A
A committed judiciary
B
Centralization of powers
C
Elected government
D
Separation of powers
Correct answer: (d) Separation of powers
Explanation
- A
A committed judiciary
Committed judiciary. ‘Committed’ is the opposite of independent.
- B
Centralization of powers
Centralization. A threat to liberty, not a safeguard.
- C
Elected government
Elected government. Necessary but can still be elective tyranny.
- D
Separation of powers
Separation of powers. The liberal-democratic check: legislature, executive, judiciary not fused.
Summary. Official key is (d). In a liberal democracy the best listed safeguard of liberty is separation of powers — not a ‘committed’ court, a concentrated executive, or elections alone.
Same topic · past papers
UPSC has asked this before
These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.