Topic Details (Notes format)

Euthanasia and Constitutional Debates

Subject: Polity

Book: Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth

Focuses on the “right to die with dignity” as an extension of Article 21 (right to life). The Supreme Court’s Aruna Shanbaug (2011) and Common Cause (2018) judgments permitted passive euthanasia under strict guidelines, acknowledging living wills. Critics fear misuse or moral implications, while proponents cite bodily autonomy and relief from incurable suffering. India’s legal stance differentiates active euthanasia (illegal) from passive euthanasia (withdrawal of life support). Balancing individual autonomy, familial pressures, and medical ethics underscores a sensitive domain requiring robust safeguards. This debate spotlights evolving interpretations of personal liberty under India’s progressive jurisprudence.

Practice Questions

Who among the following was the first woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha?

संघीय ढांचे का विवरण किस अनुच्छेद में मिलता है?

Which of the following is the longest-serving political party in India?

निर्वाचन आयोग के अध्यक्ष का कार्यकाल कितना होता है?

In India, the power to declare war and peace is vested in which of the following?

संविधान संशोधन की प्रक्रिया किस अनुच्छेद द्वारा नियंत्रित होती है?

Who was the first woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha?

Who is responsible for the selection of the judges of the Supreme Court?

राष्ट्रपति की अनुपस्थिति में संसद में किस सत्र को आयोजित किया जाता है?

मौलिक अधिकारों के उल्लंघन पर तत्काल न्यायिक राहत किस अनुच्छेद में दी जाती है?