Indian Constitution’s Directive Principles: Social, Gandhian, and Liberal Ideals

November 28, 2023 596 0

Classifying Indian Directive Principles

In the Indian Constitution, Directive Principles are not classified as per their underlying philosophies. However, they can be classified into:

Socialistic: These Directive Principles contemplate the ideology of socialism and lay down the framework of a democratic socialist state.
- The concept envisages providing social and economic justice, so that state should achieve the optimum norms of welfare state
Gandhian: These Directive Principles reflect the programme of reconstruction envisaged by Gandhi during the national movement.
- In order to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of Gandhi, some of his ideas were included in DPSP.
Liberal-Intellectual: These Directive Principles have a propensity towards the ideology of liberalism.

Socialist Principles: Welfare, Equality, and Economic Justice

Art. 38	The State shall strive to promote the welfare of the people by securing and protecting as effectively as it may a social order in which justice, social, economic and political, shall inform all the institutions of national life. State to minimise inequalities in income, status, facilities and opportunities (Added by 44th CAA 1978) Minimum Wages Act (1948), Payment of Bonus Act (1965), Trade Unions Act (1926), the Factories Act (1948), Maternity Benefit Act (1961), Equal Remuneration Act (1976) enacted to achieve these objectives .
Art. 39	The State shall, in particular, direct its policy towards securing— (a) the right to adequate means of livelihood for all citizens; (b) the equitable distribution of material resources of the community for the 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 A	The State shall promotes justice and provide free legal aid to the poor to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities (Added by 42nd CAA 1976) e.g. Legal Services Authorities Act (1987)
Art. 41	The State shall secure the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, and in other cases of undeserved want. e.g. National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (2006), Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana.
Art. 42	The State shall make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief. e.g. Maternity Benefits Act and Equal Remuneration Act
Art. 43 (First part only)	Living wage for workers. (Living wage includes education, health and insurance etc.) e.g. Minimum wages act
Art. 43A	The State shall take steps, by suitable legislation or in any other way, to secure the participation of workers in the management of undertakings, establishments or other organisations engaged in any industry. (Added by 42nd CAA 1976) E.g. Industrial disputes act,1947
Art. 47 (first provision of this Article)	State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties and, in particular, e.g. Primary health centers, special programs to eradicate various diseases, ICDS, Mid-Day Meal schemes.

Art. 40	The State shall take steps to organise village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government. e.g. 73rd and 74th CAA 1992
Art. 43- (Second part only)	The State shall endeavour to promote cottage industries on an individual or co-operative basis in rural areas e.g. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), National Small Industries Corporation.
Art. 43 B	State shall promote voluntary formation, autonomous functioning, democratic control and professional management of co-operative societies (Added by 97th CAA, 2011) e.g. Multi-State cooperative societies act 2002.
Art.46	The State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation. e.g. Protection of Civil Rights Act in 1976 and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989, NCSC, NCST, National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), 10% reservation to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs).
Art. 47 (Second part)	State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health. e.g. FSSAI regulation, Narcotics and psychotropic substances act 1985.
Art. 48 (Second Part)	State shall take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter, of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle. e.g. providing improved agricultural inputs, seeds, fertilisers and irrigation facilities, Laws to prohibit the slaughter of cows

Liberal- Intellectual Principles: Civil Code, Education, Environment, and Peace

Art. 44	The State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.
Art. 45	The State shall endeavour to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of six years. This provision was Added by 42nd CAA 1976 it also changed subject matter of Art 45 and added Art.21A to FR. e.g. Right to education act 2009
Art. 48- (Part two only)	State shall endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall. e.g. providing improved agricultural inputs, seeds, fertilisers and irrigation facilities.
Art. 48A	The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. (Added by 42nd CAA 1976). e.g. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, Air act, Water act.
Art.49	It shall be the obligation of the State to protect every monument or place or object of artistic or historic interest (declared by or under law made by Parliament) to be of national importance, from spoliation, disfigurement, destruction, removal, disposal or export,as the case may be. e.g. Ancient and Historical Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (1951), formation of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Art. 50	The State shall take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the State. e.g. Criminal Procedure Code (1973)
Art.51	The State shall endeavour to— (a) promote international peace and security; (b) maintain just and honourable relations between nations; (c) foster respect for international law and treaty obligations in the dealings of organized peoples with one another; and (d) encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration. e.g. policy of Non-Alignment and Panchsheel to promote international peace and security.

Previous Year Questions (Prelims):

Q. Under the Indian Constitution, concentration of wealth violates, [2021]

(a) the Right to Equality

(b) the Directive Principles of State Policy

(d) the Concept of Welfare

Q. Which principle among the following was added to the Directive Principles of State Policy by the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution? [2017]

(a) Equal pay for equal work for both men and women

(b) Participation of workers in the management of industries

(d) Securing living wage and human conditions of work to workers

Q. 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. Organising 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 the Gandhian Principles that are reflected in the Directive Principles of State Policy?

(a) 1, 2 and 4 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q. In the Constitution of India, promotion of international peace and security is included in the, [2014]

(a) Preamble to the constitution

(b) Directive Principles of State Policy

(d) Ninth Schedule

Q. In India, separation of judiciary from the executive is enjoined by, [2020]

(a) the Preamble of the Constitution

(b) Directive Principle of State Policy

(d) the conventional practice

Q. Which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India have a bearing on Education? [2012]

1. Directive Principles of State Policy.
2. Rural and Urban Local Bodies.
3. Fifth Schedule
4. Sixth Schedule
5. Seventh Schedule

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

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NCERT NOTES

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Indian Constitution’s Directive Principles: Social, Gandhian, and Liberal Ideals

Classifying Indian Directive Principles

Socialist Principles: Welfare, Equality, and Economic Justice

Liberal- Intellectual Principles: Civil Code, Education, Environment, and Peace

Previous Year Questions (Prelims):

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NCERT NOTES

Elevate your UPSC preparation with NCERT Notes – because every word matters on your journey to success.

Indian Constitution’s Directive Principles: Social, Gandhian, and Liberal Ideals

Classifying Indian Directive Principles

Socialist Principles: Welfare, Equality, and Economic Justice

Gandhian Principles: Rural Empowerment and Social Justice

Liberal- Intellectual Principles: Civil Code, Education, Environment, and Peace

Previous Year Questions (Prelims):

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