Important Questions and Answers for Class 11 Political Science Chapter 2 Freedom 2025-26

1. What is the ‘harm principle’ as explained by John Stuart Mill?

• (a) Power should be used to maintain traditions
• (b) Power should only prevent harm to others
• (c) Power should ensure economic development
• (d) Power must control individual choices

Answer: (b) Power should only prevent harm to others

2. According to the chapter, which concept refers to ‘rule over oneself’ in Indian political thought?

• (a) Satyagraha
• (b) Swaraj
• (c) Sarvodaya
• (d) Dharma

Answer: (b) Swaraj

3. Which of these best describes ‘negative liberty’ as given in the chapter?

• (a) Absence of state interference in a minimum area
• (b) Constant expansion of social constraints
• (c) Full equality in wealth
• (d) Restriction on freedom of expression

Answer: (a) Absence of state interference in a minimum area

4. Who among the following said, “It is Swaraj when we learn to rule ourselves”?

• (a) Subhas Chandra Bose
• (b) Nelson Mandela
• (c) Mahatma Gandhi
• (d) John Stuart Mill

Answer: (c) Mahatma Gandhi

2. Very Short Answer (VSA).

1. Define 'freedom' as per the chapter.

Answer: Freedom is the absence of external constraints on individuals, allowing them to make independent choices and develop their potential within society.

2. What is meant by ‘positive liberty’?

Answer: Positive liberty refers to having the conditions and opportunities to act and develop oneself, emphasizing ‘freedom to’ realize one’s full potential.

3. Name any one struggle for freedom mentioned in the chapter.

Answer: The struggle against apartheid in South Africa led by Nelson Mandela is discussed as a major example of the fight for freedom.

4. Who wrote ‘Freedom from Fear’?

Answer: ‘Freedom from Fear’ was written by Aung San Suu Kyi.

3. Short Answer Questions.

1. Explain why constraints are considered necessary for a free society.

Answer: Constraints are needed to prevent chaos, protect individuals from harm, and enable peaceful coexistence. They help mediate conflicting interests, ensure respect for others’ rights, and allow diversity and order within society, making true freedom possible for everyone.

2. Differentiate between ‘self-regarding’ and ‘other-regarding’ actions with examples.

Answer: Self-regarding actions affect only the individual, like personal dress choices. Other-regarding actions impact others, such as playing loud music disturbing neighbors. The state may interfere in the latter to prevent harm, but should avoid interfering in self-regarding actions.

3. What does the term ‘reasonable restrictions’ mean in the context of freedom?

Answer: ‘Reasonable restrictions’ are limits imposed on freedom that are rational, not excessive, and proportionate to the action being restricted. They are meant to protect society and individual rights without unnecessarily curtailing freedom.

4. Explain the relevance of Swaraj to the Indian freedom movement.

Answer: Swaraj, meaning self-rule or rule over oneself, was a powerful rallying cry. It represented both the demand for constitutional and political independence and the value of self-respect, justice, and collective responsibility in Indian society.

4. Long Answer Questions.

1. Discuss the difference between negative and positive liberty using examples from the chapter.

Answer: Negative liberty emphasizes freedom from external interference, focusing on a minimum area where individuals act as they wish, such as choosing their attire without state interference. Positive liberty, however, concerns the freedom to develop one’s abilities and participate in societal decisions, requiring material, educational, and social opportunities. Both forms are vital for holistic freedom.

1. Negative liberty ensures an inviolable personal sphere.
2. Positive liberty enhances enabling conditions.
3. Together, they balance individual development with social order.

2. Analyze the role of legal and social constraints in safeguarding freedom, citing relevant examples from the chapter.

Answer: Legal and social constraints are crucial to protect individual rights, prevent harm, and maintain peaceful coexistence. For instance, laws restricting hate campaigns or violence uphold general freedom, while social disapproval discourages minor offenses like loud music. The challenge is ensuring these restrictions remain reasonable, non-excessive, and defend freedom instead of suppressing it.

1. Legal constraints address actions causing serious harm.
2. Social constraints operate through collective disapproval.
3. Both support a secure and free society when balanced.

5. Assertion–Reason type questions.

Assertion (A): Freedom is valuable only in the absence of all constraints.
Reason (R): All social constraints suppress individual choice.

• (a) A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
• (b) A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
• (c) A is true, but R is false
• (d) A is false, but R is true

Answer: (d) A is false, but R is true. Freedom may require necessary constraints to protect rights and maintain order; not all constraints are suppressive.

Assertion (A): The state may interfere in ‘other-regarding’ actions.
Reason (R): Such actions can cause harm to others in society.

• (a) A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
• (b) A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
• (c) A is true, but R is false
• (d) A is false, but R is true

Answer: (a) A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. State interference is justified when actions harm others.

3. Fill in the Blanks Questions.

1. _________ liberty emphasizes having opportunities and enabling conditions to develop one’s potential.

Answer: Positive

2. Gandhiji’s concept of Swaraj relates to _________ over oneself.

Answer: rule

3. The idea that constraints should be _________ ensures that freedom is not arbitrarily restricted.

Answer: reasonable

Benefits of Learning About Freedom in Political Science

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