UPSC Prelims 2021 · Question 90 of 97
UPSC Prelims 2021 question on Safeguards of Liberty
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2021
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectPolity
- TopicSalient Features of Constitution
- DifficultyMedium
- TypeDirect
Which one of the following factors constitutes the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal democracy?
Show answer
Answer: D. Separation of powers
Analysis
Elected government is not the best safeguard either since the same elected majority can curtail liberty.
Separation of powers is the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal democracy as it ensures checks and balances among different organs of the government.
Hence option (d) is the correct answer.
Statement by statement
Option (a) is not correct: Committed judiciary i.e. a judiciary committed to the policies of the government. Such judiciary will never go against the governments policies. Therefore, will not be able to protect the liberty.
Option (b) is also not correct: Centralization of power refers to a setup in which the decision-making powers are concentrated in a few leaders at the top of the organizational structure. Decisions are made at the top and communicated to lower-level for implementation. This leads to authoritarian tendencies, impacting the liberty.