What are Directive Principles of State Policy? Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are constitutional directives contained in Part IV (Articles 36 to 51). They are not enforceable in court, but they are fundamental in the governance of the country and guide the State in building a welfare-oriented social order.
For UPSC, DPSP should not be treated as a soft appendix after Fundamental Rights. They explain how the Constitution expects the State to govern, reform society, reduce inequality and move toward social and economic democracy. That is why this topic must be read together with the Preamble, Fundamental Rights, the Fundamental Duties and the basic structure doctrine.
Introduction to Part IV
Part IV of the Constitution covers Articles 36 to 51. These provisions are addressed to the State and lay down the goals of governance. They are often associated with the idea of a welfare state because they focus on justice, livelihood, public health, local self-government, legal aid, education, environment and social reform.
The most important thing to remember is that DPSP are non-justiciable but not optional in constitutional spirit. They cannot be enforced by writ in the same way as Fundamental Rights, yet the Constitution itself says they are fundamental in the governance of the country.
Quick Facts
- Part: Part IV of the Constitution.
- Article range: Articles 36 to 51.
- Nature: Non-justiciable, but fundamental in governance.
- Main aim: Welfare state and social-economic democracy.
- Source in standard accounts: Irish Constitution.
- Most important article for nature: Article 37.
- Exam trap: Non-justiciable does not mean constitutionally unimportant.
Articles 36 and 37: Foundation of DPSP
Before going into the specific principles, you need to understand the two foundation articles of Part IV.
| Article | What it says | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Article 36 | For Part IV, the term "State" has the same meaning as in Part III. | This connects DPSP with the same broad constitutional understanding of State power used in the Fundamental Rights chapter. |
| Article 37 | DPSP are not enforceable by any court, but are fundamental in the governance of the country, and it is the duty of the State to apply them in making laws. | This is the key article for the constitutional status of DPSP. It explains why they matter even without direct judicial enforceability. |
Article 37 is especially important. It creates the correct UPSC understanding: DPSP are not legally enforceable claims in the same way as Fundamental Rights, but they are constitutionally binding directions for governance.
Why DPSP Matter
The simplest way to understand DPSP is to see them as the Constitution's programme for transforming political democracy into social and economic democracy.
- They guide legislation and policy: The State is expected to keep them in mind while making laws and public policy.
- They push the Constitution toward a welfare state: They are concerned with livelihood, health, education, public assistance, village self-government and distributive justice.
- They complement Fundamental Rights: Rights protect liberty; DPSP push the State toward justice and welfare.
- They are positive obligations: Many of them ask the State to do something constructive, not merely avoid interference.
- They shape constitutional interpretation: Even though they are non-justiciable, they have strongly influenced constitutional amendments, laws and judicial thinking.
Classification of DPSP
The Constitution does not itself divide DPSP into categories. However, for study purposes they are commonly grouped into socialist, Gandhian and liberal-intellectual principles. This is a study classification, not a constitutional heading.
| Category | Main constitutional idea | Important articles |
|---|---|---|
| Socialist principles | Social and economic justice, welfare, fair distribution and protection of workers. | 38, 39, 39A, 41, 42, 43, 43A |
| Gandhian principles | Village self-government, cottage industry, weaker sections, prohibition and rural moral economy. | 40, 43, 43B, 46, 47, 48 |
| Liberal-intellectual principles | Uniform civil code, education, environment, heritage, judicial independence and international peace. | 44, 45, 48A, 49, 50, 51 |
Remember that some articles appear to overlap in study material because this classification is descriptive, not rigid. It is useful for memory, but the actual constitutional text should always remain primary.
