Classification of Directive Principles

Polity & Governance glossary

Topic: Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 2 "Rights in the Indian Constitution"

Meaning

The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are the guidelines in Part IV (Arts. 36-51) of the Constitution. They tell the State how to build a fair, caring society. Courts cannot enforce them. There are two common ways to group them.

The NCERT Class 11 grouping sorts them by type:

  • Goals: welfare; social, economic and political justice; better living standards; fair sharing of resources; international peace.
  • Non-justiciable rights: rights a court cannot enforce, such as adequate livelihood, equal pay, protection from economic exploitation, the right to work, and care and education for children below six.
  • Policies: the uniform civil code, prohibition, cottage industries, cattle slaughter and village panchayats.

The conventional grouping sorts them by the idea behind them:

  • Socialistic (economic justice).
  • Gandhian (Gandhi's village-based programme).
  • Liberal-intellectual (modern, liberal ideas).

Example

Art. 43 falls into two groups. Its "living wage" part is socialistic, but its "cottage industries" part is Gandhian. Art. 47 (nutrition is socialistic, prohibition is Gandhian) and Art. 48 (modern farming is liberal, cattle slaughter is Gandhian) are split the same way.

Don't confuse with

  • Fundamental Duties (Part IVA, Art. 51A): these are duties of citizens. Directives are duties of the State.

Related concepts

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