Directive Principles (DPSP) & Fundamental Duties

If Fundamental Rights tell the government what it must not do to you, the Directive Principles tell the government what it should do for society. They are the "wish list" for a welfare state. Fundamental Duties, added later, are the ten-plus things every citizen should do in return. Together they complete the deal between citizen and State — and the paper loves comparing all three.

Directive Principles — the Basics

  • Found in Part IV, Articles 36–51.
  • Borrowed from the Constitution of Ireland (which took the idea from Spain).
  • Non-justiciable (Article 37) — you cannot go to court to enforce them, but they are "fundamental in the governance of the country".
💡 Think of it like this
Think of the DPSP as New Year resolutions for the government: not legally binding, but a moral checklist that every good government is expected to work towards. Voters judge governments on how many they achieve.
SocialistArt 38, 39 — welfare, resourcesArt 41–43 — work, wagesArt 47 — nutrition, healthGandhianArt 40 — village panchayatsArt 43 — cottage industryArt 46, 48 — weaker sections, cowLiberal–IntellectualArt 44 — Uniform Civil CodeArt 48A — environmentArt 50 — separate judiciary
Scholars group the DPSP into three schools — Socialist, Gandhian and Liberal–Intellectual. (This grouping is not in the Constitution itself.)

The Articles You Must Know

ArticleDirective
39AEqual justice and free legal aid (added by 42nd Amendment).
40Organisation of village panchayats (Gandhian).
44Uniform Civil Code for all citizens.
45Early childhood care & education for children below 6 years.
47Raise nutrition & standard of living; prohibition of intoxicating drinks.
48AProtect and improve the environment (added by 42nd Amendment).
50Separation of the judiciary from the executive.
51Promotion of international peace and security.
🧠 Memory trick
The 42nd Amendment (1976) added three DPSPs — remember "39A, 43A, 48A" (Legal aid, Workers in management, Environment). The same amendment also added the Fundamental Duties. The 42nd is the "mega amendment" — link everything to it.

The Three Schools of DPSP

Scholars sort the 20+ Directives into three broad groups by the ideology behind them — useful for matching an unfamiliar Article to its likely "theme" in the exam.

SchoolKey Articles
Socialist (economic justice)38 (welfare state), 39 (equal pay, resources for common good), 39A (legal aid), 41 (right to work/education), 42 (maternity relief), 43 (living wage), 47 (nutrition, public health)
Gandhian (village & social reform)40 (village panchayats), 43 (cottage industries), 43B (cooperative societies), 46 (SC/ST/OBC & weaker section welfare), 47 (prohibition), 48 (agriculture & animal husbandry, ban on cow slaughter)
Liberal–Intellectual (governance & modernity)44 (Uniform Civil Code), 45 (early childhood education), 48A (environment), 49 (protection of monuments), 50 (separation of judiciary), 51 (international peace)
🎯 When DPSP clashed with Fundamental Rights
The 25th Amendment (1971) inserted Article 31C: laws made to implement DPSP Articles 39(b)/(c) (fair distribution of resources, preventing concentration of wealth) cannot be struck down for violating Articles 14 or 19. In Kesavananda Bharati (1973), the Court upheld Article 31C but struck down the part that barred judicial review entirely. In Minerva Mills (1980), an attempt to extend Article 31C's protection to all DPSP (not just 39(b)/(c)) was struck down as destroying the basic structure's FR-DPSP balance.

Fundamental Rights vs. Directive Principles

Fundamental RightsDirective Principles
Justiciable (enforced by courts)Non-justiciable
Negative — restrain the StatePositive — direct the State to act
Establish political democracyEstablish social & economic democracy
🎯 Why it matters
In the Minerva Mills case (1980), the Supreme Court said the balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles is itself part of the "basic structure" of the Constitution — neither can completely override the other. That balance is the whole idea of a welfare democracy.

Fundamental Duties (Part IVA, Article 51A)

The original Constitution had rights but no listed duties. On the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee, the 42nd Amendment (1976) added Fundamental Duties in a new Part IVA, Article 51A, inspired by the Constitution of the USSR.

  • Originally 10 duties; an 11th was added by the 86th Amendment (2002) — the duty of a parent/guardian to provide education to their child aged 6–14.
  • They apply only to citizens (not foreigners) and are non-justiciable.
  • Examples: respect the Constitution, National Flag and Anthem; protect the environment; safeguard public property; develop scientific temper.
All 11 Fundamental Duties (Article 51A)
#Duty
(a)Abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals, institutions, National Flag and Anthem.
(b)Cherish and follow the noble ideals of the freedom struggle.
(c)Uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
(d)Defend the country and render national service when called upon.
(e)Promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood; renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women.
(f)Value and preserve the rich heritage of composite culture.
(g)Protect and improve the natural environment and have compassion for living creatures.
(h)Develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.
(i)Safeguard public property and abjure violence.
(j)Strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity.
(k)(86th Amendment, 2002) Provide opportunities for education to one's child/ward between age 6–14.
🧠 Memory trick
Duties (a)-(j) were part of the original 42nd Amendment list of 10; only (k) is the newer 86th Amendment addition. If a question describes a duty about "one's own child's education", it is always duty (k).
⚠️ Exam trap
Two traps to avoid:
(1) Fundamental Duties were not in the original Constitution — they came in 1976.
(2) There are 11 duties now, not 10. The 11th (education of one's child) is the newest and the most-asked.

