DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY:
The constitution of India provides certain directives to the government. These
directives are known as the Directive Principle of State Policy. The Directive Principles
of State Policy are enumerated in Part IV of the Constitution from Articles 36 to 51.
These directives aim at the establishment of the economic and social democracy
pledged for in the Preamble. These principles cover a wide range of state activities and
lay down objectives in social, economic, legal, educational, administrative, cultural and
international fields.
These principles can be classified under three headings,
(a) Directives in the nature on ideals of the state
• The state shall secure social, economic and political justice.
• Secure just and human conditions of work and a decent standard of living
• Raising the level of nutrition and improve public health
• Secure equal distribution of wealth and means of production
• Endeavor to promote International peace and amity.
(b) Directive shaping the policy of the state
• Secure economic rights
• Secure uniform civil code
• Provide free and compulsory primary education
• Prohibit consumption of liquor and intoxication drugs
• Develop cottage industries
• Organize agriculture and animal husbandry on modern lines
• Organise village panchayats as units of self-government
• Promote educational and economic interests of weaker sections
• Protect and improve the environment
• Protect and maintain places of historic interest
• To separate judiciary from the executive

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(c)Non-Justifiable rights of citizens
• Right to adequate means of livelihood
• Right of both sexes to equal pay for equal work
• Right against economic exploitation
• Right to equal opportunity for justice and free legal aid
• Right to work
• Right to public assistance for old age, sick and humane condition of work and
maternity relief
• Right to decent standard of life for workers
• Right of workers to participate in management of industries
• Right of children to free and compulsory education.
These are non-justiciable, that is, they are not legally enforceable by the courts for their
violation. They promote the welfare of the community. Hence, they are societarian and
socialistic. They aim at establishing social and economic democracy in the country.
Articles Related to Directive Principles of State Policy:
Article 36. Definition of State
Article 37. Application of the principles contained in this part
Article 38. State to secure a social order for the promotion of welfare of the people
Article 39. Certain principles of policy to be followed by the State
Article 39A. Equal justice and free legal aid
Article 40. Organisation of village panchayats
Article 41. Right to work, to education and to public assistance in certain cases
Article 42. Provision for just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief
Article 43. Living wage, etc., for workers
Article 43A. Participation of workers in management of industries
Article 43B. Promotion of co-operative societies
Article 44. Uniform civil code for the citizens
Article 45. Provision for early childhood care and education to children below the age
of six years
Article 46. Promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes,
Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections

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Article 47. Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living
and to improve public health
Article 48. Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry
Article 48A. Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests
and wildlife
Article 49. Protection of monuments and places and objects of national importance
Article 50. Separation of judiciary from executive
Article 51. Promotion of international peace and security
Difference between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles
Fundamental Rights Directive Principles
These are negative as they prohibit the
State from doing certain things.
These are positive as they required the
state to do certain things.
These are justiciable, that is, they are
legally enforceable by the courts in case of
their violation.
These are non- justiciable, that is, they are
not legally enforceable by the courts for
their violation.
They aim at establishing political
democracy in the country.
They aim to establishing social and
economic democracy in the country.
These have legal sanctions. These have moral and political sanctions.
They promote the welfare of the individual.
Hence , they are personal and
individualistic.
They promote the welfare of the
community. Hence, they are societarian
and socialistic.
They do not requires any legislation for
their implementation. They are
automatically enforced.
They require legislation for their
implementation. They are not
automatically enforced.
The courts are bound to declare a law
violative of any of the Fundamental Rights
as unconstitutional and invalid
The courts cannot declare a law violative
of any of the Directive Principles as
unconstitutional and invalid. However,
they can uphold the validity of a law on
the ground that it was enacted to give
effect to a directive

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Questions:
1. Discuss in detail about the Directive Principles of State Policy in Indian
Constitution.
2. Explain the merits and demerits of Directive Principles of State Policy.