Directive Principles of State Policy

Articles 36 to 51

Reason — The Directive Principles of State Policy are contained in Part IV of the Constitution, which comprises Articles 36 to 51. These principles provide guidelines to the State for making laws and policies for the welfare of the people.

Part IV

Reason — The Directive Principles of State Policy are laid down in Part IV of the Constitution (Articles 36 to 51). Part III contains the Fundamental Rights, while Parts II and V deal with citizenship and the Union respectively.

2013

Reason — The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill was passed by the Parliament in 2013 and came into force on January 1, 2014. It provides for fair compensation and transparency in land acquisition and assures the rehabilitation of those affected.

For annual commercial and horticultural crops, farmers will have to pay a premium of 10 per cent.

Reason — The image refers to the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), launched on February 18, 2016. Under this scheme farmers pay a uniform premium of 2 per cent for all Kharif crops and 1.5 per cent for all Rabi crops, but for annual commercial and horticultural crops the premium is 5 per cent, not 10 per cent.

Article 47

Reason — Article 47 lays down that the State shall endeavour to prohibit the consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs, except for medicinal purposes, as they are injurious to health. This principle is grouped under the Gandhian Principles.

Local Self-government

Reason — Article 40 lays down that the State shall take steps to organise village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government. The Panchayati Raj therefore promotes local self-government in rural areas.

The Directive Principles give guidelines to the government to make laws and draft their policies according to the objectives of the Constitution.

Reason — The Directive Principles are general directions or guidelines to the State; they guide the government in making laws and framing policies according to the objectives of the Constitution. They are not justiciable, they aim at the welfare of the people, and they also serve as a measure to evaluate the government's efforts towards socio-economic justice.

Article 44

Reason — Article 44 lays down that the State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India. It is grouped under the Directive Principles pertaining to Law, Justice and Administration.

Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)

Explanation — The VB- G RAM G Act has replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005, and it does raise the guarantee of wage employment for a rural household from 100 days to 125 days in a year. However, the 125-day guarantee is only a feature of the new Act; it is not the reason for which the Act replaced MGNREGA. Hence, both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

Directive Principles of State Policy are not justiciable

Reason — Directive Principles of State Policy are contained in Part IV of the Constitution and are not justiciable, meaning they cannot be enforced by any court of law. They serve as guidelines to the State in making laws and policies for the welfare of the people.

only (i)

Reason — Article 48(A) lays down that the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment while safeguarding the forests and wildlife of the country. Protection of monuments comes under Article 49 and promotion of international peace and security under Article 51.

Directives are not justiciable by any court of law but the Fundamental Rights are justiciable

Reason — The Directive Principles are not justiciable or enforceable by any court of law, whereas the Fundamental Rights are justiciable and citizens can seek protection from a High Court or the Supreme Court for their enforcement.

2014

Reason — The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, a social upliftment scheme, was announced by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on August 15, 2014. Under this scheme bank accounts were opened for the poor to bring them into the financial mainstream.

Article 40

Reason — Just as Article 43 provides for the promotion of cottage industries on an individual or cooperative basis in rural areas, Article 40 provides for the organisation of village panchayats as units of self-government. Both are grouped under the Gandhian Principles.

All of these

Reason — The Gandhian Principles include the organisation of village panchayats (Article 40), promotion of cottage industries (Article 43) and promotion of the educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections (Article 46). Therefore, all the given statements are included under the Gandhian Principles.

Article 48

Reason — Article 48 lays down that the State shall endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and drought animals.

(A) is true but (B) is false

Explanation — Statement (A) is true, as the National Food Security Act, 2013 gives the right to subsidised foodgrains to 67 per cent of India's population. Statement (B) is false, because the guarantee of at least 100 days of employment in a year to every rural household is provided by the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 and not by the National Food Security Act.

Jan Dhan Yojana

Reason — PMUY (2016), PMFBY (2016) and ABPMJAY (2018) are all referred to by their abbreviations and were launched between 2016 and 2018, whereas the Jan Dhan Yojana was announced earlier, on August 15, 2014. Hence, it is the odd one out.

Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)

Explanation — The Women's Reservation Bill, also called the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, was approved by Parliament on 21st September 2023, and it does provide 33% reserved seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. However, the 33% reservation is a provision of the legislation; it does not explain why the Bill was approved by Parliament in 2023. Hence, both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

Two directive principles based on Gandhian ideals are:

1. Organisation of Village Panchayats — Article 40 lays down that the State shall take steps to organise village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government.
2. Promotion of Cottage Industries — Article 43 lays down that the State shall endeavour to promote cottage industries on an individual or cooperative basis in rural areas.

The Directive Principles are described as non-justiciable. It means that they are not legally enforceable by the courts.

The Directive Principle of State Policy that aims at the upliftment of the weaker sections of the society is: Promotion of Educational and Economic Interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Weaker Sections, as mentioned in Article 46.

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is mentioned under Article 44 of the Directive Principles of State Policy. It lays down that the State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.

One Directive principle that aims at the welfare of children is: Welfare of children and youth Article 39(f).

(i) Public Health — Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition, standard of living, and improve public health, as mentioned in Article 47.

(ii) Ancient Monuments — Protection of monuments and places/objects of national importance, as mentioned in Article 49.

(i) Economic Equality — Equal pay for equal work for both men and women.

(ii) Social Equality — Promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other weaker sections.

Two Directive Principles of State Policy which have been implemented by the Central or a State Government are:

1. Equal Pay for Equal Work – Implemented through the Equal Remuneration Act and subsequent labour laws.
2. Right to Work – Implemented through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005.

The main purpose of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs) in the Indian Constitution is to guide the government while making or implementing laws. They give directions to the State for undertaking certain things for the welfare of the people. The Directive Principles of State Policy seek the well-being of the citizens just as the Fundamental Rights do.

The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs) play a crucial role in establishing a Welfare State in India by providing a framework for social, economic, and political well-being. Though they are non-justiciable, they serve as essential guidelines for the government to create laws and policies that aim to improve the quality of life for all citizens.

(a) The Indian Constitution has laid down certain principles which the Government should consider while making or implementing laws. These principles are known as the 'Directive Principles of State Policy'.

(b) The Directive Principles of State Policy are very significant due to the following reasons:

1. The Directive Principles give guidelines to the government to make laws and draft their policies according to the objectives of the Constitution. They provide a framework for establishing a welfare state and guiding governance in a democracy.
2. They serve as guidelines to evaluate the government's efforts towards achieving socio-economic justice.
3. They enlighten and educate people of what they can expect from the politicians to whom they vote to power.
4. They guide the courts in interpreting the Constitution and in balancing Fundamental Rights with the goals of socio-economic justice.
5. Although the directive principles are non-justiciable, they are backed by public opinion, which is in reality the real sanction behind every law.

The given image refers to the 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana'.

Steps taken towards establishing a Welfare State in economic terms — The 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana' was announced by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on August 15, 2014. Under this scheme, bank accounts have been opened for the poor. Each account has a life insurance cover of ₹30,000, adding to the one lakh accidental insurance benefit already available under the account. The account is accompanied with a Rupay enabled debit card. This scheme is aimed at improving the lives of millions of India's poor by bringing them into the financial mainstream and freeing them from the clutches of moneylenders, while giving them the benefit of insurance cover.

Significance of the Directive Principles —

1. The Directive Principles give guidelines to the government to make laws and draft their policies according to the objectives of the Constitution. They provide a framework for establishing a welfare state and guiding governance in a democracy.
2. They serve as guidelines to evaluate the government's efforts towards achieving socio-economic justice.
3. They enlighten and educate people of what they can expect from the politicians to whom they vote to power.
4. They guide the courts in interpreting the Constitution and in balancing Fundamental Rights with the goals of socio-economic justice.
5. Although the directive principles are non-justiciable, they are backed by public opinion, which is in reality the real sanction behind every law.