What is meant by directive principles of state policy in India?

These stipulate that the State must work to advance the welfare of its citizens by establishing and upholding, to the best of its ability, a social order in which justice—political, social, and economic—shall be reflected in all spheres of national life.

What is directive principles of state policy Ncert?

The right to education, the establishment of panchayati raj institutions across the nation, the job guarantee program's partial right to work, the midday meal programme, and other directive principles are only a few examples.

What are the characteristics of directive principles of state policy?

Prevention of wealth and production means concentration is one of the traits of directive principles of state policy.

What are the three types of directive principles?

The three types of directive principles are as follows 1 Socialist 2 Gandhian 3 Liberal Intellectual.

What is the main purpose of directive principles of state policy?

Economic fairness and preventing the concentration of wealth in the hands of a select few people are the primary goals of the Directive Principle of State Policy outlined in Part 4 of the Indian Constitution.

Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) Meaning, Articles, Features, Importance

Table of Contents

The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are an essential feature of the Indian Constitution aimed at establishing a welfare state. Enshrined in Part IV (Articles 36 to 51) of the Constitution, these principles provide guidelines to the State for formulating laws and policies to ensure social and economic justice for all citizens.

Although not enforceable by any court, DPSPs play a crucial role in governance and policy-making and are seen as fundamental in achieving the ideals enshrined in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.

What is DPSP?

Articles 36-51 in Part IV of the Indian Constitution outline the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), which were influenced by the Constitution of Ireland, which was itself inspired by the Spanish Constitution. The Sapru Committee categorized rights into two types in 1945: justiciable rights, like Fundamental Rights, and non-justiciable rights, like the DPSP.

DPSPs are ideals that the government should consider when making policies and laws. They are described as:

An “instrument of instructions” from the Government of India Act, 1935.
Aiming to establish economic and social democracy in India.
Non-enforceable by courts if violated.

Part IV of the Indian Constitution lists the Directive Principles of State Policy, popularly known as the DPSP, from Articles 36 to Article 51. The Directive Principles of State Policy, which are discussed in this article, are included in the UPSC Syllabus of Indian Polity and Governance.

Read about: Salient Features of Constitution of India

Directive Principles of State Policy History

The directives from the Government of India Act 1935 were included as Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution in 1950. This idea was inspired by the 1937 Irish Constitution, which the Spanish Constitution. The Directive Principles of Social Policy have greatly shaped the Directive Principles in the Indian Constitution.

Read about: Monetary Policy

DPSP Importance

The founding fathers were aware of the problems the nation had been facing, including social, economic, and political regressiveness, unemployment, poverty, and a lack of education. They outlined the principles and goals to be accomplished in the very preamble in order to abolish these ills. The goal of the constitution’s creators was to promote political, economic, and social democracy in India.

The framers agreed that the people should have access to virtually all of the current political, social, and economic rights in order to realize this cherished aim. These rights could be broadly split into two groups.

Political and Civil Rights
Social and Economic Rights

Political and civil rights that, in the opinion of the individual, were within his or her reach were designated as provisional Fundamental Rights, while the latter were referred to as Directive Principles of State Policy because they were deemed to be beyond the individual’s reach under the then-current conditions.

DPSP Features

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) an innovative part of the Constitution. Together with Fundamental Rights, they form the Constitution’s core philosophy, which Granville Austin described as the “Conscience of the Constitution.”

The state should consider these ideals when making policies and laws. DPSP helps guide the development of economic, social, and political programs, promoting economic and social democracy. Although they can’t be enforced in court, they assist in evaluating the legality of laws.

List of Directive Principles of State Policy

Below given is the complete list of all the articles under the Directive Principles of State Policy:

Article	Meaning
Article 36	Defines State as same as Article 12 unless the context otherwise defines.
Article 37	Application of the Principles contained in this part.
Article 38	It authorizes the state to secure a social order for the promotion of the welfare of people.
Article 39	Certain principles of policies to be followed by the state.
Article 39A	Equal justice and free legal aid.
Article 40	Organization of village panchayats.
Article 41	Right to work, to education and to public assistance in certain cases.
Article 42	Provision for just and humane conditions of work and maternity leaves.
Article 43	Living wage etc. for workers.
Article 43-A	Participation of workers in management of industries.
Article 43-B	Promotion of cooperative societies.
Article 44	Uniform civil code for the citizens.
Article 45	Provision for early childhood care and education to children below the age of six years.
Article 46	Promotion of education and economic interests of SC, ST, 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.
Article 48-A	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.

DPSP Classification

Although our Constitution does not expressly classify directive principles of state policy, they can be divided into three groups based on their substance and intended use, as follows:

Socialistic Principles
Gandhian Principles
Liberal-Intellectual Principles

1. Socialistic Principles

These ideas aim to create socioeconomic justice and support a welfare state. They look at socialism and outline a democratic socialist framework. The main goal is to reduce income, status, resource, and opportunity gaps (Article 38). Several articles guide the state, including Article 39 A, which promotes equal justice and free legal aid for the poor.

Article 42- Provide for fair and decent working conditions and maternity leave;
Along with numerous other articles, such as Articles 38, 39, 41, 43, and 43A, Article 47 aims to improve public health through raising people’s standards of living and nutrition.