Article-Wise Map of Part IV
A good DPSP answer becomes much stronger when you know the article map instead of remembering only a few famous provisions like Articles 39, 44 or 48A.
| Article | Core directive |
|---|---|
| 36 | Definition of State for Part IV. |
| 37 | DPSP are non-justiciable but fundamental in governance. |
| 38 | Promote welfare of the people and minimise inequalities. |
| 39 | Adequate livelihood, common good, anti-concentration, equal pay and protection of workers and children. |
| 39A | Equal justice and free legal aid. |
| 40 | Organisation of village panchayats. |
| 41 | Right to work, education and public assistance in certain cases, within economic capacity. |
| 42 | Just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief. |
| 43 | Living wage, decent standard of life and promotion of cottage industries. |
| 43A | Workers' participation in management of industries. |
| 43B | Promotion of co-operative societies. |
| 44 | Uniform Civil Code for citizens. |
| 45 | Early childhood care and education for children below six years. |
| 46 | Promotion of interests of weaker sections, especially SCs and STs. |
| 47 | Nutrition, public health and prohibition-oriented direction. |
| 48 | Agriculture and animal husbandry on modern lines; cattle preservation direction. |
| 48A | Protection of environment, forests and wildlife. |
| 49 | Protection of monuments and objects of national importance. |
| 50 | Separation of judiciary from executive. |
| 51 | International peace, just relations, respect for international law and arbitration. |
Socialist Principles
These principles are concerned with welfare, distributive justice, labour dignity and reduction of inequality. They show the Constitution's social-democratic side.
| Article | Text in Constitution | Why it matters for UPSC |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | "(1) 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 the national life. (2) The State shall, in particular, strive to minimise the inequalities in income, and endeavour to eliminate inequalities in status, facilities and opportunities, not only amongst individuals but also amongst groups of people residing in different areas or engaged in different vocations." | This is the broad welfare-state article and a good opening point in mains answers. |
| 39 | "The State shall, in particular, direct its policy towards securing: (a) that the citizens, men and women equally, have the right to an adequate means of livelihood; (b) that the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good; (c) that the operation of the economic system does not result in the concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment; (d) that there is equal pay for equal work for both men and women; (e) that the health and strength of workers, men and women, and the tender age of children are not abused and that citizens are not forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their age or strength; (f) that children are given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity and that childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment." | Article 39 is central because Article 39, clause b concerns distribution of ownership and control of the material resources of the community so as best to subserve the common good, and Article 39, clause c concerns preventing concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment. These later became crucial in the Article 31C constitutional debate. |
| 39A | "The State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice, on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities." | Added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976; important in linking welfare and access to justice. |
| 41 | "The State shall, within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make effective provision for securing 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." | This article shows that many DPSP are capacity-sensitive, not absolute constitutional promises. |
| 42 | "The State shall make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief." | Important for labour and social justice questions. |
| 43 | "The State shall endeavour to secure, by suitable legislation or economic organisation or in any other way, to all workers, agricultural, industrial or otherwise, work, a living wage, conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life and full enjoyment of leisure and social and cultural opportunities and, in particular, the State shall endeavour to promote cottage industries on an individual or co-operative basis in rural areas." | Shows that the Constitution is concerned with quality of life, not mere subsistence. |
| 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 the 42nd Amendment, 1976 and frequently asked in prelims. |
The broad message of the socialist principles is that democracy in India is not meant to remain only electoral or political. It must also address material inequality, labour dignity, fair opportunity and access to justice.
Gandhian Principles
These principles reflect village-centred reconstruction, protection of weaker sections, rural economy and moral social reform.
| Article | Text in Constitution | Why it matters for UPSC |
|---|---|---|
| 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." | This is the constitutional seed of local self-government in rural India. |
| 43 | "The State shall endeavour to promote cottage industries on an individual or co-operative basis in rural areas." | This is why Article 43 often appears in both socialist and Gandhian study classifications. |
| 43B | "The State shall endeavour to promote voluntary formation, autonomous functioning, democratic control and professional management of co-operative societies." | Added by the 97th Amendment, 2011 and often missed by students who study only older lists. |
| 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." | Important for linking welfare with social justice and affirmative constitutional concern. |
| 47 | "The 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, the 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." | This article combines welfare and moral-social reform. |
| 48 | "The State shall endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter, of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle." | Frequently tested because it combines rural economy with cattle-preservation policy. |
Liberal-Intellectual Principles
These principles reflect a more institutional, reformist and international outlook within the Constitution.
