Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)

Complete Notes for Competitive Exams | UPSC | SSC | APSC | ADRE | Assam Police

The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are constitutional principles that guide the State in making laws and policies for establishing a just, welfare-oriented and socially and economically equitable society. They are contained in Part IV of the Constitution of India, Articles 36 to 51. 

Meaning and Constitutional Position

Article 37 provides that the provisions of Part IV are not enforceable by any court. However, the Constitution declares that these principles are fundamental in the governance of the country, and it is the duty of the State to apply them while making laws. 

Thus, DPSPs differ from Fundamental Rights because they generally cannot be directly enforced through courts, but they provide important constitutional guidance for government policy.

Important Directive Principles: Articles 36–51

Article 36 – Definition

For Part IV, the term “State” has the same meaning as in Part III of the Constitution. 

Article 37 – Application

DPSPs are non-justiciable, but they are fundamental to the governance of the country. 

Article 38 – Social Order and Welfare

The State should promote the welfare of the people by securing a social order based on social, economic and political justice. It should also seek to minimise inequalities in income, status, facilities and opportunities. 

Article 39 – Principles of Economic and Social Policy

The State should direct its policies towards securing, among other things:

Adequate means of livelihood for men and women.

Distribution of material resources to serve the common good.

Prevention of excessive concentration of wealth.

Equal pay for equal work for men and women.

Protection of workers and children from exploitation.

Healthy development of children in conditions of freedom and dignity. 

Article 39A – Equal Justice and Free Legal Aid

The State should ensure equal justice and provide free legal aid so that economic or other disabilities do not prevent citizens from obtaining justice. 

Article 40 – Village Panchayats

The State should take steps to organise village panchayats and provide them with the powers necessary to function as units of self-government. 

Article 41 – Right to Work, Education and Public Assistance

The State should make effective provision, within its economic capacity and development, for the right to work, education and public assistance in cases such as unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement.

Article 42 – Humane Conditions of Work

The State should secure just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief.

Article 43 – Living Wage

The State should endeavour to secure a living wage, decent conditions of work and a decent standard of life for workers.

Article 43A – Workers' Participation

The State should take steps to secure the participation of workers in the management of industries.

Article 43B – Cooperative Societies

The State should promote the voluntary formation, autonomous functioning, democratic control and professional management of cooperative societies.

Article 44 – Uniform Civil Code

The State should endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for citizens throughout India.

Article 45 – Early Childhood Care and Education

The State should endeavour to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of six years.

Article 46 – Weaker Sections

The State should promote the educational and economic interests of weaker sections, particularly the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and protect them from social injustice and exploitation.

Article 47 – Nutrition and Public Health

The State should regard raising the level of nutrition and standard of living and improving public health as among its primary duties. It also directs the State towards prohibition of intoxicating drinks and harmful drugs, except for medicinal purposes. 

Article 48 – Agriculture and Animal Husbandry

The State should organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and take steps for preserving and improving breeds and prohibiting the slaughter of certain categories of cattle as specified in the constitutional provision.

Article 48A – Environment

The State should protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. Article 48A was inserted by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976. 

Article 49 – Monuments

The State has an obligation to protect monuments, places and objects of artistic or historic interest that are declared to be of national importance by or under a law made by Parliament. 

Article 50 – Separation of Judiciary and Executive

The State should take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the State. 

Article 51 – International Peace

The State should endeavour to:

Promote international peace and security.

Maintain just and honourable relations between nations.

Foster respect for international law and treaty obligations.

Encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration. 

Classification of DPSPs

For examination purposes, DPSPs are commonly classified into three broad groups:

1. Socialist Principles

These aim at establishing social and economic justice and reducing inequalities.

Important Articles: 38, 39, 39A, 41, 42, 43 and 43A.

2. Gandhian Principles

These reflect ideas associated with Mahatma Gandhi, particularly village self-government, rural development and protection of weaker sections.

Important Articles: 40, 43, 46, 47 and 48.

3. Liberal-Intellectual Principles

These promote modern constitutional, legal, environmental and international ideals.

Important Articles: 44, 45, 48A, 49, 50 and 51.

Important Constitutional Amendments Related to DPSP

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 made several important additions to the DPSPs, including Articles 39A, 43A and 48A. 

The 44th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1978 modified Article 38 by adding the objective of minimising inequalities in income, status, facilities and opportunities. 

The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002 changed Article 45 to focus on early childhood care and education for children below six years.

DPSP and Fundamental Rights

The Fundamental Rights and DPSPs are important parts of the constitutional framework. Fundamental Rights are generally enforceable by courts, whereas DPSPs are not enforceable by courts. Nevertheless, Article 37 makes DPSPs fundamental to governance and places a duty on the State to apply them in law-making. 

Quick Revision for Competitive Exams

Article Main Provision

36 Definition

37 Application; non-justiciable

38 Social order and welfare

39 Economic and social principles

39A Equal justice and free legal aid

40 Village Panchayats

41 Work, education and public assistance

42 Humane work conditions and maternity relief

43 Living wage

43A Workers' participation

43B Cooperative societies

44 Uniform Civil Code

45 Early childhood care and education

46 Weaker sections

47 Nutrition and public health

48 Agriculture and animal husbandry

48A Environment, forests and wildlife

49 National monuments

50 Separation of judiciary and executive

51 International peace and security

Title

Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) – Articles 36 to 51, Features and Complete Notes

 Keywords

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Official Source: The Constitution of India, India Code, Government of India.