The Directive Principles of State Policy(DPSP): Key points
Know a great deal about Directive Principles of State Policy
The Constitution of India has 4 parts. Part 3 of the constitution talks about the fundamental rights of the citizens of India. Part 4 of the constitution talks about the Directive Principles of the State Policy. Unlike the fundamental rights, the state is not accountable to the judiciary for the violation of the DPSP.
In 1945, The Sapru Committee recommended two categories of rights – justiciable (Justiciable Right) and unjustifiable (DPSP). The DPSPs are adopted from the Irish Constitution.
Read more: 1. Round Table Conferences: Constitutional Reform in British India
2. History of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
The Directive Principles of State Policy includes Articles from 36 to 51.
- Socialistic Principles
Article 36 is the definition clause which states to take the state as mentioned in Part 3 of the constitution.
Article 37 states that the provisions contained in third Part shall not be enforced by any court, but the principles therein laid down are nevertheless fundamental in the governance of the country and it shall be the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws.
For the articles 38 to 51, there is no specific classification of the DPSP but it is observed that the Articles under the DPSPs can be categorized under three broad heads according to the nature of Articles.
- Socialistic
- Gandhian
- Liberalism
Socialistic Principles These principles aim to establish a socialistic society. The articles under Socialistic principles are –
Article 38 – State to secure a social order for the promotion of the welfare of the people
Article 39: Certain principles of policy to be followed by the State
Article 39A: Equal justice and free legal aid
Article 41: Right to work, education and public assistance in certain cases
Article 42: Provision for just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief
Article 43: Living wage, etc., for workers
Article 43A: Participation of workers in the management of industries
Gandhian Principle
The Gandhian Principles talk about issues of grassroots and small scale development. They reflect the Gandhian Ideology.
Article 40: Organisation of village panchayat’s
Article 43: Living wage for workers
Article 46: Promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections
Article 47: Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health
Article 48: Organization of agriculture and animal husbandry
Liberalistic principles These principles are more liberal in nature. They ensure equality and protection of the rights of individuals. Articles under liberalistic principles are –
Article 44: Uniform civil code for the citizen
Article 45: Provision for free and compulsory education for children
Article 48: Organization of agriculture and animal husbandry
Article 48A: Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wildlife
Article 49: Protection of monuments and places and objects of national importance
Article 50: Separation of judiciary from the executive
Article 51: Promotion of international peace and security
This is all about the directive principles of state policy. This part of the constitution is an important section for competitive exams like SSC MTS, CHSL, UPSC etc. In a nutshell, these principles are the directives to the state to make policies.
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