| Article | Text in Constitution | Why it matters for UPSC |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | "The State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India." | One of the most debated DPSP articles in public discourse and exams. |
| 45 | "The State shall endeavour to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of six years." | Its present text must be distinguished from Article 21A and from its earlier constitutional form. |
| 48A | "The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wild life of the country." | Added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976; highly relevant in modern governance and ecology questions. |
| 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." | Shows that cultural heritage is also part of constitutional governance. |
| 50 | "The State shall take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the State." | Important for rule of law and independent justice delivery. |
| 51 | "The State shall endeavour to promote international peace and security; maintain just and honourable relations between nations; foster respect for international law and treaty obligations; and encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration." | This is the international-relations face of DPSP. |
Article 45 needs special attention. Many students confuse it with the old education directive. After the 86th Amendment, 2002, the constitutional right to free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14 moved into Article 21A, while Article 45 now deals with early childhood care and education below six years.
DPSP Added or Changed by Amendments
DPSP did not remain static after 1950. Several constitutional amendments expanded or modified them.
| Amendment | Change in DPSP | Exam takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| 42nd Amendment, 1976 | Added Article 39A, Article 43A and Article 48A; also strengthened the welfare orientation of the Constitution in several ways. | The 42nd Amendment, 1976 is the most important amendment for DPSP additions. |
| 44th Amendment, 1978 | Added Article 38(2), emphasising minimisation of inequalities. | Often forgotten, but important for precise prelims preparation. |
| 86th Amendment, 2002 | Changed the subject matter of Article 45 and inserted Article 21A. | Important for distinguishing current Article 45 from school education under Article 21A. |
| 97th Amendment, 2011 | Added Article 43B on co-operative societies. | A high-yield factual point because many older notes omit it. |
Fundamental Rights vs DPSP
Students should not study Part III and Part IV in isolation. Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles are different in form, but they are meant to work together in the constitutional scheme.
| Basis | Fundamental Rights | Directive Principles of State Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional location | Part III, Articles 12 to 35 | Part IV, Articles 36 to 51 |
| Nature | They are enforceable rights available against the State, and in some cases against private actors. | They are constitutional directions to the State for governance and law-making. |
| Justiciability | They are justiciable. A person can approach the courts for enforcement. | They are non-justiciable. Courts cannot directly enforce them. |
| Main objective | They protect liberty, equality, dignity and freedom from unconstitutional State action. | They aim to build a welfare state based on social and economic justice. |
| Type of obligation | They often operate as limitations on State power, though some rights also impose positive duties. | They mainly require positive State action through policy, legislation and institutions. |
| Legal remedy | Articles 32 and 226 are available for constitutional remedies. | No direct constitutional remedy exists merely for non-implementation of a Directive Principle. |
| Immediate or progressive role | They are meant to operate immediately as enforceable constitutional guarantees. | They are often progressively realised depending on law, policy and State capacity. |
| Present constitutional reading | They are not to be read in isolation from social justice goals. | They are not to be used to destroy liberty or constitutional limits. |
The best UPSC answer is not that one part is "good" and the other is "better". Fundamental Rights give the individual constitutional protection. DPSP give the State a constitutional social mission. The mature position is that liberty and welfare must be balanced.
