Promotion of interests of weaker sections

Polity & Governance glossary

Also called: Article 46 · Topic: Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties · NCERT: Class 9, Ch 6 "Democracy"; Class 11, Ch 2 "Rights in the Indian Constitution"

Meaning

Article 46 is a Directive Principle in Part IV of the Constitution. It asks the State to take special care of the education and economic interests of weaker sections of the people, especially Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). It also asks the State to protect them from social injustice and all kinds of exploitation, which means being used unfairly by others. Like all Directive Principles, no court can enforce it. It is one of the Gandhian principles, the directives that follow Gandhi's programme of social reform. It matters because it gives a constitutional basis to policies that help groups left behind by history.

Example

Class 11 NCERT gives reservations for SCs and STs in education and government jobs as one way of carrying out Article 46.

Don't confuse with

  • Article 335: this is a directive outside Part IV. It deals only with the claims of SCs and STs to government jobs, consistent with efficiency. Article 46 is wider and covers their education and economic interests in general.

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