Socialist Principles in India’s Directive Principles of State Policy

• Promote the welfare of the people by securing a social order permeated by justice-social, economic and political.
• To minimize inequalities in income, status, facilities and opportunities (Added by 44th Amendment).

1. Adequate means of livelihood for its citizens, men and women equally.
2. That the ownership and control of material resources of the community are so distributed as best to serve the common good.
3. That the operation of the economic system doesn’t result in the concentration of wealth and means of production. [UPSC 2021]
4. Equal pay for equal work for men and women.
5. Preservation of health and strength of workers and children against forcible abuse.
6. Opportunity for the healthy development of children and the protection of childhood and youth against moral and material development. (42nd CAA, 1976).

• Section 12: Free legal services (Art.39A). It is available to Women and children, Members of SC/ST (Legal Services Authority does not mention OBCs while providing free legal services), Industrial workmen, Victims of mass disaster, violence, flood, drought, earthquakes, industrial disaster, Disabled persons, Persons in custody, Persons whose annual income does not exceed  1 lakh or as prescribed by the State Government, Victims of trafficking in human beings or beggars, the income ceiling limit for Transgender is Rs. 2,00,000 and Senior Citizens (Not all senior citizens are eligible for free legal services, it depends on the rules framed by the respective state governments, which can prescribe income limits).

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