Directive Principles of State Policy
Directive Principles of State Policy
The Constitution of India aims to establish not only political democracy but also socio-
economic justice to the people to establish a welfare state. With this purpose in mind,
our Constitution lays down desirable principle and guidelines in Part IV known as the
Directive Principle of State Policy.
Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are in the form of instructions/guidelines
to the governments at the centre as well as states. Though these principles are non-
justiciable, they are fundamental in the governance of the country. The idea of
Directive Principles of State Policy has been taken from the Irish Republic. They were
incorporated in our Constitution in order to provide economic justice and to avoid
concentration of wealth in the hands of a few people. Therefore, no government can
afford to ignore them. They are in fact, the directives to the future governments to
incorporate them in the decisions and policies to be formulated by them.
#Features
1. Resemble the ‘Instrument of Instructions’ enumerated in the Government of India
Act, 1935.
2. Aim at realising the high ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as outlined
in Preamble to the Constitution.
3. Embody the concept of a ‘welfare state’.
4. Seek to establish economic and social democracy.
5. Are non-justiciable.
6. Fundamental in the governance of the country.
7. Help the courts in examining and determining the constitutional validity of a law.
#Classification
The Constitution does not contain any classification of the Directive Principles.
However, on the basis of their content and direction, they can be classified broadly
into socialistic, Gandhian and liberal-intellectual.
#Socialistic Principles:
1. to promote the welfare of the people by securing a social order permeated by
social, economic and political justice and to minimise inequalities in income, status,
facilities and opportunities. (Art 38)
2. to secure (a) the right to adequate means of livelihood for all citizens; (b) the
equitable distribution of material resources of the community for common good; (c)
prevention of concentration of wealth and means of production; (d) equal pay for
equal work for men and women; (e) preservation of the health and strength of
workers and children against forcible abuse; and (f) opportunities for healthy
development of children. (Art 39)
3. to promote equal justice and to provide free legal aid to the poor. (Art 39A)
4. to secure the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of
unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement. (Art 41)
5. to make provision for just and humane conditions for work and maternity relief. (Art
42)
6. to secure a living wage, a decent standard of life and social and cultural
opportunities for all workers (Art 43)
7. to take steps to secure the participation of workers in the management of
industries (Art 43A)
8. to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living of people and to improve
public health.
(Art 47)
# Liberal-Intellectual Principles:
These principles represent the ideology of liberalism and direct the state to
1. to secure for all citizens a uniform civil code. (Art 44)
2. to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete
the age of 6
years. (Art 45)
3. to organise agricultural and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines. (Art
48)
4. to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard forests and wildlife. (Art
48A)
5. to protect monuments, places and objects of artistic or historic interest which are
declared to
be of national importance. (Art 49)
6. to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the state. (Art
50)
7. to promote international peace and security and maintain just and honourable
relations between
nations; to foster respect for international law and treaty obligations, and to
encourage
settlement of international disputes by arbitration. (Art 51)
#4. According to the Constitution of India, which of the following are fundamental for
the
governance of the country? (2013)
(a) Fundamental Rights
(b) Fundamental Duties
(c) Directive Principles of State Policy
(d) Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties
#5. ‘Economic Justice’ as one of the objectives of the Indian Constitution has been
provided in
(2013)
(a) the Preamble and the Fundamental Rights
(b) the Preamble and the Directive Principles of State Policy
(c) the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy
(d) None of the above
#6. Consider the following provisions under the Directive Principles of State Policy as
enshrined
in the Constitution of India : (2012)
1. Securing for citizens of India a uniform civil code
2. Organizin village Panchayats
3. Promoting cottage industries in rural areas
4. Securing for all the workers reasonable leisure and cultural opportunities
Which of the above are Gandhian Principles that are reflected in the Directive
Principles of
State Policy ? (2012)
(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
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