DPSP and Fundamental Rights: From Tension to Harmony
The relationship between Part III and Part IV is one of the most important themes in Indian constitutional law. A weak answer says only "there was conflict". A better answer explains how the position evolved.
| Stage | What happened | Constitutional significance |
|---|---|---|
| State of Madras v. Champakam Dorairajan, 1951 | Early judicial position gave primacy to Fundamental Rights in case of direct conflict. | This showed that DPSP could not override enforceable rights in the original early reading. |
| I.C. Golaknath v. State of Punjab, 1967 | The Court took a strong rights-centred view in the amendment debate and deepened the sense that Fundamental Rights occupied a specially protected position. | This was not the final constitutional word, but it formed an important stage in the FR-DPSP story. |
| Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, 1973 | Parliament's amending power was upheld, but subject to the basic structure limit. | This is the turning point because the Constitution was not read as choosing one chapter absolutely over the other. The focus moved toward preserving constitutional balance. |
| 25th Amendment, 1971 and Article 31C | Article 31C was inserted to protect laws giving effect to Article 39, clause b, that the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good, and Article 39, clause c, that the operation of the economic system does not result in the concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment. | This was a major constitutional attempt to strengthen the operative role of selected DPSP. |
| 42nd Amendment, 1976 | Tried to expand Article 31C protection to all Directive Principles. | This would have altered the balance between Part III and Part IV too sharply. |
| Minerva Mills Ltd. v. Union of India, 1980 | The Supreme Court struck down the wider 42nd Amendment expansion and stressed harmony between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles. | The present constitutional understanding is balance, not absolute dominance of one part over the other. |
| Education shift | The education-related constitutional journey later contributed to Article 21A, while Article 45 changed in content. | This shows that DPSP can shape later enforceable rights and constitutional development. |
If the exam question asks "Which is superior: Fundamental Rights or DPSP?", the best present answer is: in a direct conflict, Fundamental Rights generally have priority. However, Article 31C creates a limited exception for laws implementing Article 39, clause b and Article 39, clause c.
Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, 1973 is important here because it prevents a simplistic answer. After Kesavananda, the Constitution is not understood as a document where one part may destroy the essential place of another. That is why later doctrine, especially in Minerva Mills Ltd. v. Union of India, 1980, emphasised that the balance between liberty and welfare is itself part of the constitutional structure.
The broader claim that all Directive Principles override Fundamental Rights is wrong. The 42nd Amendment, 1976 tried to expand Article 31C protection to all Directive Principles, but that wider expansion was struck down in Minerva Mills Ltd. v. Union of India, 1980.
The current safe conclusion is this: Fundamental Rights and DPSP should be read in harmony. The Constitution does not expect liberty without justice, and it does not expect social reform without constitutional limits. That is why the modern position rejects total supremacy of one chapter over the other.
At the same time, one advanced prelims point should be remembered carefully. The present position of Article 31C is limited to laws giving effect to Article 39, clause b, that the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good, and Article 39, clause c, that the operation of the economic system does not result in the concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment. It does not provide a blanket shield to all laws implementing any Directive Principle.
For UPSC Prelims and Mains
For UPSC Prelims
- Remember Articles 36 and 37 first.
- Do not confuse current Article 45 with Article 21A.
- Learn the 42nd, 44th, 86th and 97th amendment changes.
- Know Articles 39A, 43A, 43B, 48A and 50 separately.
- Remember the current limited position of Article 31C.
For UPSC Mains
- Present DPSP as the welfare and justice programme of the Constitution.
- Link Part IV with the Fundamental Rights chapter.
- Use Minerva Mills Ltd. v. Union of India, 1980 to explain balance, not absolute conflict.
- Bring in social and economic democracy as the larger constitutional goal.
UPSC Previous Year Questions (Selected)
Q1. The ideal of "Welfare State" in the Indian Constitution is enshrined in its: (Prelims 2015)
A. Preamble
B. Directive Principles of State Policy
C. Fundamental Rights
D. Seventh Schedule
Answer: B. DPSP are the clearest constitutional expression of the welfare-state objective.
Q2. Which among the following was added to the Directive Principles of State Policy by the 42nd Amendment? (Prelims 2017)
A. Equal pay for equal work
B. Participation of workers in management of industries
C. Right to
work
D. Secure living wage
Answer: B. Article 43A on workers' participation in management of industries was added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976.
