Chapter 15: Equality – The Cornerstone of Indian Democracy (Key Notes)
Equality in Indian Democracy
• Articles 14 to 18 in the Indian Constitution guarantee Right to Equality for all citizens
• Includes political, social, and economic equality
• Yet, inequality exists in reality despite these rights
Think about it:
“As democracy deepens, equality increases. As equality increases, democracy deepens.”
More equality → more participation → stronger democracy
Stronger democracy → better enforcement of equality
What is Equality?
Equality means being equal in status, rights, and opportunities
It includes providing support to help people achieve similar outcomes
Example: Giving a physically challenged child the right to study in regular school
Types of Equality
Social Equality
• All citizens should enjoy equal status in society
• No special privileges based on caste, colour, race, class, tribe or religion
• Untouchability is abolished in India
• Example: A child from a tribal background must be allowed to play and sit with all other
children in school without being treated differently.
Civil Equality
• Everyone should have equal civil rights and liberties
• Law should treat everyone equally
• No discrimination based on rich/poor, caste/creed, race/colour
• Example: If a rich man and a poor man both break the same traffic rule, both should be fined the
same amount by the police.
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Political Equality
• Everyone has equal access to political authority
• Equal political rights like right to vote, contest elections, and participate in government
• Based on Universal Adult Franchise
• Example: A vegetable seller and a school principal both have one vote in elections and can also
stand for local elections if they want.
Economic Equality
• Everyone should have equal chances for economic progress
• Policies to reduce income inequality
• Supported by ideas of socialism
• Example: A farmer’s daughter and a businessman's son should both be able to apply for a
government loan to start a small shop or business.
Equality of Opportunity and Education
• All individuals should get equal chances to study and grow
• No discrimination in access to education based on caste, religion, gender, income etc.
• Example: A girl from a village gets a free scholarship to study in the same school as a child from
a rich family in the city.
Universal Adult Franchise
• Means one person, one vote, one value
• Every adult citizen of India, regardless of caste, gender, religion or class, can vote
• Ensures political equality and strengthens democracy
• Makes poor and rich equal on voting day
Note: Some natural inequalities (like how people use the same resources differently) are acceptable
Caste and Inequality in India
• Caste system still divides people, especially in rural areas
• Articles in the Constitution to fight caste discrimination:
o Article 15: Prohibits discrimination on religion, caste, race, sex, place of birth
o Article 16: Ensures equal opportunity in public employment
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o Article 17: Abolishes untouchability
Yet, caste-based discrimination is still practiced in many places and violates dignity
Dignity and Discrimination
People may be treated unequally based on:
• Caste they’re born into
• Class background
• Religion
• Gender
When treated unequally, their dignity is hurt
Equality on paper is not enough – needs laws + right attitudes in society
Mid-Day Meal Scheme – Step Towards Equality
Launched in Tamil Nadu in 2001
Purpose: Provide free, cooked lunch to school children
Benefits:
• Poor families send children to school
• Children stay in school for full day
• Attendance and enrolment improved
• Caste discrimination reduced – all children eat together
• Dalit women employed as cooks – promotes dignity and employment
• Hungry children concentrate better
Despite such laws and schemes, inequality still exists because attitudes take time to change
Civil Rights Movement in the USA
• African-Americans were discriminated (e.g., told to sit at the back of buses)
• Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man on 1st December 1955
• Her arrest led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott
• This sparked the Civil Rights Movement in the US
• Led to Civil Rights Act of 1964:
o Banned racial and religious discrimination
o Gave equal rights to all Americans
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Rosa Parks is known as the Mother of the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement
This also helped launch Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a civil rights leader
Think a Little Hard:
Even after laws are made, why does inequality continue?
Because people’s mindsets and social habits take time to change
So, the fight for equality is continuous
Key Takeaway
Democracy and equality go hand in hand. While our Constitution guarantees equality, it is our
responsibility to practice and promote it every day — in schools, families, and society at large.
