Directive Principles of State Policy – TNPSC Group 1 Polity Fact Card

DPSPs are enshrined in Part IV (Articles 36–51) of the Indian Constitution and were borrowed from the Irish Constitution (Bunreacht na hÉireann) of 1937, which itself drew inspiration from the Spanish Constitution.

DPSPs are non-justiciable — they cannot be enforced by any court — yet Article 37 declares them ‘fundamental in the governance of the country’ and it shall be the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws.

Socialistic Principles include: adequate means of livelihood (Art.39a), equal pay for equal work (Art.39d), right to work (Art.41), just and humane conditions of work (Art.42), and living wage for workers (Art.43).

Gandhian Principles include: Village Panchayats (Art.40), cottage industries (Art.43), prohibition of intoxicating drinks (Art.47), slaughter of cows and calves (Art.48), and promotion of educational and economic interests of SCs/STs (Art.46).

Liberal/Intellectual Principles include: Uniform Civil Code (Art.44), free and compulsory education for children (Art.45 — now a Fundamental Right under Art.21A via 86th Amendment 2002), separation of judiciary from executive (Art.50), and international peace (Art.51).

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 added four new DPSPs: Art.39A (free legal aid), Art.43A (participation of workers in management), Art.48A (protection of environment), and Art.39A was later strengthened by the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.

The conflict between Fundamental Rights and DPSPs was resolved by the Supreme Court in Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) — Parliament can amend Fundamental Rights to implement DPSPs but cannot destroy the Basic Structure of the Constitution.

In Minerva Mills case (1980), the Supreme Court struck down Sections 4 and 55 of the 42nd Amendment, ruling that harmony between Fundamental Rights and DPSPs is itself part of the Basic Structure; neither can be given absolute supremacy over the other.

Article 44 (Uniform Civil Code) directs the State to secure a uniform civil code for citizens throughout India — it remains one of the most debated and unimplemented DPSPs; Goa is the only state with a common civil code in practice.

Article 51, the last DPSP, deals with promotion of international peace and security — it directs India to foster respect for international law, treaty obligations, and encourages settlement of international disputes by arbitration.