UPSC Prelims 2021 Q91: Concentration of Wealth & the Constitution
Under the Indian Constitution, concentration of wealth violates
- the Right to Equality
- the Directive Principles of State Policy
- the Right to Freedom
- the Concept of Welfare
Answer: (b) the Directive Principles of State Policy
Statement-wise explanation
- a: incorrect — The Right to Equality (Articles 14–18) guarantees equality before the law, bars discrimination, and abolishes untouchability and titles. None of these Articles mentions wealth or how it is distributed. Unequal holdings of wealth do not, by themselves, breach Article 14.
- b: correct — Article 39(c), a Directive Principle in Part IV, tells the State to ensure that "the operation of the economic system does not result in the concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment". Article 39(b) adds that ownership and control of the community's material resources should be distributed to best serve the common good. The Constitution names concentration of wealth only here.
- c: incorrect — The Right to Freedom (Articles 19–22) covers speech, assembly, association, movement, residence, profession, and protection of life and personal liberty. None of these provisions deals with how wealth is distributed. Freedom of trade and profession under Article 19(1)(g) is, if anything, a freedom to acquire wealth.
- d: incorrect — The "Concept of Welfare" is a broad idea, not a specific constitutional provision that can be violated. The welfare state is the goal that the Directive Principles as a whole work towards; Article 38 asks the State to promote the welfare of the people. The specific bar on concentration of wealth sits in the Directive Principles, in Article 39(c).
How to eliminate
This question tests whether you know the text of Article 39(c). Basic knowledge still narrows it down. The Fundamental Rights in options (a) and (c) protect individuals against the State. They do not give the State economic goals, and no Article in Part III mentions wealth. Option (d) names a vague idea rather than a part of the Constitution, while the question asks what is violated "under the Indian Constitution". That leaves the Directive Principles. The fact to remember: Article 39(b) and (c) deal with distributing material resources and preventing concentration of wealth and means of production.
Know more
Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are in Part IV (Articles 36–51). Under Article 37, courts cannot enforce them, but they are "fundamental in the governance of the country". The State must apply them when making laws.
Article 39: the economic core
| Clause | Directive to the State |
|---|---|
| 39(a) | Adequate means of livelihood for all citizens |
| 39(b) | Distribute ownership and control of material resources to serve the common good |
| 39(c) | Prevent concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment |
| 39(d) | Equal pay for equal work for men and women |
| 39(e)–(f) | Protect workers and children from abuse and exploitation |
Article 38(2), added by the 44th Amendment (1978), also asks the State to minimise inequalities in income.
Why 39(b)–(c) matter in practice
- Land reform laws, ceilings on landholdings and nationalisation were justified under these clauses.
- Article 31C, added by the 25th Amendment (1971), protects laws that give effect to Article 39(b) or (c) from challenge under Articles 14 and 19. The 42nd Amendment extended this protection to all Directive Principles, but Minerva Mills (1980) struck that extension down.
- In Property Owners Association v. State of Maharashtra (5 November 2024), a nine-judge bench ruled by majority that not all private property counts as a "material resource of the community" under Article 39(b). The bench held unanimously that Article 31C survives.
Classification: Article 39(b)–(c) are classed as socialistic principles. Others are Gandhian (Articles 40, 43, 46, 47, 48) and liberal-intellectual (Articles 44, 45, 48A, 50, 51).
NCERT Concepts to Revise
- Equitable distribution of material resources: The question turns on the goal of equitable distribution set out in Article 39(b) and 39(c).
- Directive Principles of State Policy: Tells you where Part IV sits and what its non-justiciable status means when comparing the four options.
- Classification of Directive Principles: Places the Article 39 clauses within the socialistic, Gandhian and liberal groups of Directive Principles.
- Welfare state: Helps you tell the broad idea of a welfare state apart from a specific constitutional provision.