Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)

Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)

The Directive Principles are contained in Part IV of the Constitution. They aim at providing the social and economic base of a genuine democracy.

Important Directive Principles

Broadly speaking, there are three types of Directive Principles aimed at providing social and economic justice and ushering in a welfare state.

1. Socio-Economic Principles:

They require the State:

• To provide adequate means of livelihood to all citizens;
• To prevent concentration of wealth and means of production and ensure equitable distribution of wealth and material resources;
• To secure equal pay for equal work of men as well as women;
• To ensure a decent standard of living and leisure for all workers;
• To provide necessary opportunities and facilities to children and youth to prevent their exploitation; and
• To make efforts to secure the right to work, education and public assistance in case of unemployment, sickness, old age etc.

2. Gandhian Principles:

These are the embodiment of the Gandhian programme for reconstruction. These include:

• The establishment of village panchayats to function as units of self government;
• The promotion of educational and economic interests of weaker sections of society;
• The promotion of cottage industries;
• The prohibition of intoxicating drugs and drinks; and
• Prevention of the slaughter of cows, calves and other milch cattle etc.

3. Liberal Principles:

The principles are based on liberal thinking and emphasise the need for;

• A uniform civil code for the country;
• Free and compulsory education for all children up to the age of 14 years;
• Separation of the judiciary and executive;
• Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry along scientific lines;
• Securing the participation of workers in the management of industries;
• Safeguarding the forests and wildlife of the country; and
• Protecting monuments and places of artistic or historical importance.

The real significance of the directive principles lies in the fact that they intend to provide social and economic democracy in the country without which political democracy is a farce.

Directives Provided outside Part IV of the Constitution

• State and every local authority within the state to provide adequate facilities for instruction in the mother-tongue at the primary stage of education to children belonging to linguistic minority groups. [Ref: Art 350A]
• Union to promote spread of Hindi language and to develop it as a medium of expression of all the elements of the composite culture of India. [Ref. ;Art. 351]
• The claims of the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes shall be taken into consideration, consistently with the maintenance of efficiency of administration, in the making of appointments to services and posts in connection with the affairs of the union or a state.[Ref. Art 335]
• Though the Directives contained in Arts. 335, 350 A and 351 are not included in Part IV, Courts have given similar attention to them meaning that all parts of the Constitution should be read together.