Key takeaways

  • DPSP: Part IV, Articles 36–51; from Ireland; non-justiciable (Art 37) but fundamental in governance.
  • Three schools: Socialist, Gandhian (Art 40 panchayats), Liberal–Intellectual (Art 44 UCC, 48A environment, 50 separate judiciary).
  • FR = justiciable, negative, political democracy; DPSP = non-justiciable, positive, social & economic democracy. Minerva Mills (1980) = balance is basic structure.
  • Fundamental Duties: Part IVA, Article 51A; added by 42nd Amendment (1976) (Swaran Singh Committee); from the USSR.
  • Originally 10 duties; 11th added by the 86th Amendment (2002) — parent's duty to educate a child aged 6–14. Non-justiciable, citizens only.
  • Three schools of DPSP: Socialist (38, 39, 41-43A, 47), Gandhian (40, 43, 43B, 46, 48), Liberal-Intellectual (44, 45, 48A, 49, 50, 51).
  • Article 31C (25th Amendment, 1971) shields laws implementing Art. 39(b)/(c) from challenge under Art. 14/19. Kesavananda Bharati (1973) struck the part barring judicial review; Minerva Mills (1980) struck an attempt to extend 31C's cover to all DPSP.

Practice questions (11)

Attempt each one before opening the answer. Every explanation names the tempting wrong option as well as the right one, because that is where marks are lost.

  1. The Directive Principles of State Policy are contained in which part of the Constitution?

    1. Part III
    2. Part IV
    3. Part IVA
    4. Part II
    Show answer

    Answer: B — Part IV

    DPSP are in Part IV (Articles 36–51). Part III has Fundamental Rights and Part IVA has Fundamental Duties.

  2. The concept of Directive Principles was borrowed from the constitution of:

    1. USA
    2. Ireland
    3. USSR
    4. Canada
    Show answer

    Answer: B — Ireland

    DPSP were borrowed from Ireland (which had taken the idea from the Spanish Constitution).

  3. A Uniform Civil Code for citizens is a directive under which Article?

    1. Article 40
    2. Article 44
    3. Article 48A
    4. Article 50
    Show answer

    Answer: B — Article 44

    Article 44 directs the State to secure a Uniform Civil Code. Article 40 = panchayats, 48A = environment, 50 = separation of judiciary.

  4. Fundamental Duties were added to the Constitution on the recommendation of which committee?

    1. Sarkaria Committee
    2. Swaran Singh Committee
    3. Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
    4. Ashok Mehta Committee
    Show answer

    Answer: B — Swaran Singh Committee

    The Swaran Singh Committee recommended Fundamental Duties, added by the 42nd Amendment (1976).

  5. How many Fundamental Duties are there in the Constitution at present?

    1. 10
    2. 11
    3. 12
    4. 9
    Show answer

    Answer: B — 11

    There are 11 Fundamental Duties. The 11th (parent's duty to provide education to a child aged 6–14) was added by the 86th Amendment (2002).

  6. Consider the following statements:
    1. Directive Principles are enforceable in a court of law.
    2. Fundamental Duties were part of the original Constitution of 1950.
    Which is/are correct?

    1. Only 1
    2. Only 2
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Show answer

    Answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2

    Both are wrong. DPSP are non-justiciable, and Fundamental Duties were added later by the 42nd Amendment (1976), not in the original Constitution.

  7. In which case did the Supreme Court hold that the balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles is part of the basic structure?

    1. Kesavananda Bharati Case
    2. Minerva Mills Case
    3. Maneka Gandhi Case
    4. Golaknath Case
    Show answer

    Answer: B — Minerva Mills Case

    The Minerva Mills case (1980) held that the balance between FRs and DPSP is part of the basic structure of the Constitution.

  8. Article 48A, which deals with protection of the environment, was added by which amendment?

    1. 42nd Amendment, 1976
    2. 44th Amendment, 1978
    3. 73rd Amendment, 1992
    4. 86th Amendment, 2002
    Show answer

    Answer: A — 42nd Amendment, 1976

    Article 48A (protection of environment, forests and wildlife) was added by the 42nd Amendment (1976), along with the Fundamental Duties.

  9. Article 40 (organisation of village panchayats) belongs to which "school" of DPSP?

    1. Socialist
    2. Gandhian
    3. Liberal–Intellectual
    4. None of these
    Show answer

    Answer: B — Gandhian

    Article 40 (village panchayats), along with cottage industries (43), cooperatives (43B) and welfare of weaker sections (46), belongs to the Gandhian group of Directive Principles.

  10. Article 31C, which shields laws implementing certain DPSP from challenge under Articles 14 and 19, was inserted by:

    1. 24th Amendment, 1971
    2. 25th Amendment, 1971
    3. 42nd Amendment, 1976
    4. 44th Amendment, 1978
    Show answer

    Answer: B — 25th Amendment, 1971

    The 25th Amendment (1971) inserted Article 31C to protect laws implementing Articles 39(b) and 39(c) from being struck down under Articles 14 or 19.

  11. Which Fundamental Duty was added most recently, and by which amendment?

    1. Protect public property — 42nd Amendment
    2. Provide education to one's child aged 6-14 — 86th Amendment
    3. Protect the environment — 73rd Amendment
    4. Develop scientific temper — 44th Amendment
    Show answer

    Answer: B — Provide education to one's child aged 6-14 — 86th Amendment

    Duty (k) — a parent/guardian's duty to provide education to a child aged 6-14 — was added by the 86th Amendment (2002), the same amendment that inserted Article 21A.