutionary France, which marked the first political experiment in liberal democracy, the right to vote and to get elected was granted exclusively to property-owning men.”
Why this source?
  • Defines liberalism as favouring government by consent and representative institutions (parliament).
  • Frames representative government as a core liberal principle tied to individual freedom and equality before law.
Political Theory, Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Rights > 5.4 KINDS OF RIGHTS > p. 73
Presence: 4/5
“Most democracies today begin by drawing up a charter of political rights. Political rights give to the citizens the right to equality before law and the right to participate in the political process. They include such rights as the right to vote and elect representatives, the right to contest elections, the right to form political parties or join them. Political rights are supplemented by civil liberties. The latter refers to the right to a free and fair trial, the right to express one's views freely, the right to protest and express dissent. Collectively, civil liberties and political rights form the basis of a democratic system of government.”
Why this source?
  • Identifies political rights (vote, elect representatives) and civil liberties as the foundation of democratic systems.
  • Implies that elected representation plus civil liberties together sustain the democratic protection of liberty.
Statement 4
Does separation of powers constitute the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal democracy?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Exploring Society:India and Beyond. Social Science-Class VI . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 10: Grassroots Democracy — Part 1: Governance > LET'S EXPLORE > p. 154
Presence: 5/5
“Explain how the three government organs are at work in the case of the cybercriminals described above. How do they intervene? In a good system of governance, these three organs must be kept separate, although they interact with each other and work together. This separation is called the 'separation of powers' (Fig. 10.3). It is intended to provide a system of checks and balances. This means that each organ of the government can check what the other is doing and restore balance if one organ acts beyond its expected role. Judiciary Legislature Executive Governance Fig. 10.3”
Why this source?
  • Defines 'separation of powers' as keeping the three government organs separate while allowing interaction.
  • Explicitly states the separation is intended to provide checks and balances so each organ can check the others.
  • Directly links separation of powers to restoring balance when one organ acts beyond its role — a mechanism to protect 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. 134
Presence: 4/5
“Entry 9; List III, Entry 3]. So, it would be competent to the Legislature to enact that a person should be detained or imprisoned without trial for any of the above reasons and against such laws, the individual shall have no right of personal liberty. The Constitution, however, imposes certain safeguards against abuse of the above power [Article 2(4)-(7)]”
Why this source?
  • Describes legislative powers (e.g., detention without trial) that can curtail personal liberty.
  • Notes the Constitution imposes safeguards against abuse of such powers, implying institutional checks are necessary to protect 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. 129
Presence: 3/5
“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 this source?
  • Observes a constitutional preference for legislative supremacy in certain fields, which can leave personal liberty vulnerable.
  • By highlighting the limits of judicial protection when legislature is supreme, it implies the need for other safeguards like separation of powers.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC frequently asks for the 'Best Safeguard' or 'Chief Characteristic'. In these questions, distinguish between a 'feature' (e.g., Elected Govt) and a 'guarantee' (e.g., Separation of Powers). The guarantee is usually the option that limits power accumulation.
How you should have studied
  1. Bullet 1. [THE VERDICT]: **Sitter with a linguistic trap.** Solvable directly from **NCERT Class XI Political Theory** and **Indian Constitution at Work** (Chapter 6: Judiciary).
  2. Bullet 2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: **Constitutionalism & Institutional Design.** The core syllabus theme is 'Features of Democracy' and how a Constitution limits the state to protect the individual.
  3. Bullet 3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: **Key Terms to Master:** (1) **Committed Judiciary**: Refers to 1973 supersession of judges; implies loyalty to the Executive. (2) **Constitutionalism**: Means 'Limited Government' (asked in 2020/2024). (3) **Article 50**: Separation of Judiciary from Executive. (4) **Rule of Law**: Dicey’s concept (Supremacy of Law). (5) **Checks and Balances**: The US vs. Indian model.
  4. Bullet 4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: **Structure > Process.** When asked for a 'safeguard,' look for the *constraint* mechanism. An 'Elected Government' (Option C) is a process that can still turn tyrannical (e.g., Hitler). 'Separation of Powers' (Option D) is the structural constraint designed specifically to prevent that tyranny.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Judicial independence
💡 The insight

Independent judges able to decide without interference are essential for preventing arbitrary use of executive or legislative power.

High-yield for UPSC: questions often probe separation of powers and safeguards of liberty; mastering judicial independence links to topics on rule of law, accountability, and constitutional design. It enables answering comparative and normative questions about institutional checks and balances.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: JUDICIARY > Independence of Judiciary > p. 125
  • Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: JUDICIARY > Conclusion > p. 144
  • Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: JUDICIARY > INTRODUCTION > p. 124
🔗 Anchor: "Does a committed judiciary constitute the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Judiciary as custodian of the Constitution
💡 The insight

The judiciary enforces constitutional limits on other branches and protects fundamental rights, making it a principal institutional safeguard.