DPSP: Socialistic Principles
Definition: They are the guiding ideas that pave the way for the welfare state and seek to provide social and economic fairness. Several provisions instruct the state to:
Article 38	Ensure social order through social, economic, and political justice while minimising disparities in wealth, status, access to resources, and opportunity to better one’s lot in life.
Article 39	Equal pay for equal work for men and women; protection of the health and strength of workers and children against forcible abuse; opportunities for the healthy development of children; the right to an adequate standard of living for all citizens; an equitable distribution of the community’s material resources for the good of all; and the prevention of concentration of wealth and production.
Article 39A	Promote equal justice and free legal aid to the poor
Article 41	Ensure citizens have the following rights in circumstances of unemployment, old age, illness, and disability: the right to work; the right to education; and the right to public assistance.
Article 42	Make provisions for fair and compassionate working conditions and maternity leave.
Article 43	Ensure that all workers receive a living wage, a good standard of living, and access to social and cultural opportunities.
Article 43A	Take action to ensure that employees are involved in the management of industries.
Article 47	Raising people’s standards of living, nutrition, and nutrition, and enhancing public health

2. Gandhian Principles

These ideas come from Gandhian principles and reflect Mahatma Gandhi’s plans for rebuilding India during the national movement. Some of his goals are included in the Directive Principles of State Policy, which guide the government through specific articles.

Article 43: Individual or corporate promotion of cottage businesses in rural areas;
Article 47: Prohibits the use of medicines and alcoholic beverages that are harmful to health;
Article 48: Articles 40, 43B, and 46 prohibit the slaughter of cows, calves, and other milch and draught animals and work to enhance their breeds.

DPSP: Gandhian Principles
Definition: These ideas, which serve as a representation of Gandhi’s reconstruction plan put forth during the national struggle, are based on Gandhian ideology. Several articles instruct the state to:
Article 40	Establish village panchayats and give them the necessary authority and abilities to function as self-governing entities.
Article 43	Promote cottage industry in rural areas on an individual or cooperative basis.
Article 43B	Encourage the establishment of cooperative organisations that operate independently, democratically, and with professional management.
Article 46	Promote the economic and educational goals of SCs, STs, and other marginalised groups in order to safeguard them against social injustice and exploitation.
Article 47	Impose restrictions on the use of harmful substances and alcoholic beverages.
Article 48	preventing the slaughter of cows, calves, and other milch and draught animals while also attempting to improve the breeds

3. Liberal-Intellectual Principles

These beliefs reflect the ideas of liberalism. They give the state specific guidelines in different articles. For example, Article 44 calls for a “uniform civil code” for all citizens.

Other examples include:

Article 48: Organize agriculture and animal husbandry using modern science.
Article 48A:
Article 49:
Article 50:
Article 51: Provide early childhood care and education for all children until they are six years old.

DPSP – Liberal-Intellectual Principles
Definition: These beliefs are a reflection of liberalism’s philosophy. There are several articles that instruct the state to:
Article 44	Ensure a standard civil code for all citizens across the nation.
Article 45	All children should get early childhood care and instruction up until the age of six. (Note: The 86th Amendment Act of 2002 changed the focus of this article and included primary education to Article 21 A’s list of fundamental rights.)
Article 48	Establish a sophisticated, scientific system of animal husbandry and agriculture.
Article 49	the preservation of landmarks, locations, and historic or cultural objects that have been designated as being of national significance
Article 50	Separate the executive branch of government from the judicial branch in state public services
Article 51	Encourage the use of arbitration to resolve international disputes; Foster respect for international law and treaty obligations; Maintain just and honourable relations between nations.

DPSPs added by 42nd Amendment 1976

42nd Amendment added four new directive Principles:

New DPSPs
Article 39	To secure opportunities for the healthy development of children
Article 39A	To promote equal justice and to provide free legal aid to the poor
Article 43A	To take steps to secure the participation of workers in the management of industries
Article 48A	To protect and improve the environment and to safeguard forests and wildlife

Implementation of Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)

Though DPSPs are non-justiciable, the government has made significant efforts since independence to implement them through laws, schemes, policies, and constitutional amendments. Their implementation reflects the State’s commitment to social justice, economic welfare, and democratic values.

Article 39: Enforced via MGNREGA, Equal Remuneration Act, Food Security Act.
Article 41 & 45: Implemented through Right to Education Act (2009), Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
Article 40: Realized via 73rd & 74th Amendments – Panchayati Raj system.
Article 43: Living wages ensured through Minimum Wages Act, Code on Wages.
Article 48A: Environmental protection via Environment Protection Act, NGT.
Article 39A: Free legal aid ensured via Legal Services Authorities Act (1987).
Article 44: UCC partially applied in Goa.
Article 51: Peace promotion via UN Peacekeeping, Non-Aligned Movement.
Implementation faces challenges like non-justiciability, resource limits, and political hesitation.

Criticism of DPSPs

Non-justiciable: DPSPs are not legally enforceable in courts, reducing their impact.
Mere moral guidelines: Critics call them “pious promises” with no legal compulsion.
Lack of prioritization: No clear order or hierarchy among principles.
Contradictions: Some DPSPs conflict with each other and even with Fundamental Rights.
Constitutional conflicts: Implementation may lead to Centre-State or Governor-CM tensions.
Vague language: Terms like “adequate,” “just,” and “reasonable” lack precision.
Slow implementation: Many principles remain unfulfilled even after decades.
Outdated ideals: Some critics feel many DPSPs are no longer relevant in the 21st century.
Political misuse: Often used in election manifestos without the intent to implement.

Conclusion

Despite being non-justiciable, DPSPs have been progressively implemented through laws, schemes, and constitutional amendments. Their implementation reflects India’s commitment to creating a just, equitable, and inclusive society. Continued focus on DPSPs is essential to fulfill the constitutional vision of a welfare state as envisioned by the framers of the Constitution.