Key Points

A right is an entitlement or a justified claim. It denotes what we are entitled to as citizens, individuals, and human beings, which society must recognize as a legitimate claim.

One basis for claiming rights is that they are necessary conditions for leading a life of self-respect and dignity. For example, the right to livelihood provides economic independence.

Another basis is that rights are necessary for our well-being and help individuals develop their talents and skills. The right to education is an example of a universal right for this reason.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, political theorists argued that rights are given by nature or God. These rights are considered inalienable, meaning no one can take them away.

Early theorists identified three fundamental natural rights: the right to life, liberty, and property. All other rights were considered to be derived from these.

Today, the term 'human rights' is preferred, viewing rights as guarantees that humans seek to lead a minimally good life. This is based on the idea that all persons are unique and equally valuable.

Immanuel Kant argued that every person has dignity and must be treated as an end in themselves, not as a means to an end. This moral conception is a cornerstone of human rights.

Adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948, the UDHR is a global standard that recognizes claims important for a life of dignity and self-respect.

Rights gain special status when they are legally recognized by the state, often in a constitution's Bill of Rights. In India, these are known as Fundamental Rights.

Rights place obligations on the state to act in certain ways (what it must do) and to refrain from acting in others (what it must not do). For instance, the state must protect life but must not arrest citizens arbitrarily.

Our rights ensure that state authority is exercised without violating individual life and liberty. The state exists for the well-being of the individual, not for its own sake.

Political rights give citizens the right to equality before the law and to participate in the political process. Examples include the right to vote, contest elections, and form political parties.

Democratic societies are increasingly recognizing economic rights, such as the right to an adequate wage or housing, as they are essential for meeting basic needs and fully exercising political rights.

Cultural rights are recognized as necessary for a good life. These include the right to have primary education in one's mother tongue and to establish institutions to teach one's culture.

Rights also place obligations upon each of us. These include respecting the rights of others, considering the common good, and balancing our rights when they conflict with others.

My rights are limited by the principle of equal and same rights for all. For example, my right to free speech does not allow me to incite violence against others.

We must balance our rights when they come into conflict. For instance, the right to freedom of expression must be balanced against another person's right to privacy.

Citizens must be vigilant about limitations placed on their rights, especially in the name of national security. Such powers can be misused by governments to become authoritarian.