Crucial for mains and interviews: this concept connects constitutional law, fundamental rights, and polity questions on judicial review. It helps tackle questions on institutional roles, conflicts between legislature and judiciary, and the practical protection of rights.

📚 Reading List :
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive > The Judiciary — Role of Checks and Balances > p. 154
  • Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: JUDICIARY > JUDICIARY AND RIGHTS > p. 139
  • Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: JUDICIARY > Conclusion > p. 144
🔗 Anchor: "Does a committed judiciary constitute the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Public Interest Litigation & judicial access
💡 The insight

PILs expand judicial reach to protect citizen rights collectively, strengthening the judiciary’s capacity to safeguard liberty.

Useful for case-based and essay questions: understanding PILs clarifies how courts operationalise rights protection and respond to governance failures. It links to policy, accountability, and access to justice themes frequently tested in governance papers.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: JUDICIARY > JUDICIARY AND RIGHTS > p. 139
  • Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 9: CONSTITUTION AS A LIVING DOCUMENT > Contribution of the Judiciary > p. 214
  • Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: JUDICIARY > INTRODUCTION > p. 124
🔗 Anchor: "Does a committed judiciary constitute the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Separation of powers and power-sharing
💡 The insight

Distribution of authority among legislature, executive and judiciary prevents concentration of power and is presented as central to democratic design.

High-yield for UPSC because questions often probe safeguards of liberty, checks and balances, and institutional design. Mastering this helps answer comparative questions on why diffusion of power protects rights and prevents authoritarian drift, and links to topics on constitutional remedies and institutional roles.

📚 Reading List :
  • Democratic Politics-II. Political Science-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: Power-sharing > Overview > p. 1
  • Democratic Politics-II. Political Science-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: Power-sharing > Forms of power-sharing > p. 9
🔗 Anchor: "Does centralization of powers constitute the best safeguard of liberty in a libe..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Federalism and centre–state relations (including emergency provisions)
💡 The insight

The balance between a strong centre and state autonomy, and constitutional emergency powers, determine how and when power becomes centralised.

Crucial for questions on constitutional structure, centre–state tensions, and safeguards of liberty; useful for essay, polity and GS papers addressing emergencies, state reorganisation, and limits on central authority.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: FEDERALISM > FEDERALISM WITH A STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT > p. 161
  • Democratic Politics-II. Political Science-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Federalism > Centre-State relations > p. 21
🔗 Anchor: "Does centralization of powers constitute the best safeguard of liberty in a libe..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Liberty as a qualified right linked to equality
💡 The insight

Liberty is defined as freedom of thought, expression and action but is explicitly limited so it does not infringe others' freedoms or equality.

Essential for answering normative and legal questions about rights, fundamental freedoms and their limits; connects to topics on fundamental rights, Preamble values, and balancing liberty with social justice in policy debates.

📚 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 3: THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE CONSTITUTION > THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE CONSTITUTION > p. 26
🔗 Anchor: "Does centralization of powers constitute the best safeguard of liberty in a libe..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Representative government (government by consent)
💡 The insight

Representative government is the liberal principle that government legitimacy rests on citizens' consent through elections, directly connecting to the role of elected governments.

High-yield for polity questions because it links political theory (liberalism) with institutional design (parliamentary/representative systems). Mastery helps answer questions on legitimacy, democratic reforms, and debates on majoritarianism vs pluralism.

📚 Reading List :
  • India and the Contemporary World – II. History-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: The Rise of Nationalism in Europe > 2.2 What did Liberal Nationalism Stand for? > p. 9
  • Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? > 1.2 FEATURES OF DEMOCRACY > p. 4
🔗 Anchor: "Does an elected government constitute the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

Constitutionalism = Limited Government. This is the philosophical sibling to Separation of Powers. Since they asked about the safeguard (mechanism) here, the next logical question is about the philosophy (Constitutionalism), which indeed appeared in 2020 and 2024.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

The 'Negative Keyword' Hack. In Political Science, 'Committed Judiciary' (Option A) is a negative term referring to judges who follow the ruling party's line (Indira Gandhi era). 'Centralization' (Option B) is the opposite of liberty. Between C and D: History shows elected governments often destroy liberty (Majoritarianism). Therefore, the only structural check is D.

🔗 Mains Connection

GS-2 (Polity): Link this to the **Basic Structure Doctrine**. The Supreme Court invented the Basic Structure (Kesavananda Bharati) precisely to enforce 'Separation of Powers' and prevent the Parliament (Elected Govt) from rewriting the Constitution to destroy liberty.

✓ Thank you! We'll review this.

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CAPF · 2019 · Q49 Relevance score: 0.28

Which of the following are the defining features of liberal democracy? 1. Constitutional government based on formal, usually legal, rules 2. Guarantees of civil liberties and individual rights 3. It invests political authority with potentially unlimited power Select the correct answer using the code given below:

IAS · 2019 · Q85 Relevance score: -3.00

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

CDS-II · 2022 · Q87 Relevance score: -3.44

Which among the following is not the strength or chief benefit of Bicameralism?