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 ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• Liberal democracy protects liberty chiefly by preventing the concentration of power: Montesquieu's separation of powers among legislature, executive and judiciary, with checks and balances, so that no organ can act tyrannically — option (d).
• Centralisation of powers (b) is the opposite of a safeguard.
• An elected government (c) can still be a 'tyranny of the majority' unless checked; a 'committed' judiciary (a) — one aligned with the executive's ideology, as Indira Gandhi's government sought in the 1970s — undermines rather than protects liberty.
• India's Constitution embodies separation with checks (Article 50, judicial review, Kesavananda's basic structure).
• Hence option (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) A committed judiciary
- A 'committed' judiciary aligned to the executive erodes liberty.
- (b) Centralization of powers
- Centralisation of power threatens liberty.
- (c) Elected government
- Elected majorities can still be oppressive without checks.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2021, held on 10 October 2021. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.