Directive Principles of State Policy are highly important for UPSC Prelims because questions often test:
The most important facts and common traps are given below.
Part IV
36–51
Non-justiciable
Fundamental in the governance of the country
Article 37
Social and economic democracy
The main constitutional source of DPSP is:
Irish Constitution
"DPSP were borrowed from the Soviet Constitution."
False
The Soviet influence is mainly associated with:
Fundamental Duties
Article 36 provides that:
State has the same meaning as in Part III.
Therefore:
Article 36 → Article 12
"Article 36 contains an independent definition of State."
False
It adopts the meaning given in:
Article 12
Article 37 provides that DPSP:
"DPSP have no constitutional significance because they are non-justiciable."
False
They are constitutionally significant.
Promote welfare through a social order informed by:
Minimise inequalities in:
"Article 38 deals only with economic equality."
False
It includes:
Social + Economic + Political justice
Adequate means of livelihood
Material resources → Common good
Prevent concentration of wealth
Equal pay for equal work
Workers + Children
Children → Freedom + Dignity + Protection
Article 39(b) does NOT say:
Equal distribution of all resources
It requires distribution of material resources to:
Subserve the common good
Article 39(c) does NOT require:
Complete economic equality
It seeks to prevent:
Concentration of wealth and means of production
to the common detriment.
Equal justice + Free legal aid
42nd Amendment, 1976
"Article 39A is a Fundamental Right."
False
It is a:
DPSP
Village Panchayats
The State should organise village panchayats as:
Units of self-government
"Article 40 itself constitutionally created Panchayati Raj institutions."
False
Constitutional status was provided through:
73rd Amendment, 1992
Within the limits of economic capacity and development of the State
"Article 41 creates an absolute Fundamental Right to work."
False
It is a DPSP and is subject to the State's:
Economic capacity and development
Just and humane conditions of work
Maternity relief
"Article 42 deals only with maternity relief."
False
It contains two major objectives.
Living wage
Decent standard of life
Leisure
Social and cultural opportunities
It also promotes:
Cottage industries in rural areas
"Article 43 provides only for minimum wages."
False
It specifically refers to:
Living wage
Workers' participation in management of industries
42nd Amendment, 1976
43A → Workers
Cooperative societies
Promotes:
97th Amendment, 2011
43B → Cooperatives
Uniform Civil Code
The State shall endeavour to secure a:
Uniform Civil Code
for citizens throughout India.
"Article 44 makes UCC a Fundamental Right."
False
It is a:
DPSP
Early childhood care and education
for children:
Below 6 years
"Article 45 currently provides free and compulsory education up to 14 years."
False
That was the original Article 45.
Fundamental Right
Education:
6–14 years
DPSP
Early childhood care and education:
Below 6 years
21A → 6–14
45 → Below 6
Promotion of:
Educational and economic interests of weaker sections
especially:
SCs + STs
Protection from:
"Article 46 applies only to SCs and STs."
False
It covers:
Weaker sections generally, with specific reference to SCs and STs.
It also directs the State to endeavour towards prohibition of:
except for:
Medicinal purposes
"Article 47 is mainly a prohibition provision."
False
Its broader focus is:
Nutrition + Standard of living + Public health
Agriculture + Animal husbandry
The State should organise them on:
Modern and scientific lines
It also deals with:
Preservation and improvement of breeds
and prohibition of slaughter of:
Environment
The State should:
42nd Amendment, 1976
48 → Animals
48A → Environment
Protection of monuments and objects of national importance
It concerns monuments, places and objects of:
Artistic or historic interest
declared by or under law to be of:
National importance
"Article 49 protects every historical monument."
False
It specifically concerns those of:
National importance
as declared by or under law.
Separation of Judiciary from Executive
in the:
Public services of the State
50 → Judiciary ≠ Executive
International peace and security
International peace and security
Just and honourable relations between nations
Respect for:
Settlement of international disputes by:
Arbitration
| Amendment | DPSP-related change |
|---|---|
| 25th, 1971 | Article 31C |
| 42nd, 1976 | Articles 39A, 43A, 48A |
| 44th, 1978 | Article 38(2) |
| 86th, 2002 | Article 45 changed; Article 21A + 51A(k) |
| 97th, 2011 | Article 43B |
Article 31C was introduced to protect laws implementing:
Article 39(b) and 39(c)
Attempted to extend protection to:
All DPSP
The Supreme Court struck down the expansion to all DPSP.
25th → 39(b),(c)
42nd → All DPSP attempt
Minerva Mills → Expansion struck down
Early approach:
Fundamental Rights > DPSP
Established:
Basic Structure Doctrine
Emphasised:
Harmony and balance between FR and DPSP
Equal pay for equal work
Social justice + Welfare State
Right to livelihood
Right to education
Sustainable development
DPSP are conventionally classified into:
Examples:
38, 39, 39A, 41, 42, 43, 43A
Examples:
40, 43, 43B, 46, 47, 48
Examples:
44, 45, 48A, 49, 50, 51
This classification is:
Not expressly provided by the Constitution.
Part III
↓
Generally justiciable
↓
Protect individual liberty and equality
Part IV
↓
Non-justiciable
↓
Promote social and economic justice
"Fundamental Rights and DPSP are completely independent."
False
The Supreme Court emphasises:
Harmony and balance
State → Responsibility
Citizens → Responsibility
Article 48A
→ State's environmental responsibility
Article 51A(g)
→ Citizen's environmental responsibility
Agriculture/Animals + Environment
Education 6–14 + Early childhood below 6
State + Citizen environmental responsibility
Legal aid + Meaningful justice
Equal pay + Equality
Weaker sections + Affirmative action
Part IV → DPSP
Articles 36–51 → DPSP
Article 37 → Non-justiciable + Fundamental in governance
Article 38 → Justice + Reduce inequality
Article 39 → Economic principles
Article 39A → Free legal aid
Article 40 → Panchayats
Article 41 → Work + Education + Public assistance
Article 42 → Humane work + Maternity relief
Article 43 → Living wage
Article 43A → Workers
Article 43B → Cooperatives
Article 44 → UCC
Article 45 → Below 6
Article 46 → Weaker sections
Article 47 → Nutrition + Health
Article 48 → Agriculture + Animals
Article 48A → Environment
Article 49 → National monuments
Article 50 → Judiciary + Executive
Article 51 → International peace
DPSP are enforceable by the Supreme Court.
False
DPSP are not part of the Constitution.
False
Article 37 declares DPSP fundamental in governance.
True
DPSP were mainly borrowed from the Soviet Constitution.
False
Article 40 deals with Panchayats.
True
Article 45 currently deals with education up to 14 years.
False
Article 48A deals with environment.
True
Article 43B deals with workers' participation.
False
43A → Workers
43B → Cooperatives
Article 51 deals with international relations.
True
The Constitution itself classifies DPSP as Socialist, Gandhian and Liberal-Intellectual.
False
This is a conventional classification.
36 → State
↓
37 → Status
↓
38 → Justice
↓
39 → Economic principles
↓
39A → Legal aid
↓
40 → Panchayats
↓
41 → Work/Education/Assistance
↓
42 → Labour/Maternity
↓
43 → Living wage
↓
43A → Workers
↓
43B → Cooperatives
↓
44 → UCC
↓
45 → Below 6
↓
46 → Weaker sections
↓
47 → Health
↓
48 → Animals
↓
48A → Environment
↓
49 → Monuments
↓
50 → Judiciary
↓
51 → International peace