Practice MCQs
Use these for quick revision after reading the full article.
- Which article declares that DPSP are fundamental in the governance of the country?
A. Article 36
B. Article 37
C. Article 38
D. Article 39 - Which article applies the same meaning of "State" to Part IV as in Part III?
A. Article 36
B. Article 37
C. Article 40
D. Article 50 - Which article deals with separation of judiciary from executive?
A. Article 44
B. Article 49
C. Article 50
D. Article 51 - The present Article 45 deals with:
A. Free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14 years
B. Early childhood care and education for children below six years
C. Equal justice and free legal aid
D. Uniform Civil Code - Which amendment added Article 43B on co-operative societies?
A. 42nd
B. 44th
C. 86th
D. 97th - What is the present safe constitutional position regarding Article 31C?
A. It protects all laws implementing any Directive Principle
B. It survives only in relation to Article 39, clause b and Article 39, clause c
C. It has no constitutional relevance now
D. It applies only during Emergency - Uniform Civil Code is generally placed under which study classification of DPSP?
A. Socialist
B. Gandhian
C. Liberal-intellectual
D. None of the above
View Answer Key
1. B | 2. A | 3. C | 4. B | 5. D | 6. B | 7. C
Related Topics
Read these next to build the larger constitutional framework:
- Preamble of the Indian Constitution
- Fundamental Rights
- Fundamental Duties
- Basic Structure Doctrine
- Parliament of India
- Supreme Court of India
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main objective of DPSP?
The main objective of DPSP is to guide the State in creating a welfare-oriented social order based on social and economic justice.
Are DPSP justiciable?
No. DPSP are non-justiciable, which means courts cannot directly enforce them like Fundamental Rights.
If they are non-justiciable, why are DPSP important?
Because Article 37 itself says they are fundamental in the governance of the country and it is the duty of the State to apply them in making laws.
What is the difference between Article 36 and Article 37?
Article 36 defines the State for Part IV by adopting the Part III meaning, while Article 37 explains the constitutional status of DPSP as non-justiciable but fundamental in governance.
Which article deals with Uniform Civil Code?
Article 44 directs the State to secure a Uniform Civil Code for citizens.
What is the difference between Article 45 and Article 21A?
Article 45 in its present form deals with early childhood care and education below six years, while Article 21A gives the enforceable right to free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14 years.
What is the basic difference between Fundamental Rights and DPSP?
Fundamental Rights are enforceable constitutional rights available through courts, while DPSP are non-justiciable constitutional directions to the State for building a welfare-oriented social order.
Do Fundamental Rights and DPSP always conflict?
No. The present constitutional approach is harmony and balance, not permanent conflict. Minerva Mills Ltd. v. Union of India, 1980 is the key case for this understanding.
Which is superior: Fundamental Rights or DPSP?
The safe UPSC answer is that in a direct conflict, Fundamental Rights generally have priority. However, Article 31C creates a limited exception for laws implementing Article 39, clause b and Article 39, clause c. The broader claim that all DPSP override Fundamental Rights is wrong.
Why is Kesavananda Bharati important in the DPSP debate?
Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, 1973 is important because it placed Parliament's amending power under the basic structure limit and made constitutional balance central to later FR-DPSP doctrine. It helps explain why the final position is not simple supremacy of one chapter over the other.
What is the present safe understanding of Article 31C?
The safe present position for UPSC is that Article 31C survives only for laws giving effect to Article 39, clause b, that the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good, and Article 39, clause c, that the operation of the economic system does not result in the concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment, not for all Directive Principles.
Which amendment added Article 43B?
The 97th Constitutional Amendment, 2011 added Article 43B on co-operative societies.
Which amendment changed Article 45?
The 86th Constitutional Amendment, 2002 changed Article 45 and also inserted Article 21A.